how do i get tubeless tyres on my kle500?
 

hi
after being stuck waiting in new cross in the rain for three hours waiting for the aa man with another puncture i thought i might have a go at getting some different wheels on my kle so i can fit tubeless tyres and have a crack at plugging them myself should i get a puncture. . . .
has anyone fitted different wheels to a kle?
i am aware a gs 500 has the same size rear tyre. would i be able to just stick gs500 wheels on the kle even though the front is a different size?
can anyone advise me and explain the main things to consider?
regards
nathan

you are much more likely to get correct spindle sizes etc by using kawasaki wheels, so look into Gpz500, er5 etc wheels. Be aware, you may have to machine up wheel spacers, brake caliper adaptor plates etc.

Simple punctures are easier to fix on tubeless as long as the bead is intact and you have an air pump.

Far cheaper solution than changing rims is to carry a spare tube and tire pump on the bike and learn how to change out a tube. It's not that hard once you get the hang of it and will serve you well when you're on your own in the middle of nowhere.

People who travel without a spare whether on a bike, car or other vehicle eventually get a flat at night in the rain on a narrow mountain road out of cell service. It might be a universal law. I'm not sure. :-)

Cheers,
John Downs

hi. thanks for the reply.
how do you change an inner tube at the side of the road? i kinda got the impression it wasn't an easy task from people i have spoken to. even the aa man said is it tubed or tubeless and then said ah ok il tow you soon as he realised it was tubed. . .
it seems when the tyre starts wearing down i always get punctures and i need to work out a way to get meself home at least . . .
regards
nathan

thanks Joe. will have a look into it.

Here you go!
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/store/includes/ad5-pop.php

ahh. right. i will look into this one and see what i can learn. thanks.

fixing punctures
 

thanks mate. i used to fix me pushbike all the time as a kid. i just got the impression that motorbikes were a lot harder with the bead breaking and all. i had a look on utube and there are some good videos on there . . .
apparently it isn't that hard after all. just need some air, a g clamp, a patch, a plugger, soap if poss and some levers. i have a flat in the yard i might just go mess about with if it will stop bloody raining!
best regards
Nathan

Make sure the tyres are tube type (marked TT). The choice of tubeless (TL) often drives people to fit these onto spoked rims (or you can buy a BMW G650 and let the factory to it!). This is the worst of both worlds, you can't fit a bung from the outside or break the bead with hand tools to change the tube.

Andy

I started by practicing in my workshop when it was time to get new tyres, that way if it all went wrong i could take it to someone that knew what they were doing, rather than at the side of the road. I found i didn't need any fancy kit, just a small pair of tyre levers and pump.

Just as an aside I've just converted my spoked pushbike wheels to tubless with a kit to avoid "snakebite punctures" where on landing after a jump the tyre flexes and pinches the tube. Don't know if similar kits are possible for motorcycles.

hi
yeah that would be great. will have a look see if i can find a tubeless conversion kit. iut would sure make fixing punctures easier. . . .

Sympathies from me Nath as I have had my second puncture in 3 months and a holiday ruined as no repair was possible for three days due to a bank holiday and nothing open.

I now have a means to change my own tyres and tubes. I think the advantage of tubes is one fixed it is permanent, where as tubeless tyres plugged is only temporary.

Hi
how have you managed to change them? what have you worked out?

right. i worked out how to change a tyre! same as bicycles really just need a bit more leverage . . .
went ok. stuck a patch on too instead of a new tube and it's holding air. not sure if the bead has popped correctly though. how do i know? it looks even all the way round and it did make a popping noise . . .
any ideas?