No gamble when the tube is inspected and found to be in good condition. Rim strip is cheap, but if there are no tears or holes then what is the point. Old wives tale in my opinion and I have never had a failure, new does not mean good either and most problems with tubes are due to careless installation of the tire/tube. What ever you feel comfortable with and it adds approximately $25 to each tire replacement. It is also pretty much up to who ever is swapping out the tires, some won't with out replacing others will inspect and recommend if they feel there is any signs of questionable wear.
CB

 

Let us set the situation straight. There are spoke wheels and there are laced wheels and there are solid wheels (like the fat boy) If you have laced wheels (think... the bicycle you had when you were a kid, or have now for that matter) You do not need a tubeless tire, you do however need a rim strip and tube. Otherwise you need only the tire and air.

 

Just to clarify things, this is direct from the 2003 HD service manual for Dynas. Mine is an FXDL with cast spoke wheels.

Tubless tires fitted with the correct size innertubes may be used onall Harley-Davidson laced (wire spoked) wheels. Protective rubber rim strips must be used with tubeless tires (fitted with correct size inner tubes) when mounted on laced (wire spoked) wheels.

Inner tubes must not be used in radial tires and radial tires must not be used on laced (wire spoked/ wheels.

Tubeless tire are used on all Harley-Davidson cast and disc wheels.

For the last read spoke and solid (as in the Fat Boy) wheels.

The FLHRC in my pic is a laced (wire spoked) wheel, so is my sporty. The FXDL in my garage is a cast spoke wheel and is tubeless w/ no rim strip or tube

Ya'll need to do yoursef a favor. Buy a service manual and consult it

 

One last note on laced (wire spoked) wheels Make damn sure that the individual spokes are properly tensioned. Saw one on the lift last summer that had the hub on the rear wheel all but decinerated because some of the individual wires were not properly torqued. Owner noticed a wobble in the rear and took it to the dealer. Wish I had pics of the destruction. Guy is lucky the whole wheel didn't go. If you don't have the knowledge and/or the tools leave it to the experts.

 

I mispoke about the radials...my bad.

Any more nuggets of wisdom you want to hit us over the head with?

 

But not on stock spoked rims

 

Ok, everyone who has used a tube in a radial and a radial on a laced rim and had a failure due that, please post.
CB