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NoTubes.com
XC Tubeless Kit
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Average Rating
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5/5
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# of Reviews
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7
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MSRP
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$
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Weight
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More Products from NoTubes.com
Submit a Review
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Description:Do you want to try tubeless but dont want to deal with the investment. Stan's Tubeless System will convert your existing wheel set to tubeless using either standard or tubeless tires. The new molded rim strips offer 2 sealing points and a removable valve core. For 21-24mm rims.
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Submitted by
J. Ghigliotti
a Cross Country Rider
from Ocala
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Santos | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Less air pressure,no pinch flats. | | Weaknesses: | A little tough to set-up | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | BLT, Mavic XC717 Wheels,Monkey Lite Bars,Maxxis Tires,Chris Hubs,XT and Xtr components | | Bottom Line: | First of all if you don't have a compressor and quick fill nozzle,find one/ borrow one or buy one it will make the install much easier.Watch the online video.Use your rim tape as long as it is in good shape.Use a little silicon to lube the Stan's rim strip it will allow the strip to pull back.Make sure the strip is seated and uniform all the way around the rim.Mount the tires and soap up the bead on both sides.Do a dry fill.Once again if you don't have a compressor it can make the install a nightmare.I did not hang the wheel like in the video I held the wheel while filling and rolled it on the ground on the sections that appeared to be leaking.They fill easily. Follow the steps on the video and check for leaks.My bike shop told me to do an easy ride right away, even just around the block.The tires hold air perfectly.Be sure to check online for tire and wheel compatibility and WATCH THE VIDEO !!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will Wells
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol, UK
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | John's Bikes, Bath | | Strengths: | Dramatically reduces rotating weight
No punctures or pinch flats, ever!
More traction and cornering grip.
Faster acceleration and better braking | | Weaknesses: | Bit of a bugger to fit
Quite expensive seeing as a refill bottle of solution costs £10 making the rest of the kit £40 (which is no more complexed or expensive to manufacture than a couple of inner tubes and a small roll of sellotape!)
Super lightweight wheels equals equally sketchy handling... Be warned! | | Similar Products Used: | Inner tubes! | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo. 2007 Shimano XT throughout, raceface next bars, mavic XC717 Disc rims on XT centrelock hubs. Thomson Bar and stem. Bontrager Jones Mud-X tyres most of the year, Jones AC-X tyre used when it's not pissing down (rarely). | | Bottom Line: | Does exactly what it says on the tin, only ever had one puncture that didn't seal instantly, however I was riding through a stream at the time.
As mentioned above these chop a surprising amount of weight out of your wheels, and totally change the attitude of the bike. Changing direction is super fast as is braking and acceleration but you are more likely to get banged off course as the wheels dont hold as much momentum. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Teamslug
a Cross Country Rider
from Yorkshire,United Kingdom
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | penmachno,Wales | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | justridingalong | | Strengths: | Lightweight,puncture protection,better traction | | Weaknesses: | can be fiddly to install | | Similar Products Used: | tubes!!! | | Bike Setup: | Maverick ML8 | | Bottom Line: | Used the kit on some X717 rims with panaracer cinder 2.1 tyres.Says on No tubes website that panaracer tyres are not suitable due to weaker bead but i installed these tyres first go..they sealed first time and i have only topped up air once in three months.Ran at about 40psi to start with to make sure they wouldn't blow off the rim but am now running about 30psi..which gives me loads of traction..installation was pretty straight forward..i think the trick is to make sure the inner bit of the rim is built up to right height so rim strip can seal onto tyre..watch the video's on no tubes website as these are invaluable..i used a crappy track pump to install and after i had sussed out that a bit of downward pressure on the tyre near the valve helped they blew up nicely.Proof is in the pudding and so far i've had no punctures - loads of thorns this time of year - and the bike feels like it accelerates faster due to the loss of rotating weight.
PS.Also fitted it to some cinder 2.25's for a mate onto same rims and used freeride strips on Sun SOS rims with Kenda Nevegal tyres...all sealed and are holding air nicely | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lothar Othp
a Racer
from Ocomukowonowaukesha, WI
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Speedgoat.com | | Strengths: | Ride lower pressures for better handling without fear of pinch flats. Makes tires virtually flat proof without the weight penalty of a UST system. | | Weaknesses: | Setup can be a pain (not all tire/rim combos may work). An air compressor makes installation much easier. | | Similar Products Used: | tubes, Performance lunar light tubes | | Bike Setup: | SC Superlight | | Bottom Line: | Installation instructions are clear. The video on the website is also very helpful. I'd like to see other MTB companies be as informative about their products.
