metal valve stems

[jack d]

I thought I would install an angled metal valve stem on the rear wheel while I am changing the tire. I have several types but the opening in the flange for spokes where the valve stem goes is not wide enough to allow any of these valve stems to seat against the rim. A search revealed a few posts about using metal stems but the only picture was of an FJR rear wheel. If you are using a metal stem on the rear how did you work around this problem? I am not going to cut the opening in the flange wider.

 

[Bryce]

I gave up. I couldn't get any I tried to seal properly.

 

[OldRider]

In my opinion, you have nothing to gain by using an angled metal stem and everything to loose. The very best stem is just a plain old short rubber stem. If you're concerned about getting to the stem to put air in the tire, stop by a Harley dealer and buy one of their air line extenders. I keep one under the seat and it works great.

 

[steve68steve]

I thought I would install an angled metal valve stem on the rear wheel while I am changing the tire. I have several types but the opening in the flange for spokes where the valve stem goes is not wide enough to allow any of these valve stems to seat against the rim. A search revealed a few posts about using metal stems but the only picture was of an FJR rear wheel. If you are using a metal stem on the rear how did you work around this problem? I am not going to cut the opening in the flange wider.

I cut the opening in the flange wider.

 

[WJBertrand]

Yeah, I filed the slot, where the valve goes, a little wider. In my case to fit the Orange Electronics TPMS sensor in which has an integrated metal stem.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Don in Lodi]

There are stems that put the nuts inside the rim leaving a smaller cleaner flange on the outside.

 

[zphenyl]

Another forum member had tried these https://www.ebay.com/itm/141545376006?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Like you I was looking for some metal valve stems. They were cheap enough and looked good, however I must have gotten a bad batch (tried two and couldn't get the valve cores to hold air even with new valve cores). In the end I just went down to Napa and purchased some replacement rubber valve stems (they work and are around $1 each). A lot of time was wasted, but I got some additional practice mounting my rear tire

 

[Cycledude]

I hated the factory straight stems , they make it difficult to check air pressure and sometimes very difficult to add air at a gas station, so at first tire change I replaced them with 45 degree metal stems with the nuts inside the rim not outside, bought mine on eBay and they have been trouble free for 30,000 miles so far.

 

[OldRider]

If I was determined to put a metal valve stem in, I would make sure it was the type with the nut on the outside. With the nut on the outside you can at least hold the stem while you tighten the nut when it starts leaking. I change around 200+ MC tires a year and the two biggest problems I see are metal stems with the nut inside and "old" rubber stems. In the shop I can replace a stem with the wheel on the bike in 15-20 minutes. Out on the road it's a different story. If you replace the rubber stem with every tire change you have the very best setup you can find. My experience tells me anything besides a short rubber stem is a downgrade.

 

[OldRider]

I hated the factory straight stems , they make it difficult to check air pressure and sometimes very difficult to add air at a gas station, so at first tire change I replaced them with 45 degree metal stems with the nuts inside the rim not outside, bought mine on eBay and they have been trouble free for 30,000 miles so far.

Get one of these and you can get air anywhere and it fit's right under the seat.

 

[Cycledude]

Get one of these and you can get air anywhere and it fit's right under the seat.

So you screw that thing onto the stock valve stem so you can easily check or add air ?

 

[OldRider]

::021::

So you screw that thing onto the stock valve stem so you can easily check or add air ?

That's right. It's about a foot long. I picked mine up at a Harley dealer.

 

[Don in Lodi]

BestRest products makes an in-line pressure gauge with an option for a 90 degree clip-on fitting. At the gauge is a standard Schrader connection to hook your pump to. Slick.

 

[Cycledude]

::021::
That's right. It's about a foot long. I picked mine up at a Harley dealer.

Thanks but Unless my metal stems in the Tenere unexpectedly fail for some reason I will stick with them, they are so much easier ! I have been using very similar metal 90 degree stems in my Goldwing for over 300,000 miles without any issue.

 

[baisleyde]

these are always handy , and super cheap

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Tyre-Valve-Extension-Adaptor-Motorcycle-Car-Tire-Stem-Extender-90-Degree-Angle/182294300824?epid=1987055443&hash=item2a71964898:g:wxMAAOSwG2tZ6D8r&vxp=mtr

 

[Berg_Donk]

I've gpt 45 deg metal stems, work excellent with no install or access issues.

 

[tallpaul]

I've got a pair on order at £1.36 delivered from China. I can't even post valve cap to the next town for that price and these are coming from half a world away. Isn't global trade brilliant...

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[dietDrThunder]

I have used the stems I've linked below for many years and several hundred thousand miles, and they are without fault. Use blue Loctite on them, and inspect at each tire change. My Tenere has had them installed since I got it in the Spring of '16, which has worked out to a little over 30,000 miles so far, with no issues. Checking pressures is a snap, they don't leak, and they're cheap.

I agree that standard straight rubber stems are fine, but not on the Tenere. It's too hard to check the pressure with them, requiring either an additional adapter which is another point of failure when you need it least (like, if it were to fail while you're trying to re-inflate after a flat repair), or some other equally inconvenient method of trying to reach them.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017S2EYWC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[RonH]

Those are the 17-562 part number available through a few places. Most the time price is low, but they jack you on shipping. You can buy for $2.00 each, but shipping kills you. That is the way it is with these heavy items that go in a huge box. :-[

 

[charlie.c]

After having a high speed blow out on a goldwing I was determined to fit Garmin pressure caps on my S10. They work with the satnav. Any new bike I buy now will have to have them. Garmin say you must not fit their caps to rubber stems. Of course the considered opinion is 'that's a load of crap I've ridden miles whithout them being a problem'. Well much to my surprise after a couple of stints of continued high speed autobahn riding at steady 120mph the rubber stems were being pulled out sideways. Scary stuff, they were leaning over at 45 degrees. I promptly removed the pressure caps. The next tyre changed I asked for metal stems and the answer was 'sorry you can't get them for those rims!! The rear has too small a gap in the central rib. Has anyone found a good solution for front and rear? I'm considering a device that straps on the inside of the rim. It's really essential for a piece of mind for me.