A bloke I know has been running Tubliss for Oz desert trips (G'day Den )and reckons they are the dog's watsits. He has found them reliable and the extra traction a real boon in deep sand conditions (including the Canning). I have always just used Bridgestone UHD tubes, with no probs, but the extra traction in sand has me interested, as sand riding is not my forte..... This review seems to rate them as well: http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=831867 At the moment I'm thinking that I should try Tubliss and just carry a couple of tubes in case it all goes pear shaped, but I'd welcome some input from anyone else using Tubliss in Australia and any suggestions for other set ups that work well (such as some mousses)? Cheers, Adrian
I have not tried them myself, from what I hear there is a risk that inner tube does nto seat well with used tyres. But the guys I ride with who use them seem happy enough. They did remark that you can run very low tyre pressures which you really can't do any other way. I've just installed a mousse in the front & found that less of an issue than I initially thought it would be, so I'll go with that. the rear will go in with a new tyre on the weekend.
one more thought: not sure I'd run ultra low tyre pressures at speed, the risk you pull the tyre off would increase. with the mousse you need to ensure you kepp it lubed, there is special mousse for high speed hot conditions
I would have thought that the continuous bead in Tubliss would stop the tyre from unseating more effectively when at low psi? I have read a few reviews from people using Tubliss in Baja, with mixed results, some people swear by them, others swear at them (including Neduro). Do you know the name of the mousse that is recommended for high speed hot conditions? I am thinking that I would increase the psi to 10 - 15 for general higher speed desert running and then just lower it down for the really deep sand, best of both worlds perhaps?
The guy I bought my KTM 525 off, up in the golden triangle had tried them and had them fail on a trip into Laos. He junked them on the basis that he needed 100% reliability in the remote areas. I understood what he was about when I had a 5 day wait to get wheel bearings sent to me. I'd love to not have to carry a whole heap of tubes in the remote stuff.... but I can't see that in my near future
I think I read somewhere that mousse aren't legal on the road, is this true or am I off with the pixels again?
If you google "tubliss" you'll get a lot more information from the US including a number of ADV sites.
Humm sounds like another mouse type thing then? The Dakar racers use them, the suported ones change the mouse DAILY ... if they are that reliable I won't be buying one. Rather fix a flat than have to throw money (mouses) away.
I did google Tubliss, but the majority of reviews reflected on using it in woods riding, hare scrambles and the like and this type of useage seems very different to heading out bush on an unsupported desert trek, where reliability is paramount. Re the failures mentioned, it seems that Tubliss has now been 'improved' and the beadlock liner is a lot stronger than it used to be.
Just remember the real advantage of Mouses is that they provide the extra grip of low pressure without the risk of pinching of tearing out the valve. They are not supposed to be a puncture proof tube, the can and do disintegrate, and are no where near as long lasting as a good tube. If you don't need the grip that bad, then go for a super heavy duty tube with a bit more air in it, that would be the best for reliability.
Adrian, my brother uses mousse on the front pretty often these days. He rode a DRZ back from Tassie with one. The rear is more likely to cause issues especially high speed running and on tar - he melted one down in the '07 Aus Safari. We reckon we will use Michelin Mousse at least in the front tyres when going down the CSR etc later this year.
Dakar racers also change the tyres every day, is that also a sign of lack of reliability? The guys merely err on the side of caution because they can. Mousse can disintegrate quickly if it overheats - how often do you ride hours on end at full throttle through the desert? Some of the guys on dirtbikeworld have been using mousse for many months and changed many tyres in the meantime. Reliabllity does not seem an issue if maintained / lubed properly. Neither is weight btw. It might still not be the right solution for you, simply an option. cheers hg
I used one for the 2010 OCR. Travelled about 5500km with no problems. Ended up going out to Birdsville. I lowered the pressure to about 12psi for big red but mainly ran it at 25psi. This was on a 800gs with 1.6in front. You can run them down very low and have read somewhere that Ballards had slashed the sidewalls to see how they would perform, apparently all good. I also ran 'Ride on" puncture sealant as well, but it cause balancing issues at low speed (60 and below) alright at highways speeds though. It is critically important to check the inner bladder pressure daily to maintain the 100psi. If you puncture the inner bladder, you'll be on the deck before you know what happened. I have the old style liner(red), and it is easy to nick it when changing tyres as I did. This was after the trip and first tyre change. As the system is designed to reduce unsprung weight by eliminating tubes, it may be easier and cheaper to just seal up the rim and run rimlocks with tubeless type tyres. I don't think I would run it again for the type of trip I did, knowing what I know now. Ignorance is bliss. But for enduro riding, I probably would. My 2c anyway.