The install. I have Bontrager valiant rims front & rear. I drilled out the valve stem holes and installed the rim strip. The rim strip installed pretty good, although it sits a little high around the valve stem area.
First tried to air up (without sealant) a set of Panaracer Trailblasters I had lying around. Didn't work. Next, I tried a Kenda Kharisma Light rear. This tire held air with a handpump & without sealant. Perfect. I added the sealant according to the directions. Lots of minor leaks which seemed to seal. This tire held air reasonably well, though I'd have to add air about once a week. After about 3-4 months of use and after not riding the bike for a week I found the tire completely flat and sealant dried out. No problem. Just removed the tire, cleaned out all the old dried-up latex boogers and resealed it with Stans.
Second tire. Conti Explorer Pro Protection for the front. This thing would not air up with a hand pump nor with my tiny toy air compressor. Frustrated, I reached for the C02 (despite being told not to in the directions). With a quick blast the beads seated and it held air. There was little sealant leakage. (Not as much as on the Kenda). The remarkable thing about this tire is, as hard as it was to air up, this thing has never lost any air. Un-friggin-believable!
I've been running 35-40 psi and have been extremely happy with the handling. In fact this may be the best tire combo I've ever ridden. No problems thus far.
I highly recommend the Stan's setup. But be aware that not all tire/rims combos may work and I'd recommend using a high pressure air compressor. An upgrade that is well worth the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bo DeAngelo
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Elk Meadow/Bergen Peak | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | NoTubes.com | | Strengths: | Stan's works as claimed and holds air very well. | | Weaknesses: | Requires patience and some mechanical skill beyond installing a tube/tire, which some reviewers clearly do not posess. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Turner XCE, Specialized Roller Pro 2.3's,
First used with WTB Mutano 2.4 & Epic Wolf 2.1 set. | | Bottom Line: | Works great. Some tires seal quicker than others. Soap and CO2 or compressed air will make the install quick and smooth. The WTB setup I first converted sealed almost instantly, the Specialized Rollers took a lot of shaking and resting them on a bucket to seal the sidewalls. But they hold well now. Just converted my wifes Panaracer Fire XC 2.1's, and it worked flawlessly.
You can even use a 20" BMX tube in place of the rim strip, and it still seals! Just inflate it parially, stretch it over the rim, center it, split it down the center & fold it back. Install the tire, soap it, air it up, deflate and add sealant. Air it up, seal it following the directions,(this can take some time with certain tires.Then go ride
If you can't mount this system yourself, take it to your LBS and let them do it. It totally works. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott cale
a Cross Country Rider
from gilbert Az
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | mcdowell mtn park competitive loops | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | landis cyclery | | Strengths: | better than any flat protection I have used | | Weaknesses: | A little difficult to install and get to seal the first time but after it's sealed you know the drll and then its easy | | Similar Products Used: | i.e (spinskins, slime etc.) | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlite hayes elite hubs bontrager rims panaracer fire xc tires shimano xt derailers easton carbon bars and post ithys-gove seat fox f100 rlc and fox ava rear shock | | Bottom Line: | It's really thorny here with lots of bull stickers and sharp rocks seemed like most of the flats my sons and I got were from thorns or pinch flat.We ride about 10 miles offroad per week with about 30-45 per wk on road for training bottom line is my bike has not flatted since I installed this product | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike M.
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Island, NY
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Cathederal pines | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$54.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Makes my non tubless rims/tires hold air, and hold it well ! | | Weaknesses: | The sealant is so strong that it will seal the valves shut over time. Valves will need to be cleaned or replaced. | | Similar Products Used: | None, only tubes ! | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Giant NRS 2 with shimano XT brake levers and XTR calipers, XT crankset, XTR front/rear derailleur, XTR shifters, Manitou minute 3 fork with 100/130mm travel, Mavic x317 rims with stans no tubes xc conversion, WTB weirwolf 2.1 tires, WTB lazer v saddle, Thomson seatpost and stem, Easton monkey light xc handlebar, Avid rollamajig. | | Bottom Line: | I watched the video clips on the web site and was truley amazed ! I emailed stan with some questions on my rims and tires and he reliped the next evening. I was very impressed with the personalized info he had given concerning my setup.
