Laced Wheels
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 3
From: TX
RE: Laced Wheels
ORIGINAL: jd_underdog
20,000 miles and have never had a flat!
20,000 miles and have never had a flat!
Wait til you're on the side of the road in BF somewhere. Then you WILL be wishing you didn't have those hard-to-clean, can't-plug-a-flat spoke wheels.... I've had then on one of my Harleys (wife's Heritage)... never again ~ for me.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 2
From: Winslow, Arizona
RE: Laced Wheels
Like TampaJim brought up, the big difference between laced and cast wheels are the way they lose air when the tire is puntured. A tube/tire combo on laced wheels goes flat immediately, no warning. A tubeless tire on a cast wheel loses air slowly, giving you a warning via sloppy handling that something is wrong. This can be pretty useful if you pick up a nail at 70mph on the freeway.
Like xxxflhrci and others brought up, laced wheels are more maintenance intensive, which can be a pain on a touring bike that hides the rear wheel behind saddlebags.
Weigh the options and run what you want. I've heard of a sealing service for laced wheels that allows them to run tubeless tires with no tube, which should make the tire lose air slowly, like with a cast wheel. Might be something to look into.
Like xxxflhrci and others brought up, laced wheels are more maintenance intensive, which can be a pain on a touring bike that hides the rear wheel behind saddlebags.
Weigh the options and run what you want. I've heard of a sealing service for laced wheels that allows them to run tubeless tires with no tube, which should make the tire lose air slowly, like with a cast wheel. Might be something to look into.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
From: Santa Maria di Camisano, Italy
RE: Laced Wheels
I gotta tell you I've had flats on several lace wheels and my buddy just had one -- the air does not necessarily come out all at once! It never has with mine. It's happened just as described above; the handling got mushy and the air came out slowly.Every time (I count 3 times for me and several for friends of mine over the years). Maybe I'm lucky, but that's been my experience...
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 9
From: Lincolnton, NC
RE: Laced Wheels
It is true that Harley uses tubless tires with a tube in laced wheels ,but when a tube is punctured the air escapes and goes out of the spoke holes (unless they are sealed). Once enough air escapes, the seal breaks from the rim and there you go. Unless you gash it, air will escape very slowly from a punctured tubeless tire giving you plenty of time to "feel" it and pull over. The only way I detected my punctures was by checking air pressure--those nails could have been in there for several days.
I had a flat rear a few months back. Bike felt a little funny when I left work but nothing major. I had a hard time trying to tell if it was my imagination at first. Rode 20 miles down the interstate trying to determine whether the squirmy feeling was in the front, the rear or caused by wind from the 18 wheelers. I finally pulled off the interstate and found the flat. I'm guessing that as I rode, the tire was losing air gradually.
Rode 1/4 mile up the ramp to the truck stop. Tire still stuck on the rim when I got there. Turns out I had a 3" long nail in the tire/tube. After the tire was changed, the dealer saved the tire, tube and nail for me. Tube was torn up pretty good.
My point here is, the tire didn't "blow out". There are quite a few spokes in the wheel but it's not like the air has a 2" open hole to escape from all at once. This is my one experience with a flat tire and laced wheels, YMMV.
So far, I've been fortunate ( or lucky ) concerning loose spokes.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
From: Santa Maria di Camisano, Italy
RE: Laced Wheels
ORIGINAL: Neckball
Is this based on your experience with laced wheels?
I had a flat rear a few months back. Bike felt a little funny when I left work but nothing major. I had a hard time trying to tell if it was my imagination at first. Rode 20 miles down the interstate trying to determine whether the squirmy feeling was in the front, the rear or caused by wind from the 18 wheelers. I finally pulled off the interstate and found the flat. I'm guessing that as I rode, the tire was losing air gradually.
Rode 1/4 mile up the ramp to the truck stop. Tire still stuck on the rim when I got there. Turns out I had a 3" long nail in the tire/tube. After the tire was changed, the dealer saved the tire, tube and nail for me. Tube was torn up pretty good.
My point here is, the tire didn't "blow out". There are quite a few spokes in the wheel but it's not like the air has a 2" open hole to escape from all at once. This is my one experience with a flat tire and laced wheels, YMMV.
So far, I've been fortunate ( or lucky ) concerning loose spokes.
It is true that Harley uses tubless tires with a tube in laced wheels ,but when a tube is punctured the air escapes and goes out of the spoke holes (unless they are sealed). Once enough air escapes, the seal breaks from the rim and there you go. Unless you gash it, air will escape very slowly from a punctured tubeless tire giving you plenty of time to "feel" it and pull over. The only way I detected my punctures was by checking air pressure--those nails could have been in there for several days.
I had a flat rear a few months back. Bike felt a little funny when I left work but nothing major. I had a hard time trying to tell if it was my imagination at first. Rode 20 miles down the interstate trying to determine whether the squirmy feeling was in the front, the rear or caused by wind from the 18 wheelers. I finally pulled off the interstate and found the flat. I'm guessing that as I rode, the tire was losing air gradually.
Rode 1/4 mile up the ramp to the truck stop. Tire still stuck on the rim when I got there. Turns out I had a 3" long nail in the tire/tube. After the tire was changed, the dealer saved the tire, tube and nail for me. Tube was torn up pretty good.
My point here is, the tire didn't "blow out". There are quite a few spokes in the wheel but it's not like the air has a 2" open hole to escape from all at once. This is my one experience with a flat tire and laced wheels, YMMV.
So far, I've been fortunate ( or lucky ) concerning loose spokes.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania
RE: Laced Wheels
4 of my last five motorcycles have had laced wheels. Chrome looks boss. No way am I changing. Never had a flat (knock on wood). Also there is a product out that is designed to prevent flats and is used in tube type tires. I was reading about it here, on the forum somewhere. I think its called "Ride On"? maybe??? Someone will come up with a link for you. The reviews I saw were good. IMO those stock wheels on an Ultra look like crap. Gotta be CHROME........
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,867
Likes: 0
From: Severna Park, Maryland 21146
RE: Laced Wheels
I've got the profile laced, had a staple in the rear tire and never knew it, was caught by the dealer doing the 10,000 mile service. The way I understand it, if your going to get a screw, nail ect it is ussually because the front tire runs over it while it is flat in the road and kicks it up, then there is a chance the rear will hit it standing up.
I was thinking of a solid rear wheel with a tubless tire, but because it would be easier to clean. I've decieded against it, just like the look.
I did buy and little portable air conpressor the plugs in the cig lighter. It's about 3"x4"x1" and carry in tour pack with other tools ect.
I was thinking of a solid rear wheel with a tubless tire, but because it would be easier to clean. I've decieded against it, just like the look.
I did buy and little portable air conpressor the plugs in the cig lighter. It's about 3"x4"x1" and carry in tour pack with other tools ect.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 9
From: Lincolnton, NC
RE: Laced Wheels
I look at all this as a nice healthy discussion of two different viewpoints. To me, it's just another choice we make. Not any different between choosing to ride on 2 wheels as opposed to 4. Some people call us crazy for getting on a motorcycle at all regardless of the type of wheel on it.
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