Rim Locks ?

I am getting ready to order up some tires (Maxxis Desert IT) and HD tubes and wondered who has installed rim locks on their mostly off road WR's. I know they will bounce a little on the road due to the balancing issue, but I am used to that since my other bike has rim locks. Whats the skinny.....yes or no.

I think you'll get some varying opinions here. If you run low tire pressures or lower it in rough terrain, I think most will argue that rim locks are a good thing. I personally don't deflate my tires (much) since I do a lot of highway and just deal with the slightly worse traction in the dirt.

I have rim locks on Kenda Trakmasters. I ride some deep sand with 11 psi so it was a necessity. Some of our rides include asphalt sections as connectors between forests. Initially, I did not balance the wheels. Last week, I broke down and installed some crimp-on lead weights for balancing... much better on asphalt.

with 755 gold screws,i cannot get the 250 to spin the tire on the rim. thought i would rip out a valve stem,just never could.

dtx wrote:

with 755 gold screws,i cannot get the 250 to spin the tire on the rim. thought i would rip out a valve stem,just never could.

I think low pressures are the biggest culprit. What tire pressures are you running with the screws?

I run a rim lock with my trackmaster, because I run low pressure off road. Mine is balanced with tape weights, and dont really get any vibration on the road.

I run one in the back just incase I get a flat I can get back without spinning the tyre. Front I can deal with. I run 16psi rear and 18psi front in the trails. Never had a problem.

Have you considered Tubliss?

Thanks for the insight......I think I am gonna run one on the rear and leave the front alone.

Suggest you run them on both. Either way do not use a stem nut (out side of the rim) so if you DO get a flat you won't spin the stem off of the tube (potentially a ride saver).

As for balancing, try solder wraps on the spokes. Terminate the ends (fuse the solder with an iron) so they don't come off.

njbill wrote:

dtx wrote:

with 755 gold screws,i cannot get the 250 to spin the tire on the rim. thought i would rip out a valve stem,just never could.

I think low pressures are the biggest culprit. What tire pressures are you running with the screws?

You are correct,run from 14-28 psi. Soft tire for hard ice,hard tire for soft ice. Traction is over the top,if you have never done this ya would not think so.

Put two rim locks in, and they balance themselves.