Z1OwnersClub GB

Hi all, am new to the forum, ain't t'interweb great.

I need advice as I need to put new rubber on my LTD B4 restoration.

The rear tyre that came off the bike was a tubeless type (there was no tyre on the front wheel) but advice from Mr Marsden is that this bike should run tubes. The rear alloy is date stamped 10/79.

What do you guys think, what have you experienced?

On a search for this subject someone mentions that the alloy wheel needs to be marked tubeless, if it isn't then a tube should be used..... whadayafink?

Whilst on the subject, I was going to fit Dunlop GT501 but many here seem to favour Bridgestone BT45. All advice welcome.

If this is a worn out subject, then please excuse me as a newbie and point me in the right direction.

Bridgestone BT45 are great tyres
Tubeless wheels are usually stamped to show they're suitable for tubeless tyre applications as you mentioned.

BT45's are great tyres but I'm not sure you should be putting a tyre designed for tubeless application with an innertube. I was always under the impression the tyre's bead wouldn't be properly seated on the wheel's rim.

So what do you suggest if I need to fit tubes?

I`ve got the original Dunlops on my Z1000.
They are marked as tubeless but obviously have tubes fitted.

I always thought it was the other way round. I.E. Don`t fit tube type tyres in a tubeless application.

I think that the air may leak out

LTD Project wrote:So what do you suggest if I need to fit tubes?

Good question. There are very few tubed tyres out there now that fit our bikes. I felt your pain until quite recently because my CSR has spoked wheels. I decided to side-step the issue (and hassle) of fitting tubes by buying tubeless wheels off a later model. Perhaps you could do the same -I bought some secondhand Z1000 J wheels for not much money - they're commonly available.

Thanks Dark Skies

A reasonable suggestion but unfortunately the LTD has a 16" rear, which I don't think a J model would cater for.... me thinks another call to Mr Marsden is required to get to the bottom of this one.

Thanks to all other responses too

LTD Project wrote:Thanks Dark Skies

A reasonable suggestion but unfortunately the LTD has a 16" rear, which I don't think a J model would cater for.... me thinks another call to Mr Marsden is required to get to the bottom of this one.

So does the CSR. However, I found with the wider tyre options available to me it was possible to get a lower profile tyre for the 18" rear over the 16" CSR standard. Once fitted there was only about an inch difference - half an inch either side of the axle and so not very noticeable.

If that doesn't float your boat - the K1 Ltd (1981/82) uses a 16" tubeless cast rear wheel.