2018 Heritage wheels
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,023
Likes: 1,352
From: Virginia
HD has/had a low profile rim that they sell and sold as stock on Heritages last year with tubeless tires.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 152
Likes: 41
From: Surrey, UK.
I can't say 100%, but I doubt H-D have used any tubeless spoked rims, even though a tyre may be and state Tubeless on it's side. E.g the Ducati Scrambler uses tubeless tyres on its spoked rims - but with tubes. Triumph do the same on their Thruxton R. It's just not worth the trouble of trying to seal a spoked rim and I would say impossible to also look like an old style traditional spoked wheel such as H-D need to use so owners will accept them.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 152
Likes: 41
From: Surrey, UK.
Ok, happy to admit I'm no H-D expert, so how were the spokes attached to the rim? Can you provide a link to those rims?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,023
Likes: 1,352
From: Virginia
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,023
Likes: 1,352
From: Virginia
The type rims you are talking about are they mostly aftermarket types like the big spoke rims?
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 152
Likes: 41
From: Surrey, UK.
But back to this question, yes it does appear that H-D have supplied spoked rims with a special seal to enable tubeless use. I stand corrected. I never said it was impossible, but I was not aware of any manufacturer that had done so. Now I am
. Thank you for pointing that out.It does however rather complicate things for H-D owners as if you have spoked wheels, you need to be very aware of what type they are and what tyre you're fitting.
I stand by my earlier comment though as I'm pretty sure that BMW, Triumph and Honda only provide tubeless spoked rims with spoke attachment systems that do not penetrate to the air space and hence no special seal is required. H-D are the only manufacturer of which I am (now) aware that supply spoked rims with special seals to allow them to be used tubeless. But if anyone does know of any other, then do say as I'd be interested to know.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 152
Likes: 41
From: Surrey, UK.
I did however come across I think an Italian company making some tubeless spoked wheels, but only complete wheels and the cost was exorbitant.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
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From: Farmington ,MS
I stand by my earlier comment though as I'm pretty sure that BMW, Triumph and Honda only provide tubeless spoked rims with spoke attachment systems that do not penetrate to the air space and hence no special seal is required. H-D are the only manufacturer of which I am (now) aware that supply spoked rims with special seals to allow them to be used tubeless. But if anyone does know of any other, then do say as I'd be interested to know.
Everybody and their brother has come out with tubeless spoke wheels in the last few years...there are company's that will convert any spoke wheel to tubeless.
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/sea...tubeless-tires