Triumphrat

Bbogie · 01-21-2009, 01:34 AM

Has anyone tried having their spoked wheels sealed in order to use tubeless tires?

denny · 01-21-2009, 02:05 AM

The guys over in the Tiger forum used to talk about that.
I've thought about it.
I don't recall anyone here who has done that.

Triples_R_Fun · 01-21-2009, 10:02 AM

I'm running Avon Storms (tubeless tires) front & rear on my '99 Legend with wire spoke rims.

I used heavy duty tubes in these Avons, the old rubber rim strips looked good so I just re-used the old strips.

Geimer · 01-21-2009, 11:21 AM

Most of the Bonnevilles are sold with tires which are marked as tubeless but which use tubes because of the spoked rims. Sealing it may be possible... I'd also like to see someone come up with a solution for it. Any method for sealing the rim would require that the spoke nipples remained free for turning. I think that this requirement is where the difficulty lies.
I've had two thoughts: 1) Some sort of epoxy coating over the inside of the rim. It probably would hold air but probably also render any further adjustment of the spokes impossible. 2) A strip of rubber running the circumference of the rim which was sealed with some sort of glue on either side of the spoke nipples. That may work but there is always the chance that a person could displace the strip when mounting the tire or that it come loose later... especially due to centrifugal force while riding.
So in my small brain the real solution at the moment is to continue to use tubes..... It will be interesting to read what others post here...

Proffa66 · 01-21-2009, 11:54 AM

In other forum there was talk about this company http://www.wheel-works.com/ they used to seal spoked wheels. This is how its done http://www.streetchopperweb.com/tech...els/index.html

gregp · 01-21-2009, 09:55 PM

"...Getting the wheel "tight and right" at this point is essential since after the sealant is applied and cures, no further adjustments can be made to the spokes without breaking the seal"

Hmmm. Nope. Not for me.... The vacuum process and fixture is very interesting, though.

Bbogie · 01-23-2009, 03:59 AM

I talked to the guys at Wheelworks at one time. They said they had a 90+ percent success rate with the sealing. Just wondered if anyone had any experience with it. Might make on the road flat repair easier.

budd_zz · 01-25-2009, 08:22 AM

Alpina from Italy have developped a kit with sealed spokes (i.e. o-ringed nipples). The solution came out of supermotard racing. It is also used in classic racing. They offer complete wheel sets fo the Bonneville. As far as I know, the latest Moto Guzzi Griso SE and Moto Morinis also use the system.

I've been on to this solution for a while. They say you should be able to keep your own hub. You buy the sealed spokes and new rims that are bored to their specs (Alpina rims are actually made by Behr, a German company I think. I have been in contact with Behr. They say Alpina haven't been able to deliver the spokes and nipples so far. I will keep you informed when I get them. If someone else has actually been able to purchase that sytem please post your experiences here.

Links to Alpina Web site: http://www.alpinaraggi.it/eng/kit.html

http://www.alpinaraggi.it/eng/naked.html

Link to Twowheels (pic of complete wheel for the Bonneville) http://www.twowheelsblog.com/post/43...ts-for-triumph

I have seen pics of a Bonny with those wheels, but I can't find them at the moment.

Cheers

Budd

toller · 01-26-2009, 10:00 PM

Replacing wheels and spokes; doable if you have that committment to spokes. I had thought there would be solutions like the ones here . Some are do it yourself, others are more commercial methods.

http://www.tubelesswheels.com/tubeless.html at minimal cost to try. And if you need to tighten the spokes, you can redo the seal.

http://www.eclipse.ch/new/Tubelesskits.html

I personally hate tubes as I'm terrible at removing tires and just love those exterior patch kits for tubeless tires. Yes, you should later take the tire off and put on an internal patch or a new tire at first opportunity. Even still, the trip is hopefully not ruined.

I switched my wheels to the alloy Kawasaki wheels because my tires were way out of true and the rear was missing enough spokes to make it cheaper to buy a used wheel then repair the exiting one. Side benefit was tubeless tires.

2 wheels good 3 better · 02-02-2009, 12:34 PM

Having read a couple of posts on the subject of tubeless tyres on spoked rims makes me question the logic of some owners.

So allow me to clarify something.

Spoked rims need inner tubes. It's what they are designed for.
Cast wheels can use tubeless tyres. It's what they are designed for.

It's as simple as that.

If someone wants to try sealing the spoke nipple holes with dobs of glue they should take up a hobby that will harm no one but themselves when it goes wrong. I believe Russian Roulette with 5 rounds and 1 empty chamber might suit.

(the Company who does this sealing claims a 90% success rate, I guess the other 10% can just crash and die)