Chrome Wheels

Anyone had their wheels chromed? If so where did you have it done and how much did it cost?

yep, on my 02! :thumbsup:
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Cost varies, but paying for a quiality job is the only way to go as cheaper ones (work)will start to peal/flack/rust within a year or two.  Avg. between $500-700 a set plus shipping each way.  Much easier to maintain then polished and look better IMO! :rolleyes:

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on Mar 5 2008, 04:41 PM, said:

yep, on my 02! :thumbsup:
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Cost varies, but paying for a quiality job is the only way to go as cheaper ones (work)will start to peal/flack/rust within a year or two. Avg. between $500-700 a set plus shipping each way. Much easier to maintain then polished and look better IMO! :rolleyes:
Don't Chrome....polish is the only way to go :thumbsup: Check out my gallery for picts, been like that for five years now and pretty much looks as good now as when I had them done.

[image: View Post]bikeorski4me, on Mar 5 2008, 04:51 PM, said:

Don't Chrome....polish is the only way to go :thumbsup: Check out my gallery for picts, been like that for five years now and pretty much looks as good now as when I had them done.

I have never seen a polish job last even a year without some major need to re-address their care? :unsure:
Congrats if you found a way, polishing has always been know as High Maintenance. :rolleyes:   
Please share how and what you did to yours as many people would love to know how to have maintenance free polished wheels! :thumbsup:

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on Mar 5 2008, 05:01 PM, said:

[image: View Post]bikeorski4me, on Mar 5 2008, 04:51 PM, said:

Don't Chrome....polish is the only way to go :thumbsup: Check out my gallery for picts, been like that for five years now and pretty much looks as good now as when I had them done.

I have never seen a polish job last even a year without some major need to re-address their care? :unsure:
Congrats if you found a way, polishing has always been know as High Maintenance. :rolleyes:
Please share how and what you did to yours as many people would love to know how to have maintenance free polished wheels! :thumbsup:

A few tricks:

1) Try not to let water stand/dry on them.
2) Once a year or so you will need to do a touch-up polish with Flitz or Metal Polish cut with Mineral Oil, only takes an hour or two.
3) Finish off the touch-up with plain old White Flour (this is key to the final shine and the trick I was given by the polisher).
4) Coat with either a high quality Carnouba wax (I use Mothers Hard wax) or Petroleum Jelly...the PJ will take a bit of the shine off but offers great protection.

If you ride every day in all kinds of conditions it will take more work (maybe too much), however I do long distance tours and ride about 8K to 10K miles a year and don't have to do this more than once a summer using the above techniques. After five years they have lost a bit of the "Super Shine" but still sparkle and don't look rough at all. The picts in my gallery include a number from last year with 35K miles on the polish. I've also polished the swingarm, frame, chainguard, rearsets, etc. and have been very happy with the look. I'm not really into the bling factor which is why I didn't chrome but I thought the black wheels with silver frame looked horrible when I bought the bike and had to do something. It definitely stands out, looks good and is not :squid: ly in the least, it works on this bike. It is very dry in my part of the world so can't comment how they would react in the more humid areas.

FWIW

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aahhhhhh, i see....dont ride and it will shine like new... :lol:   :rolleyes:

Looks great bikeorski.  What did you do to strip the initial coating off?  Did you use the HS technique?
Also, same question on the rearsets, swingarm and chaingaurd?

[image: View Post]didit, on Mar 5 2008, 08:08 PM, said:

Looks great bikeorski.  What did you do to strip the initial coating off?  Did you use the HS technique?
Also, same question on the rearsets, swingarm and chaingaurd?0
Hey Mate, I've mine done(rear only you'd still have to to the front one.)  I'll switch with you if you like that look. What color are your wheels?

Bojour Stephane,
Mine are a silver satin.  I was thinking of trying a 'beauty ring' polish on the outer edge and keeping the inside 'nasty to reach' areas coated,
but every time I see one polished, it looks real nice.  Especially with that new Remus exhaust that's coming.

