Fat Bob owners...keep the tube or go tubeless?
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: CO
Fat Bob owners...keep the tube or go tubeless?
First off, does anyone know why the hell the Moco decided to give us a tube inside a tubeless on cast wheels?
I'm coming up on rear tire change and trying to decide whether to stick with the tube or lose it. My local indy who recently patched my rear told me to get rid of the tube, but especially after patching, I wanted the extra safety of the tube. But a tube can always be added later if you have to patch. But is it safer in general to go with a tube or tubeless? The plus side to tubeless is being able to do an emergency patch in the middle of nowhere to get you home. Get a flat with a tube, you're done son.
I'm coming up on rear tire change and trying to decide whether to stick with the tube or lose it. My local indy who recently patched my rear told me to get rid of the tube, but especially after patching, I wanted the extra safety of the tube. But a tube can always be added later if you have to patch. But is it safer in general to go with a tube or tubeless? The plus side to tubeless is being able to do an emergency patch in the middle of nowhere to get you home. Get a flat with a tube, you're done son.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 320
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From: Meridian, Idaho
First off, does anyone know why the hell the Moco decided to give us a tube inside a tubeless on cast wheels?
I'm coming up on rear tire change and trying to decide whether to stick with the tube or lose it. My local indy who recently patched my rear told me to get rid of the tube, but especially after patching, I wanted the extra safety of the tube. But a tube can always be added later if you have to patch. But is it safer in general to go with a tube or tubeless? The plus side to tubeless is being able to do an emergency patch in the middle of nowhere to get you home. Get a flat with a tube, you're done son.
I'm coming up on rear tire change and trying to decide whether to stick with the tube or lose it. My local indy who recently patched my rear told me to get rid of the tube, but especially after patching, I wanted the extra safety of the tube. But a tube can always be added later if you have to patch. But is it safer in general to go with a tube or tubeless? The plus side to tubeless is being able to do an emergency patch in the middle of nowhere to get you home. Get a flat with a tube, you're done son.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: CO
Well I don't know about all the model years, but I know that 2013 models all come with tubes. It even says on the tire "tubeless on tube"
Advanced
Joined: May 2014
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From: MKE
How do you know this? My 2013 doesn't have a tube and the service manual says the cast wheels come with tubeless tires.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Norway
Are you sure it doesn't say "Tubeless OR tube"?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Out on Deranged
I switched to mich comm II tires and fo sho I have no tubes. This is actually the first time I have heard of needing a tube with a cast wheel.
PS there were never any tubes and I have been through 5 sets of tires since buying the FB in late '07.
PS there were never any tubes and I have been through 5 sets of tires since buying the FB in late '07.
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: CO
Ok guys, I'll post a pic later to prove it but I'm 100% sure mine came with tubes. Another way to tell is that the valve stem is metal with a nut on the outside. Tubeless always have a rubber, flexible stem. There was another thread on this where I asked how to tell if it was a tube or not, and everyone said if it's a metal stem, it has a tube.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
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From: Northern VA
Having personally changed my tires in the spring, I can tell you that my tubeless tires have a metal valve stem, with a nut. I think it's the tubeD tired that have a flexible valve stem (since it's part of the tube).
For tubeLESS the valve stem is part of the wheel. You stick it through the hole in the wheel from the inside out, then secure it in place with a nut.
For TubeD tires, the valve stem is part of the tube.
For tubeLESS the valve stem is part of the wheel. You stick it through the hole in the wheel from the inside out, then secure it in place with a nut.
For TubeD tires, the valve stem is part of the tube.
Last edited by mattVA; Jul 15, 2014 at 09:08 AM.