OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => Bike Talk => Topic started by: MaxPower on March 02, 2014, 03:40:33 am
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Im about to get tubes for my 83 KX125. Ive come to realize even as slow as I am, weight makes a huge differnece on a dirt bike especially rotating wheel weight.
What tubes are you running? Should I get standard or heavy duty? I will ride mostly soft terrain but wil also be a Unadilla in June. I guess there is had got to be .5kg between a standard and heavy duty tube.
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In my opinion, standard tubes are not worth a pinch of sh#t! Nothing worse than getting a flat when your mid ride whether it be on the track or trail riding. I personally use Michelin ultra heavy duty (they are really thick), I have punished them on my modern KTM to the extent that I have put dents in the rims with no flats and they are easy to change tyres without pinching and last a long time, no issue on the vintage bikes either but I'm not running them as hard! They are heavier but to me, I would rather have faith in the fact that it's going to be hard to ge a flat as opposed to extra rotating mass that will hardly notice. There is also the Tubliss system as an option, I know a few that use it who like it.
http://www.ballards.cc/tubliss-tyre-kit/
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I'm with Kenny. Ultra heavy.
Unfortunately you will get varying opinions on this. All you have to ask yourself is:
Do I enjoy pushing my bike back to the pits?
Do I enjoy fixing flats on the trail?
Do I enjoy holding my mates up ?
Should I increase the likely hood of getting a puncture ten fold?
Truly, the weight difference is equal to a LITTLE bit of mud under the guard. Do you notice that?
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Warning hijack :o
Speaking of tubes what have people found to be a decent hand/foot pump? I am sick of the SCA ones crapping out after a few months. Handle pulls out of the cylinder, valve attachment blows off, foot pedal twists crazily etc. Can anyone recommend a decent quality pump?
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I reckon these type of pumps are the go PEZBerg
(http://i677.photobucket.com/albums/vv132/mc125mick/2014-03-02%2009.29.57_zpswdolhlpk.jpg~original)
Any push bike shop sells them. This one is many moons old.
They have a reversible presta/scrader connection for very high pressure tour-de-france pushy types,,,,
So our low pressures applications are a walk in the park.
Two things if you want it to see you out,,
-make sure it has a steel pump tube(barrel), not plastic.
-make sure it has a screw on reversible valve stem fitting, last for ever.
If you buy the clip-on type of stem fitting, You will need spare rubber seals with it.
Get the screw-on type fitting ;)
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Heavy duty is the go.
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Thanks Mick. Just what I have been looking for. This forum comes up with the goods yet again ;D Ask and you will usually get a great answer for sure! Long may it continue.
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The only issue I have had with ultra heavy duty tubes (Michelin) is creep ! No matter what I do the front tube will creep under braking and move the valve stem. The tube is fitted to my KLX250, let's just say the braking power is marginal !!! I run std heavy duty in the Husky 390WR and the CCM without issues. I would be tempted to run std heavy duty with a bottle of Slime. I have not had a puncture for years using this.
I only tried the ultra heavy tube in the KLX as it has no power to lift the wheel over logs/rocks etc ! and so takes a hammering.
A 125 will run light on the front anyway.
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My 2012 KTM has arguablty some of the best front brakes around and I don't get creep, I use a standard rimlock with no issues.. Slime may help if you get this, maybe some new rimlocks are needed???
As for the pump I have a similar one to this, really good!
http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/TPPUFN8J2/title/topeak-joe-blow-sport-ii-floor-pump
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I run Tubliss in my bike ! Very happy with it. Also lighter than tubes.
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I always fit new rim locks every time I change a tyre. The new Metzler six days has been on for 6 months.
I feel a "plan B" coming on ;)
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I'm glad I got distracted yesterday and didn't order my tubes. I came a few clicks away to buying standard lighter tubes. My reasoning is that I had not realized what a difference rotating weight made until I raced road bicycles. I could tell a difference in between tires or the difference between a 36 and 32 spoke rim . So this being a 125 and me an old man weighing more than a 125 was designed for, that I would try to build towards leaving off the most unsprung weight as I could. However flatting and not finishing is the worst and not worth any amount of lost unsprung weight.
I like the idea of the Tubliss tire tubeps. I have spent way too much on this bike and I just don't see me finding the extra money for them. I very much appreciate appreciate all your replies
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Cheats way is to slit an old tube around the inside and slip it over a std tube as an outer cover....use lots of powder to help em slip slide around while assembling. great trick if you get a tube destroying flat out in the sticks and your mates only have a std tube for you to steal!