I'm wondering . Could one clear coat a polished rim or whatever? I wonder how a micro fine brushed finish clearcoated would look. Any thoughts?

[image: View Post]bikeorski4me, on Mar 5 2008, 06:37 PM, said:

3) Finish off the touch-up with plain old White Flour (this is key to the final shine and the trick I was given by the polisher).

Or cornstarch, like they do on racing airplanes!  :thumbsup:

here go
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http://cgi.ebay.com/...sspagenameZWDVW

white flour or cornstarch :thumbsup: I have got to try this on my tune. I have tried every polish , cotton wheel etc and it still leaves swirls . I will have to try the flour/starch :thumbsup:

Flour and cornstarch work great, actually any powder will work that will absorb liquid.  I've even used coffee creamer when I was at work once!

[image: View Post]slowf2337, on Mar 7 2008, 12:41 PM, said:

Flour and cornstarch work great, actually any powder will work that will absorb liquid.  I've even used coffee creamer when I was at work once! Are we talking polishing here, or haute cuisine?   :rolleyes:

[image: View Post]enzed_viffer, on Mar 6 2008, 06:55 PM, said:

[image: View Post]slowf2337, on Mar 7 2008, 12:41 PM, said:

Flour and cornstarch work great, actually any powder will work that will absorb liquid.  I've even used coffee creamer when I was at work once! Are we talking polishing here, or haute cuisine?   :beer:

:+1: What Enzedliin said.

Since when did this Thread change to a baking lesson??? :joystick:   :rolleyes:

If I wanted bisquits with my gravy, I would've asked for them! <_<   :goofy:

I've never been a fan of chrome on sport bikes, but I admit the VFR's I see here with chrome wheels look really good!

[image: View Post]didit, on Mar 5 2008, 07:27 PM, said:

Bojour Stephane,
Mine are a silver satin. I was thinking of trying a 'beauty ring' polish on the outer edge and keeping the inside 'nasty to reach' areas coated,
but every time I see one polished, it looks real nice. Especially with that new Remus exhaust that's coming.
Answer to a couple of the questions here....

1) I did't polish these myself but the "pro" told me he used a stripping agent of some kind to get the original paint off, it did destroy the bearings so it has to be pretty harsh, bearings are only a few bucks to replace though.
2) I believe you can clearcoat both with spray or powdercoat, most factory wheels on cars have this, I'm just not sure how much and the impact on the final shine, it would certainly eliminate all maintenance.
3) Finally, the only real PIA in maintenance is the front wheel due to the rotors and accessibility, the rest of it is pretty easy. Having said this, the front wheel on my bike has held up pretty well even though it doesn't get the same "ultimate" care the rest does.

Would I do it again...I'm not sure, it would depend a bunch on the intended riding. I do some touring and have in fact ridden to Alaska, covered most of BC, the Western half of Alberta and parts of the PNW so do some miles where you just can't take the time to clean...the wax helps here and I always give it a good coat before I take on one of these little treks. If it was a high mileage bike or long distance tourer I would live with painted wheels (still wouldn't like them in black though), however if it's strictly for pavement and fair weather (mostly) riding then I would probably do it again. FWIW, I wasn't keen on the thought of chromed or polished either but have been really happy with the way it turned out and if I say so myself, this is a pretty well known bike in this part of the country...if that matters to you.

[image: View Post]bikeorski4me, on Mar 5 2008, 06:37 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on Mar 5 2008, 05:01 PM, said:

[image: View Post]bikeorski4me, on Mar 5 2008, 04:51 PM, said:

Don't Chrome....polish is the only way to go :thumbsup: Check out my gallery for picts, been like that for five years now and pretty much looks as good now as when I had them done.

