hi folks, i just bought my first harley,2009 road king classic, back in august. this is my first bike with wire wheels and i 'm wondering if they are tubeless or not. my front tire is a d408f and on the side, from what i can make out, it says that it can be used with or without tubes. i have seen tubeless wire wheels in the past.

 

Wire wheels need tubes in the tires....no way around that. Mag wheels do not require tubes, unless the rim itself is pitted and cannot get a good seal anymore.

I like the look of wire wheels on certain bikes....but for touring purposes, Mag is the way to go.

 

When you change out the rubber it is not a bad idea to swap out the inner tube and liner. Easier then putting up with a leak.

 

Completely agree stock spokes you will need a tube. They are however making aftermarket wire wheels that can be run tubeless.

 

I agree, high end aftermarket spoke rims can be tubeless. However, OEM rims need a tube.

 

you can also have your stock wire wheels made to be tubless, I was going to send mine in and have it done, can't remember the companys name I googled it.
Terry

 

Road King classic factory rims require a tube.
The Wide White wall tires are stamped tubeless but they do have a tube when used with stock spoke rims.
On my bike I carry an inexpensive 12 volt pump and also carrying SLIME,I have used the pump multiple times to rescue others and one time to rescue myself in the past 10-11 years. The pump offers unlimited air..you can air up multiple times and are also able to test/rotate tire to locate leak or move bike away from road while you figure out the problem..although they pump is very slow.(about 5 minutes for a dead tire)
I also carry some cheap plugs for tubeless riders..rescued several of those riders also.
I carrying the same set-up in our cars to help fellow motorcyclist..
Sitting on the side of a busy road or worse stuck out in a more rural area waiting 1 to 2 hours for a tow truck would be a negative and easily ruin your entire day.

 

i did this with a cheap pump for the motorcycle..and have used it many,many times..for a motorcycle you do not need an on/off switch..distance from tire to power is very short....slime also makes a very small pump although i have not tried it.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcyc...cles/air-pump/

 

J&P is supposed to have laced wheels that are tubless.

 

Like others, I carry a small 12 volt air compressor. Have used it twice in the past three years and never on my bikes.

I do however always run the Dunlop D402 Police Tire version. If the tire does develop a flat, the sidewalls are stiff enough to hold up. You may can't go fast, but at least the bike is still rideable to a shop. Not quiet like a true runflat, but at least they work very well for what they were designed for.