Varg Red Tube

[LTJ]

I just installed ultra heavy duty rear tube in my 18" rear tire. The trick is to insert the rim on both sides of the tire (similar to doing tubliss install). That allows a lot of room to install the tube between the rim and the tire. As you install the tube, bounce the wheel on the ground to force the wheel deeper into the tire as you work your way around the tire. I know it means levering on the tire on both sides of the rim once the tube is installed, but for me it's much easier than trying to cram a tube in while fighting the small opening between the wheel and the tire if one side of the tire is already levered onto the rim. Another trick is to use tire grease (search on amazon). It makes installing tires so much easier than without it, especailly in cold weather. Using the Baja No Pinch tool with tire grease makes it so easy without worrying about pinching the tube, and scratching the crap out of your rims. For a cheap tubliss equivalent, use Muck-Off tire sealent for mountain bikes and squirt some inside the heavy duty tube. That stuff is awesome for mountain bikes as it doesn't dry up like Stains sealent. Another bonus it's water soluble (as with the tire grease), so it's easy cleanup. Now you can run low tire pressures with a near bullet proof cheap set up.

 

[Chaconne]

I just installed ultra heavy duty rear tube in my 18" rear tire. The trick is to insert the rim on both sides of the tire (similar to doing tubliss install). That allows a lot of room to install the tube between the rim and the tire. As you install the tube, bounce the wheel on the ground to force the wheel deeper into the tire as you work your way around the tire. I know it means levering on the tire on both sides of the rim once the tube is installed, but for me it's much easier than trying to cram a tube in while fighting the small opening between the wheel and the tire if one side of the tire is already levered onto the rim. Another trick is to use tire grease (search on amazon). It makes installing tires so much easier than without it, especailly in cold weather. Using the Baja No Pinch tool with tire grease makes it so easy without worrying about pinching the tube, and scratching the crap out of your rims. For a cheap tubliss equivalent, use Muck-Off tire sealent for mountain bikes and squirt some inside the heavy duty tube. That stuff is awesome for mountain bikes as it doesn't dry up like Stains sealent. Another bonus it's water soluble (as with the tire grease), so it's easy cleanup. Now you can run low tire pressures with a near bullet proof cheap set up.

I have been following Jay Clark's method for years worked great for me on my Stark:

Even had to do it twice the last time because I got the tire direction wrong.

 

[LTJ]

I have been following Jay Clark's method for years worked great for me on my Stark:

Even had to do it twice the last time because I got the tire direction wrong.

I also like setting up 3 or more tire levers at a time. Really helps both taking off and putting on tires. Also keeps from scratching the rims as you aren’t trying to shove in a tire lever to lever off the tire like you would be if you only had one tire lever. Jays videos are super helpful. I learned the tire grease trick from him.

 

[Erwin P]

Yesterday i took out the stock tube as delivered in a 19' rear wheel in december 2024. It was not leaking, just to prevent it.

It however is much thicker than the November 2023 one and had a rubber flap over the part where the rimlock is (that's where all the old ones started leaking. So maybe they will actually hold now!

 

[svtride]

I preemptively replaced my tubes this week on my EX. I don’t trust them. The rear tube had a rubber flap/doubler over where the rimlock would contact tube. I noticed too that when I went to remove the Schrader valve core the entire metallic portion of Schrader valve spun in the red tube connecting the main tube.
After tire reassembly, I balanced both tires and wow, how much smoother the Stark became. Very noticeable.

 

[Erwin P]

Balanced the wheels on a dirtbike? Damn...

I might balance a wheelset for an EX though because i would also use it as a commuter bike, just because i can.

 

[svtride]

Balanced the wheels on a dirtbike? Damn...

I might balance a wheelset for an EX though because i would also use it as a commuter bike, just because i can.

Very common to balance in my group...
- 5-10 minute per wheel extra effort when the the majority of work is taking wheel / tire on and off
- when connecting trails on a ride loop, we sometimes have a mile or so of asphalt between with speeds up to 60+ mph
- Hooning - flat tracking it through the sweepers on forest fire roads, having a balanced rear tire makes sliding the bike around more manageable while trying to roost your buddies.

 

[Erwin P]

Don't you need an enormous amount of weight to offset the rimlock?

 

[OpaTsupa]

Don't you need an enormous amount of weight to offset the rimlock?

Around 60-70g depending on the type.


My excuse for not balancing the wheels is that the wobble is a good reminder to keep the speed down on asphalt connecting sections. Nothing good happens on those.