I had one in the front of my Berg and really liked it, until......... The wire bead failed suddenly mid corner on the tar and I did a head plant. Broken helmet, concussion, lots of bruises and swelling and night in hospital with potential compartment syndrome. The wire bead for no apparent reason let go and tore the side out of the high pressure tube and the tyre peeled off the rim bead and went flat almost instantly. Its a catastrophic failure with no warning. Maybe I was unlucky, dunno, but Tubeliss did not respond to any of my inquiries. All I wanted to do was let them know it failed, but no response at all. It was suggested elsewhere that I must have damaged it when fitting the tyre. Maybe, but it was the third tyre I used and there was no sign of bead damage other than where the wire let go. The bottom line is that if they go, it goes instantly. I still have one in the back of my trials bike though, but not in anything else anymore.
Given the issues that people are reporting with Tubliss and BergDonk's face plant (Jees mate, I'd never even heard of Compartment Syndrome, but is sounds painful :eek1) I think I'm going to take "A" up on his suggestion and try a Michelin mousse on the front and stick with a UHD tube on the back. I have heard though that mousses can be quite tyre specific, does it matter which front tyre I use apart from the size (M15 - 80/100 + 90/90 and M16 - 90/100?). I have tended to use the HP4 (with a KTM), but I have a DRZ400 now and am likng the Dunlop D907F. "A", which mousses and tyres do you and Fred use for your desert trips and will you put them in at the start of your trip, or swap them in at the start of the Canning?
Nasty shit, and could happen to anyone who takes a decent hit: http://www.google.com.au/#hl=en&sugexp=les%3B&gs_rn=4&gs_ri=psy-ab&cp=20&gs_id=eb&xhr=t&q=compartment+syndrome&es_nrs=true&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=compartment+syndrome&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42965579,d.dGY&fp=308f516791364cba&biw=1456&bih=853 Be aware!
I would have to disagree, a mousse is supposed to be puncture proof when used for what they are designed for that's the whole point. Obviously, the lower the pressure in a tube the bigger the chance of a pinch flat whereas a mousse is about the equal of 10 -12 psi without the risk of pinch flat. Sure, they can and do disintegrate if they have not been lubed up properly when installed or regular lubing during their life span or they are used for long and or hot running but they're not designed for that. They are for competition / enduro / single track use where you want lower pressure and are able to hit rocks etc without fear of pinch flats and you don't have to carry tubes and tyre changing tools to save on weight. I would never run them for general trail riding or adventure riding but in the right circumstances they are the ducks nuts.
Agree with what you said. Btw there are mousse tubes specifically designed for higher speeds & temps. have a look at 4enduro dot com. Murray is a good guy and inmate on dirtbikeworld. Btw no affiliation other than buying from him and being impressed with his service.
Geez Bergdonk, that's scary, I will be having a look at my tubliss this weekend to check for any damage. I did a search on the internet to see if yours is a common problem and did not find much on sudden failures . Anyway all I have is a positive experience with Tubliss over the last 2 1/2 years and 45000 km of ADV riding on my DRZ carrying fuel loads of up to 55L and 20L water for multi day desert rides with zero problems. Canning Stock Route 2012 - (Hillbillys pic) The conditions that I ride in are mainly sandy and the ability to run at low pressures makes all the difference in traction and being able to travel in sand with less physical effort. Cheer guys, dont worry, I drive all my mates crazy singing the praises of this system, especially if they are complaining about riding in sand. Ride safe.