Ride tomorrow Sunday 1 November

[Slyer]

Your wheels would be aluminium or some other alloy wouldn't they? Rusting shouldn't be a problem. It's just to protect it a bit.

[jono035]

Your wheels would be aluminium or some other alloy wouldn't they? Rusting shouldn't be a problem. It's just to protect it a bit.

Yeah, it's worth clear-coating them. In other threads people have mentioned that it makes em easier to keep clean too.

If you want em to come up shiny it'd pay to have a bit of sandpaper ready in case they've got the original casting surface on them.

[bomma]

got back from town at 5am, woke up at 12. ended up goin out to kaiaua a bit later on, round 2, for some fush n chups with the missus. was a gorgeous day out and saw a heap of bikers!!

[vifferman]

How hard would polished rims be to keep clean though? Just as hard as white ones ?

Nope.
I had white wheels on the VFR750 - they were de debil.
Stripped'n'polished them, and they were a piece of piss to keep clean.

I suspect the paint/powdercoat electrostatically attracts road spooge, whereas the shiny alloy lets the dust'n'dirt'n'spooge slide right off.

Yeah, it's worth clear-coating them. In other threads people have mentioned that it makes em easier to keep clean too.

I've read lotsa cases of the clearcoat either discolouring, or cracking/flaking, or otherwise misbehaving. And if it's paint, the you're back to it attracting road spooge.

If you want em to come up shiny it'd pay to have a bit of sandpaper ready in case they've got the original casting surface on them.

If they're like other wheels, the rims are machined, but sandcast on the centre bits where the spokes are. It looks OK not polished.

[Slyer]

Nope.
I had white wheels on the VFR750 - they were de debil.
Stripped'n'polished them, and they were a piece of piss to keep clean.

Nice what did you use to polish them? I might do this with my wheels as well.

[Squiggles]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...=polished+NC30
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...=polished+NC30

[Slyer]

You're all doing it wrong.
Will post photos when I get home.

[Ragingrob]

Fun times, silver rims will be all good!

[motorbyclist]

I doubt static attraction has anything whatsoever to do with the dirt sticking. Surface finish, however, might have a greater effect.

Clear-coat to protect from rust etc?

the aluminium might start corroding if it's kept in damp conditions and ruin the aesthetic (see ross's vfr chassis for a good example)

but i'd imagine it'd be fine for atleast 18 months if you polish it well enough - the smoother the finish the longer it'll last and the easier it will be to clean (and the cooler it will look)

You're all doing it wrong.
Will post photos when I get home.

chrome paint in a can on top of your dirty red rims with zero prep is NOT the same as polishing is a great idea

[ital916]

the aluminium might start corroding if it's kept in damp conditions and ruin the aesthetic (see ross's vfr chassis for a good example)

Tis very difficult for aluminium to corrode thanks to its very protective oxide layer, so freshly stripped and polished alu rims should be sweet from corrosion....you scream, I scream, we all scream for ALUMINIUM!

[Real_Wolf]

Aluminium very much enjoys being an oxide, and as such unless you strip that oxide layer off it won't rust.

Strip it off however and yes, it can easily rust

[R6_kid:Me]

Strip it off however and yes, it can easily rust

Aluminium doesn't rust, it oxidises!

[Slyer]

You need to strip off the rust for it to rust more though.

[motorbyclist]

Tis very difficult for aluminium to corrode thanks to its very protective oxide layer, so freshly stripped and polished alu rims should be sweet from corrosion....you scream, I scream, we all scream for ALUMINIUM!

excuse my terminology and look at ross's vfr chassis for what i mean - the oxide layer has it's limits, and aluminium can corrode (or "rot")

[vifferman]

Yes, aluminium oxide is more stable that ferrous oxide, and also very thin. However, throw other things into the mix, like brake dust (which can contain particles of other metals like copper), contact with other metal parts, scratches, or salt air (luckily in NewZealand we're MILES from the sea ) and you can get other corrosion happening.
All it takes to prevent that is a little bit of wax, some anodising (actually a form of electroplating involving dye), or some plastic (paint or powdercoat).