I can understand why you would want tubeless tyres on a high performance motorcycle (in terms of BHP and speed on the road) but it escapes me as to why you would bother on a trials bike. Especially with the problems that seem to exist in sealing the rims round the spokes.

Can anybody explain the benefits please ?

Edited August 5, 200521 yr by arun1664

You don't rip the valve out when the tyre spins and saves weight of course

Much easier to fix a puncture.

If you have ever been in the middle of nowhere and had a puncture you will understand why. packet of "turds" and air capsule and your away again.

Has there ever been tubless fronts on any trials bike?

Fitting tyres is easy peasy without tubes and two security bolts. Even back in 1981 Bultaco tried self tappers instead of the security bolts. I think for about 3 years on road trials I always carried a tube of Finilec.

softer sidewalls, much better grip.

for me, having both kinds, the ease of repair is far and away the big reason. so much so I am trying to convert a couple old ones to tubeless rims.

Has there ever been tubless fronts on any trials bike?

Can't remember what year, but I rode a fantic (Orange one) in the SSDT that had a tubless front tyre.

You think a rear gets a bit scary popping it on with the compressor, well the front took it to a whole new level............Air line at arms length, looking in the other direction just in case the whole bl***y thing disintegrated.

Probably why they never continued

Fantic 1989 has been on tubless fronts.

Tubeless are much easy and faster to fit on.

Tubeless tyres usually deflate slower when punctured. Not really a plus point on a trials bike but better than a sudden deflation on the road.

With using low pressures in the tyres, you find when a tube is fitted the tyre slips on the rim. With tubeless this does not happen because of the seal between.

I was of the thinking that the reason the rear is tubeless is to stop pinching at very low pressure. If you have a tube and it gets sandwiched between the tyre and the rim going over a sharp ledge the tube punctures.

As far as slip goes I have always run two locks on both front and rear wheels on my Monty 360H7. Even at 20psi I found it impossible to keep nipples in the front. With two bead locks you can ride flat and still not have the tyre slip so I don't think tubeless makes much difference re. slip.

BJDownunder