Tubeless tires on FLSTC with tire option?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 11,630
Likes: 990
From: NC
The tubeless spoked rims have a liner that goes up and onto the bead area of the rim. The tire bead seals against the liner.
The valve stem is bonded to the liner just like it's bonded to a tube.
The liners are available new from HD and cost about $25 each.
I did a whole post on this in the tires and wheels section of the forum when I did the conversion. I bought the wheels from a guy who took 'em off his new '15, and converted 'em to use on my '06
The valve stem is bonded to the liner just like it's bonded to a tube.
The liners are available new from HD and cost about $25 each.
I did a whole post on this in the tires and wheels section of the forum when I did the conversion. I bought the wheels from a guy who took 'em off his new '15, and converted 'em to use on my '06
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
All H-D spoked rims from 14 on have a sealing ring and are tubeless. Prior to that some had the feature.
No one has had a problem with the seals. However when replacing the tires some have had the sealing ring disturbed and it needed replacing.
Tubeless tires that folks put a tube into it will run much hotter and that is not good for tire life and durability.
No one has had a problem with the seals. However when replacing the tires some have had the sealing ring disturbed and it needed replacing.
Tubeless tires that folks put a tube into it will run much hotter and that is not good for tire life and durability.
Last edited by lh4x4; Jan 31, 2017 at 08:22 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 36
Likes: 8
From: Woodinville, WA
Thanks for all the info. Based on what I learned here, I purchased a Stop & Go repair kit to keep in my saddle bag for emergencies.
I am surprised that it is so difficult to get the right information and I don't understand why this is not described in the owner's manual or in the service manual.
-Joe
I am surprised that it is so difficult to get the right information and I don't understand why this is not described in the owner's manual or in the service manual.
-Joe
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 488
From: Central California
Thanks for all the info. Based on what I learned here, I purchased a Stop & Go repair kit to keep in my saddle bag for emergencies.
I am surprised that it is so difficult to get the right information and I don't understand why this is not described in the owner's manual or in the service manual.
-Joe
I am surprised that it is so difficult to get the right information and I don't understand why this is not described in the owner's manual or in the service manual.
-Joe
A lot of the other bad info out there is most likely due to assumptions about spoked wheels in general. Before undertaking the tubeless spoked wheel project on my '06 Deluxe I did last year, I assumed I'd have to do an aftermarket sealing operation. In my research is where I found out about the factory implementation.
So, for long road trips, I carry a plug kit and CO2 cartridges, and use "Ride-On' in the tires for minor punctures. Of course, major tire damage like a cut sidewall or having the tire shred due to a blow-out would be the same as running tubed tires.....you'd be calling for a tow.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 536
Likes: 36
I'm Confused.
Not to beat a dead horse, but... I want to go tubeless if I can.
Cobra1: "My spoked rims have been tubeless since 2000 on my Heritage."
lh4x4: "All H-D spoked rims from '14 on have a sealing ring and are tubeless."
My understanding is that ONLY the HD SMOOTHIE rims are tubeless, and may be fitted without tubes, the standard "classic ridge" laced rims still need a tube. True or False?
Questions:
1. Is Cobra1 running some kind of aftermarket rim? If not, can I run tubeless on my "ridge" rims? (Smoothies came out in '12).
2. I have seen '14 and later Softails fitted from the factory with both styles of rim (smoothie and ridge). lh4x4 is stating: "All H-D spoked rims from 14 on have a sealing ring and are tubeless."
Comments backed up by facts would be welcome.
Cobra1: "My spoked rims have been tubeless since 2000 on my Heritage."
lh4x4: "All H-D spoked rims from '14 on have a sealing ring and are tubeless."
My understanding is that ONLY the HD SMOOTHIE rims are tubeless, and may be fitted without tubes, the standard "classic ridge" laced rims still need a tube. True or False?
Questions:
1. Is Cobra1 running some kind of aftermarket rim? If not, can I run tubeless on my "ridge" rims? (Smoothies came out in '12).
2. I have seen '14 and later Softails fitted from the factory with both styles of rim (smoothie and ridge). lh4x4 is stating: "All H-D spoked rims from 14 on have a sealing ring and are tubeless."
Comments backed up by facts would be welcome.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 488
From: Central California
Seems there are a few manufacturers claiming to build tubeless spoked wheels. While many have had success, there are those that have posted complaints that they leak.
There are aftermarket sealing schemes. A search of the internet turned up a few different options. Some sportbike forums have posts about it. These have a sealing tape/compound that goes around the inside of the rim. Sometimes a spoke nipple sealing solution is applied to each spoke as well. I think Loctite makes a product that is used for that, although I don't think that is what it was designed for.
This was the strategy I was going to use last year before finding the smoothies that were a take-off for a '15 Deluxe. My original rims had quite a bit of corrosion inside as is often the case, and I was looking for new hoops so I could start with a clean fresh surface. I'd imagine the makers of custom tubeless spoke rims like Cobra1 has use a strategy like this.
There are aftermarket sealing schemes. A search of the internet turned up a few different options. Some sportbike forums have posts about it. These have a sealing tape/compound that goes around the inside of the rim. Sometimes a spoke nipple sealing solution is applied to each spoke as well. I think Loctite makes a product that is used for that, although I don't think that is what it was designed for.
This was the strategy I was going to use last year before finding the smoothies that were a take-off for a '15 Deluxe. My original rims had quite a bit of corrosion inside as is often the case, and I was looking for new hoops so I could start with a clean fresh surface. I'd imagine the makers of custom tubeless spoke rims like Cobra1 has use a strategy like this.