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Michelin desert rear tyre Michelin desert rear tyre
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  #1  
Old 5 May 2011
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are michelin desert tubeless?

Can I use then in BMW r100 rims without a tube?
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Old 5 May 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bernardo feio lightweight View Post
are michelin desert tubeless?
No

Quote:
Originally Posted by bernardo feio lightweight View Post
Can I use then in BMW r100 rims without a tube?
No

You have to be prepared to shave a lot to make it fit, maybe to much. There is still a risk it will interfere with your mudguard.
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Old 5 May 2011
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hello

The spacers that I find to install the Michelin desert are all 5mm. So if with a spacer of 5mm the tyre will fit, if I remove 5mm in the right side of the tyre I will be ok… or I’m I missing something?
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Last edited by bernardo feio lightweight; 7 May 2011 at 12:52.
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Old 5 May 2011
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Originally Posted by bernardo feio lightweight View Post
The spacers that I and find to install the Michelin desert are all 5mm. So if with a spacer of 5mm the tyre will fit, if I remove 5mm in the right side of the tyre I will be ok… or I’m I missing something?
The Michelin desert 17 was made in small series and the tolerances was quite big. Some tires are wider then others. It was common that people had to shave the tire even if they used the 5mm spacer.
Depending on what shock you use it might hit your mudguard when the shock gets compressed. It's possible to raise the mudguard a bit but by removing the spacers at the rear mounting-point but I doubt it will be enough.

You can get 1mm spacers from BMW (it was used for some K-models) to trim this but you have to decide if you need longer bolts or not. I'm not a fan of spacers...
Instead of using spacers it would have been better to respoke the wheel with offset, but that's quite expensive.

The tolerances are not on your side, some examples (R80GS Basic):
  • I've had one Michelin T63 (130/80-17) which rubbed the swing-arm slightly, at least ten that didn't.
  • Pirelli MT21 (130/90-17) hits the mudguard when the tire is new and I have luggage (subframe flexes). I have not experienced this with the Øhlins shock, but it happened regularly with the WP-shock.
So there is no simple answer to your question, it will work if you are willing to do the modifications needed for your bike and the tire you get and you can live with the compromises. The real question is why going to all this to install a tire that have been obsolete for years when there are other good choices out there?
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Old 5 May 2011
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“It's possible to raise the mudguard a bit but by removing the spacers at the rear mounting-point but I doubt it will be enough.”

Spacers? the mud guard in my bike is bolted to the subframe… I never sow any spacers…

“You can get 1mm spacers from BMW (it was used for some K-models) to trim this but you have to decide if you need longer bolts or not. I'm not a fan of spacers...
Instead of using spacers it would have been better to respoke the wheel with offset, but that's quite expensive.”

I agree with you in all the above aspects!!

Alibaba thanks for you pragmatism! J
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Old 5 May 2011
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Originally Posted by bernardo feio lightweight View Post
Spacers? the mud guard in my bike is bolted to the subframe… I never sow any spacers…
Sorry the spacer is only used on Basic/Kalahari-models. Your bike has two rubber-washers and I don't think you gain much by removing them.
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Old 7 May 2011
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The point is that you can't get a Desert to fit the 17" rear wheel in the first place making this thread useless.

You can however get HPN to build you a wheel with the required offset and 18" Tube Type rim but you will still have clearance issues with the mudguard.
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