Here is stans reply to my email: "Both rims will work but I do not recommend using Michelin, Panaracer, WTB, Nokian or Bontrager tires tubeless. They all have weak Kevlar beads and may blow off the rim. You should drop your rim strip into a bucket of soap and water before installing on your X317 rims and follow the special instructions for your
X223.
http://www.notubes.com/Tech_2detailedrimstrip.htm
http://www.notubes.com/Tech_1rimstrip.htm
Thanks,"
Follow up email sent to me: "Follow my instructions the soap works better. I did at one time tell them to use baby powder. Follow the instructions on the link I sent you.
http://www.notubes.com/Tech_2detailedrimstrip.htm
Thanks,"
I have a set of Mavic X317 rims with WTB 2.1 weirwolf tires. Stan suggested that I install his xc rim strips on the rim using a soapy water solution. When the rims were bought new last year I had used cloth veloux spoke tape. I left this one layer on the rim and installed the rim strips over the veloux tape with soapy water. Stan did not feel that additional tape was needed witht he Mavic X317 rims. He was concerned that my WTB weirwolf tires would not work because of their weaker kevlar beads. I have the lighter weight race version in a 2.1 size.
First step was to enlarge the inner valve stem hole with a drill to allow the molded valve stem on the rim strip to clear. It took awhile to get the rim strips installed correctly. The trick was to make sure not to overstretch the rim strip so that the thickness was uniform around the perimiter of the rim. The strip was wide enough that it came right up to the rolled bead edges inside the rim. I rotated the rim and spread the rim strip until it consistantly touched both sides of the rims inner bead. Now I carefully place the tire onto the rim being carefull not to move the rim strip out of position as I used tire levers to get the tires on. After the tire was installed I removed the core from the valve stem. Stan recommended applying soapy solution around the perimeter of the tire to check for air leaks and aid in seating the tire bead. Using an air compressor with a very fine tipped air nozzle I blew compressed air into the valve while holding my hand around the valve to seal it. Keep in mind that the valve was removed and I did not use an air chuck. The tire filled up immeadiately and there was a small amount of air bubbles from the sidewalls. This was surprising considering that the sealant was not added until the next step ! Then I let air escape from the valve and filled 1 1/2 bottles of stans tire sealant into the valve stem. I used the 2 oz fill bottle that was an option. I highly recommend using this bottle instead of the included scoop ! The valve core was now installed and the tire was once again filled with air.
The key factor to getting the tire to seal and remain sealed is to spend the time coating the inner tire with sealant so that a possible leak can be prevented. I took the wheel in my hands an slowly rotated it until I completed a full rotation and then slowly shook the tire up and down and rotated slowly and repeated until I did a full rotation. Then I would slosh the wheel front to back so the sealant would coat the inside sidewalls. Like a nut case, I sat on the couch watching tv while rotating and sloshing the wheel for over 20 min. With 40 psi the tire remained filled and I saw no air bubbles as I applied soapy water to the tire. Installed the wheels and rotated them while on the stand. Next morning the tires still were holding air with no loss !
I tested the tires on the trails with 40 psi. I was afraid to go lower thinking the kevlar bead would easily pop off the bead. After running at 40 psi for several weeks I emailed stan to compliment him on his conversion kit and tell him how pleased I was with my own conversion. Here is what he wrote: "Unless you weigh over 220lbs you should run lower air pressures. I weigh 150 lb and run 24 psi or lower with 2.0 tires. You should try 30 psi it will put less strain on the Kevlar bead and you will like it much better."
Ok, so now I have it dropped down to 30 psi (I weigh 170 lbs). I have yet to give it a good test on the trails with lower air pressure, but I am pleased that the tires have not gone flat. Remember to bring the 2 oz fill bottle with you in your hydration pack so you can add more sealant while on the trails (only if you get a flat and sealant level is low and tire cannot seal).
I will submit a followup after I get to test it out further !
-Mike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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