Opinions on using TUbliss on a Dualsport with DOT tires

[Dualsportwr450]

Thinking about trying them but are concerned with how it will work for pavement riding

[1 lunger]

Less friction should make tire run cooler

[Chas_M]

Tubliss works great for dual sport bikes even though they are not DOT approved, but who's to know.

[ridemafaka]

I have been running them all summer on my street rims no issues but make sure you run a stiffer sidewall... they didn't work as well with the 216 golden tyre kept getting front flats so I went back to mousse tubes for my off road rims

[Dualsportwr450]

Gonna be using kenda Parkers desert tires or Dunlop mx 71

[ridemafaka]

The kenda parker dt's are doing well as my studded tires but they are on mousse tubes

[weantright]

TuBliss works great as long as you don't run low PSI sub 12 PSI. Heat builds up inside with low pressures and your tape glue starts to break down and leaks begin. Also your high pressure tube will wear quicker if you don't have a lube or power to help with heat/movement.

[Dualsportwr450]

Tape glue? Lube or power to help with heat movement. Can you go into further detail to explain that

[weantright]

TuBliss supplies a rim tape to seal spokes. I noticed the glue was separating from the plastic tape on the bike that had miles of hot road. Also recommend baby power/talc to help the high pressure tube to move around or slime to pull heat away. Many don't like to use slime.  I have seen heat (spots where tube stuck to rim) marks on the high pressure tube on this same bike. Added slime and haven't had any other issues.

Edited February 8, 2016 by weantright

[Dualsportwr450]

Slime on the inside of the high pressure tube? Or put slime in the tire? I take it the high pressure tube is supposed to slip?

[weantright]

I haven't found a need to put slime inside the tube. Inside the tire, tire bead and lately the valve stem is the spots I put slime. Some get away with soapy water and I tried this but had slight leaking later. Slime also helps to find punctures on the trail.

[Chas_M]

TuBliss supplies a rim tape to seal spokes. 

 

 

 

 

The rim tape is used to protect the high pressure tube and has no sealing function.  The seal is between the Tubliss carcass and the tire beads (inside of tire).

[weantright]

I thought the same when first starting to use this system. I had a constant small leak with a new tire, I used soapy water and found the spokes were leaking. No loss of air with tube so I contacted TuBless and they told me it's not common but does happen. They told me to install new tape making sure it adhered to the rim. 3 days later a box of tape was on my door step, great customer service. Installed and all was fine. Now I brush on slime when installing from the start as well as when tire replacement is needed.

[SenorThumpy]

Its a great idea. I've had a tubliss on my DRZ for a few years and run DOT tires and just put one on my husky. Carry some CO2 cartridges with you though. I air up to 15psi for the pavement and air down to 5-12psi (depending on tire, terrain & conditions) in the dirt. I've had two puncture flats on the drz. Of course, I didn't have my usual kit with me either time and had to ride out on the flat. The second time included a few miles on pavement to get home. I was able to ride at like 10mph on the road with out much drama on the flat. Because of the tubliss the tire didn't come off the rim. I haven't run into any heat issues or leaks with the HP tube. I think part of that is due to running 15+psi on the street. If you have the tire for it, being able to run super low air pressure is awesome. I ran 5psi on the mt43 this summer, rode mostly rocky new england single track and didn't have any issues. At 5psi the MT43 hooked everywhere with very little to no wheel spin. Gotta have those CO2 cartidges though because going past 2nd on 5psi is super sketchy, pavement is just a nono that low.

 

The rim tape they supply is one part of a two part system to seal the spokes. The HP tube forces the tape against the spokes and the tape creates the seal via the pressure of the HP tube. I can certainly see the potential for leaks through install error/difficulty or the odd rim/spoke manufacturing anomoly. I take my sweet sweet time installing the tubliss & tire and its treated me well.

 

ALWAYS ALWAYS check the HP tube pressure before every ride. Every single time I start my bike I check the HP tube. EDIT - I should add that I do see pressure drop in the HP tube. I ride my DRZ like once a month and that drops down to 75-80lbs in that month during cold weather. In warmer weather the drop is smaller, like to 90-95psi and sometimes no drop at all. The biggest drop was from Nov - this month. I bought my husky right before xmas so the DRZ hadn't seen much love. Pulled it out to test out snow traction and noticed the HP tube was down to 45psi! Good thing I always check! I don't see the drop when I ride the bike once a week. 

Edited February 12, 2016 by SenorThumpy

[Dualsportwr450]

Sounds good to me thanks for spending the time to type all that out.

[weantright]

Very important choosing the correct tire for your type of riding. When using low PSI you can rip a knobby easily and no patch job will work. I gave away three slightly used tires this year because of a torn knobby. My buddies appreciate them!