I asked Beemerguru once why he was going through all the trouble of having a axle and sleeve machined up to use the G/S wheel in GS forks. His answer was tubed tires all around and the person he was building the bike for was also travelling with someone with an ST. That being said....I took a look at the tire size on the GS front vs the G/S front and they are the same size. Why can't a person run a tube in a GS front shy of losing a speed rating?
Do it and don't loose any sleep over it, you could run it tubeless too. The reason I put a different rim on was to keep the rims the same type. The GS has spokes on the outer lip, not the center. Most people would just run the GS hub and rim and not worry about it...not me though!!! If you make it to the Spring old school rally take a peak at mine.
I run a GS front wheel on my ST with tubes. I've never even tried to use it as a tubeless. As for losing a speed rating, I wouldn't be too concerned about that on an airhead. The GS wheel uses the later cartridge bearings, so that's one less maintenance item. The GS wheel is stronger (and heavier) than HELL, but if you do manage to bend it, there's pretty much no hope of ever banging it back into shape, which is possible on a G/S wheel.
Yeah, no reason a tube couldn't be used on a tubeless rim and tire. I'm guessing you didn't get the whole story - perhaps the owner of the bike wanted what he wanted for who knows what reason. You're right - the argument makes no sense. Were these GS forks perhaps on an R80G/S? And the owner wanted to keep the original wheels?
Hey Jenna. No, I haven't found a Toyota RV owner yet that wanted a bike as a trade. I found a very suitable RV in AB though. The bike isn't for sale (unless I get an offer I can't refuse). I have way too much of my heart and soul and ingenious engineering in it to just let it go like that! So it is sitting in my garage, ready for spring action or any 12,000mls trip. If I am getting more serious with the RV idea and get no bites on trades I might put it up for sale ... I am working on this 1972 R60/5 you know! Always shiny side up, you hear! Stephen
I finally gave up using my GS tubeless. It had a slow leak traceable to a spoke hole. I've run a tube for about two years with no problem. Tubeless I had to put air in every three days.....
If you are talking 1988-1996 X-laced type GS wheels then there are no spoke holes that can leak. When you started running a tube, you must have fixed a valve stem leak.
Or a leak between the rim and the tire bead. I had that on my GS front wheel. As for running a tube in a GS wheel, you get the best of both worlds: it's easier to seat the bead when installing the tire but it won't deflate immediately as it would with spoke holes when you get a puncture. There's some added weight and it possibly runs hotter but...this is an airhead. It's not pushing the performance envelope of anything.