First time getting new tires on a ride-dude tells me I need tubes with them-says something about rust being inside the wheel-says he never mounts tires without tubes--is this right?

 

if you have cast wheels then i don`t think its necessary to have a tube but i`m pretty sure that if you`ve got spoked wheels it`s a must

 

yea ive got spoked front and rear

 

I guess it wouldn't hurt but with cast wheels you don'y need them.
I run a radial on the rear spooked wheel with a heavy duty radial tube that is allot more rugged with better protection from the spokes adjusters,
If I had cast wheel I wouldn't bother with a tube.
The nice part of a cast wheel is it's an easy plug fix without having to remove the wheel.
Depending on how bad the tire is damaged it could be a ride saver to at least get home.
Some remove the flat tire and patch the inside then put a tube in but for a small nail an easy fix is a good thing.

 

Put new tubes in ... they've got the same amount of miles on them as the tires and along with the rust ( the spoke seal band can't stop it all from contacting the tube and causing minor abrasion ) the tubes have also taken the beating of the pot holes and other road debris that you've encountered in the past miles. It's cheap insurance and will help make the ride more "trouble free"

 

Wire wheels = tube

 

Tubes are not going to flex much inside a motorcycle tire. If there is rust impragnated into the tube chances are its been in there for a long time(?) and it should be replaced. Most people will tell you to replace them everytime you swap a tire. Ive gone thru rear tires within 4 months and 7000 miles and have reused tubes with no problems. If a tube is less than a year old and in good shape I dont change it.

 

Spoke strip and tube imho.