R100GS Tire Questions

[bavarianbikerboy]

I just purchased a 1989 R100GS from another MOA member who has had the bike since 1991. I have not actually seen the bike in person yet (due to fly in and drive it home in a week or so), but the Seller informed me that ever since his brother had the worn Sahara tires that were on the bike replaced with Metzler street tires a few years ago while he was overseas serving in the Army, the tires need to be constantly checked prior to riding because they will lose 4 to 5 psi of air over a 1 to 2 day period.

My Questions:

Were the original spoked wheels on this bike set up to run without tubes like the newer GSs?

If they are set up to run "tubeless", do you know of any reason why the tires would be losing air pressure, other than the obvious things like a leaking valve stem or a flat?

[MichiganMike]

My 93 has the spoked rims to run tubeless, not sure when they changed to that type. I would check the valve stems if they are the tubeless type. On a 95R11GS I had a Metzler front that would lose several pounds in a month, sold that bike before I ever resolved the problem. Congratulations on acquiring a good airhead GS.

Mike

[boxerr]

I have a 1990 GSPD, and it has tubeless rims.

My front tyre goes down very slowly also, I think it is not sealing on the bead properly. Needs to be clean to seal properly.

When I got it, it used to go down overnight, but after new tyres, it is very slow now.

I always check pressures before a ride anyway. And I have my own compressor.

[sgborgstrom]

'92 with tubeless rims in my shop

I just spent 15 minutes cleaning 16 years of accumulated munge off the inside of the front rim with fine steelwool and WD-40. Should seal a bit better now. There were also a surprising number of fairly deep gouges in the lip, I'll dress down what I can and see how it goes. The old tire was holding air pressure fairly steady for two or three weeks before needing any kind of touch up.

[The_Veg]

If the spokes are anchored around the outside of the rim instead of in the center, it's a tubeless wheel. I'll second SG's idea about making sure that the selaing surface is nice and clean and smooth.

[72598]

I had the same sealing problem. (corrosion between tyre and rim) Removed tyre and clean rim reassemble. Problem fixed. About two months later same problem. After doing this about five times I said screw it and got a tube.

I believe corrosion was caused by something in the water from washing bike. I have had like corrosion on other aluminum things that came in contact with water. (wheels on truck corroded but still hold air, dog's water dish corroded when aluminum had to get stainless one)