tyre clamp (rim lock, security bolt, etc.)
 

Hello all,
First of all let me apologise if you've read this before - I've posted the same question in lots of places, so far without any luck.
I'm trying to find a tyre clamp (or rim lock, etc.) to fit to the rear wheel of my F650GS Dakar. The wheel is 3.00x17 and the widest clamp I've found so far is to fit a 2.50 wheel.
I realise I might be better off changing the whole wheel for something like a 2.50x18 but I'm trying to avoid that expense for the time being.
Does anyone have any suggestions where I might find a suitable clamp? I was hoping that I'd find one off one of the larger GSes but no luck as yet. I'm in the UK but if one can be found elsewhere then I'd definitely consider shipping it here.
Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated,
Doug.

You might get what you want in a store that does old bikes. virtually all old Brit bikes were fitted with a 'security' bolt on their rear tyres. Incidentally the Enfield uses a 3.50 section rear.

Why do you want to fit this?
I think the reason you don't get any replies is because almost no one uses them except the motocross guys, and therefore you will only find them in the sizes to fit motocross rims which is mostly 1.85, 2.15 and widest 2.50.
Tubeless tires can't be fitted with a rim lock for obvious reasons and therefore all modern tubeless tires, which you will also fit to your tube type rim, has a much tighter bead to prevent the rim from slipping in the tyre.
This is the reason why it is so hard to get the bead on and of the rim these days.
You will be safe as long as you always fit tubeless tires and I am sure even tube type tyres of the more modern type will not give you any problems.

It will be nice to here if some of you guys out there have ever had problems not fitting rim locks.

The rim lock will prevent your valve to get torn out of the tube if you have a puncture and the tire rotates on the rim before you stop.
You will also need a rim lock for very very soft sandy conditions if you run your tires virtually flat. Not practical on a bike like the Dakar as it is heavy and handles like a pig in soft sand and you will also either snake bite your tube or even worse ding your wheel if you hit a rock.
Tire changes with rim locks fitted are a pain to say the least.
Just forget about the rim lock and keep your tire pressures above 1 bar.

chris scott's adventure book shows wood screws threw rim. Sun rims use studs mounted to inside rim.

Rim Locks
 

I ran into the same problem trying to find information on rim locks prior to my trip last year.

I ended up not bothering. I guess it depends on how much sand you are intending to do?

I did three days in Mauritania. No big dunes, but plenty of sand. I was a sand novice and it took a few spills to persuade myself to "pin the throttle"!

The Dakar is a heavy bike in the sand (and to pick up). But for info I had TKC80s with inner tubes and ran them at 18PSI with no tyre creep. Has anyone run them any lower?

I accept that the bike is not a motocrosser and it may not be capable of managing all terrain as easily as I'd like but I would like the option to run low pressures if I feel I need to. Several of the tyres I'm considering are, I believe, intended for tubed use so I wouldn't get any benefit from the tighter bead to rim joint. I believe the TKC80s are tubeless so I may have to run higher than 18psi to use others.
Basically I'm trying to get the bike robust and reliable. In previous greenlaning and rally experience I've seen tyres slipping on the rim enough to tear valves out; I had tyre clamps on my previous bike running at 18psi approx..
I have had a look at older bikes but haven't found one where the wheel (as opposed to the tyre) was 3.00 wide.
Screws threw the rim has been suggested and, loathe as I am to admit, I am considering it!
For the time being I'll stay in the 28psi region and see how I get on. Thanks for everyones suggestions.

Some years a go I was on the same predicament, on my AT I have also 3.00 wide rim, but fortunately was easy to find 2.75 rim locks. I tested on the rim before to put all together and looks like enough to hold the tire. Also the ones I found says 2.75 on the plastic bag but 2.50-2.75-3.00 on the clamp. If I could find that in Argentina I’m sure you will there.


Javier…
DakarMotos