Tubelezz or tubez?

[Daytona Z]

So I took a set of stock RD400 Daytona rims to to get some tires mounted on them. Only for me to change my mind on the color. The prior owner had painted them red that looked ok but it started to flake off a little. So I got myself some tire irons and dismounted the tires only for me to be surprised that there were tubes. The rear was an 18" but the size varied up to way larger than my rim.  When they were mounted at a large motorcycle shop; no one mentioned tubes or even seen it on the receipt. Whatever.
So Going forward Is it preferred with tubes? Or is it conditioned on the rim surface being perfect to go tubeless? How about for track time? Thoughts?

[SoCal250]

You need tubes. They are not designed to be run tubeless

[2 Stroke Jamoke]

Get some scooter valve stems and go tubeless, I run my rd400 and xs650 tubless. Are you supposed to? No, will it be fine? Yes

[Daytona Z]

Interesting. The bike came without tubes and was holding air well. Thanks!

[Kawtriplefreak]

I had the opposite problem a couple years ago on my RZ. Both wheels (designed to be run tubeless) seeped around the valve stems. Lost about a pound of air in 24 hours and they were installed and replaced at the local Yamaha dealer in Winchester, VA. They didn't charge anything for breaking them down and replacing them twice. I bought tubes and they put them in and rebalanced them also for free. At that point I gave up and just buy tubes every time now. 1st time I have ever had a problem with mags sealing.

[pdxjim]

Yup.

LC is the same.  Says "SUITABLE FOR TUBELESS TIRES" cast into the rim, but the rim lacks the proper tubeless style lip.

If it was a racebike, and I was chasing every spare oz, I might opt to go tubeless, but I'd be running different wheels anyway, coz the stock LC wheels weigh a fcuking ton.

[JB Weld]

I have been wondering for a few weeks if I should be running tubes in my "tubeless" Avons. I've always been nervous about running tubeless with spokes, but also worried that I shouldn't put a tube in a tubeless tire. Also didn't want to keep buying tubes if I don't need them. I'll keep running tubes  .

[IR8D8R]

Generally speaking, And I know this from working in a tire shop in 1981. The problem on old wheels made for tubes is they lack the safety bead and shoulder that keeps the tire bead on the rim in the event of a flat. Tubed tires have the bulk of the inner tube to keep the tire in place. That's also why you need a bead-breaker to remove modern tires.

I don't really know that RD 400 wheels are this way... Would have thought that everything had a safety bead by 76. My knowledge of motorcycle tires isn't that deep. But just because it will hold air doesn't mean you don't need tubes.

Vintage sports cars used on the track with period tube-tire wheels are required to have tubes in modern tubeless tires for that reason.

Tubular...

IR8D8R

[m in sc]

i've run tubes in tubeless tire for years with no ill effects.