I have never seen a polish job last even a year without some major need to re-address their care? :squid:
Congrats if you found a way, polishing has always been know as High Maintenance. :wheel:
Please share how and what you did to yours as many people would love to know how to have maintenance free polished wheels! :thumbsup:

A few tricks:

1) Try not to let water stand/dry on them.
2) Once a year or so you will need to do a touch-up polish with Flitz or Metal Polish cut with Mineral Oil, only takes an hour or two.
3) Finish off the touch-up with plain old White Flour (this is key to the final shine and the trick I was given by the polisher).
4) Coat with either a high quality Carnouba wax (I use Mothers Hard wax) or Petroleum Jelly...the PJ will take a bit of the shine off but offers great protection.

If you ride every day in all kinds of conditions it will take more work (maybe too much), however I do long distance tours and ride about 8K to 10K miles a year and don't have to do this more than once a summer using the above techniques. After five years they have lost a bit of the "Super Shine" but still sparkle and don't look rough at all. The picts in my gallery include a number from last year with 35K miles on the polish. I've also polished the swingarm, frame, chainguard, rearsets, etc. and have been very happy with the look. I'm not really into the bling factor which is why I didn't chrome but I thought the black wheels with silver frame looked horrible when I bought the bike and had to do something. It definitely stands out, looks good and is not :squid: ly in the least, it works on this bike. It is very dry in my part of the world so can't comment how they would react in the more humid areas.

FWIW

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What a great write up.  I just did my front wheel - so much fun   :pissed:

Anyhow, after stripping the paint, cut polish, polish and the final touch - The flour! That is what was missing from my previous attempts.  Now, here's my question: the final step - waxing: I happen to have Turtle Wax on shelf, so tried it. Do you think that's good enough, or should I buy something better?

Thanks,

SG

:rolleyes: Still willing to trade them for black wheels.

Chrome is the only way to go if you truly want low maintenance.  Period.  

The negative?  Besides costs, weight; we're talking pounds per wheel not ounces if done right.

I loved the look on my old superhawk but not the weight.
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[image: View Post]bikeorski4me, on Mar 5 2008, 05:51 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on Mar 5 2008, 04:41 PM, said:

yep, on my 02! :thumbsup:
[image: Posted Image]

Cost varies, but paying for a quiality job is the only way to go as cheaper ones (work)will start to peal/flack/rust within a year or two. Avg. between $500-700 a set plus shipping each way. Much easier to maintain then polished and look better IMO! :laugh:
Don't Chrome....polish is the only way to go :thumbsup: Check out my gallery for picts, been like that for five years now and pretty much looks as good now as when I had them done.


i want to polish my wheels but dont know how. can u help?

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on Mar 5 2008, 03:41 PM, said:

yep, on my 02! :thumbsup:
[image: Posted Image]

Cost varies, but paying for a quiality job is the only way to go as cheaper ones (work)will start to peal/flack/rust within a year or two.  Avg. between $500-700 a set plus shipping each way.  Much easier to maintain then polished and look better IMO! :laugh: RUST?????   :blink:    :laugh:    :laugh:

Tafterburner >>>  If I can follow these simple instructions and come out shiney, anyone can do it. I picked a cold snowy weekend a couple of years ago and just kept myself busy when I couldn't ride. Turned out great and I haven't had ANY fading or other issues with the final finish. Thanks again to one of Slammer's great "HOW TO" posts!


http://www.vfrdiscus...p...ic=383&st=0

I still think my all-time favorite was a silver 6th gen with chrome wheels, maybe Baileyrocks - and maybe the same chrome wheels pictured above on his '02?

I think both styles look awesome and they would look even better on a silver bike :goofy: but thats neither here nor there. Each one requires some maintenance weather its keeping the chrome from rusting or keeping the aluminum polished.  They are both just a matter of choice. :wheel:

[image: View Post]The mailman, on Feb 17 2009, 09:28 PM, said:

I still think my all-time favorite was a silver 6th gen with chrome wheels, maybe Baileyrocks - and maybe the same chrome wheels pictured above on his '02?
Actually I didn't like the chrome wheels on the silver near as much, I tend to like the Contrasting look instead of bending in. I think the chrome on red was much better looking! :wheel:
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