Polished Rims.

After having polished wheels on the previous bike(1200s)I decided to do my own on the new one (1250naked)What surprised me was how easy and how quick it was.It cost about $5 and took about 2hrs a wheel.Suzuki have done most of the work for you.If anybody wants to know how just ask.I will try to download some photo's but i'm new to the forum stuff(type with one finger and letters hide sometimes+

I polished my forks, I'm interested in how you did your wheels. Thanks.

Re-Cycled wrote:I polished my forks.

hahahaha. Can U taste the polish

I have enough trouble keeping black wheels clean
Polished wheels look nice though

Yeah I was thinkin about doing just a strip on the outside edge. would look good I reckon

i've decided that I'm guna give the strip and polish thing a go once the tyres need replacing.
Strip all the bearings and stuff out fo the wheels and take all the paint off and give them a bit of a polish before putting new tyres on.

being a silver bike might end up a bit too much silver but it might end up looking good also. only time will tell i guess

Should be done with tires ON. This is all done by hand(no power tools)so no need to remove bearings.A bit of interest starting to be shown could be worth me posting it up.Tyers on bearings in.

Hi Gus,

I'd like to know your process in polishing the rims. I get sick of cleaning mine too. Your result looks great!

Thanks,
Scottie...

hey gus,
why strip the wheels off with the tyres still fitted up. i would have thought that having the wheels bare would be a better choice as you could make sure everything was clean and tidy once finished
would save getting crap in the bearings also i would think.

certainly not talking about the polishing bit as that could be done with tyres on i recon, just about the stripping bit.
EDIT: just looked at your pic and understand you comment now. I'm considering doing the whole wheel, hence my thoughts to strip the wheel right back to bare.

You are constantly rotating the wheel .That's what tyres do best. When you wash off the wheel outside its much easy er and safer with the tyre on.
Also when you are working on one side with the wheel lying down the alloy on the other side isn't rubbing on anything .Easy to handle as well.
Take tyre off if you like ,this was just the way i was told and it worked for me.It takes very little paint stripper and if you take your time NOT messy.
I"ii post it all up tomorrow
Remember it"s not polish once and forget.You have to give them a quick rub every week or so to keep them smick.They are prone to water stains so you might have a problem if you do the whole wheel.The edges are easy but the whole wheel !I'm thinking no way Probably should have said that at the start.
Up to you.

Once youve polished them it would probably be a good idea to whack a bit of clear 2 pack over them to keep em looking good

Tried spraying them with clear acrylic once but it went kind of milky and lost the effect.Two pack is a thought though .We use a bit of it at work (surfboards)IT's a bit toxic so I'ii grab the autosol and a beer .I must be a bit weird i find polishing a bit therapeutic.(big word)

Thanks Gus!

So do you make surfboards or repair them?

Had a little surfshop on sunny coast with shapping bay ,glassing room at home mostly did longboards.Did repairs but a bit annoying.Knew i had a good job when i wrote on the shop door GONE SURFING.Nearly 60 now too old to suck in all those toxic fumes and all that bloody dust!

Helensburgh where is that?

How to polish rims. Read all posts above. Buy nothing from $1 shop down road. Use common sense(eye wear ,gloves)I'ii attempt to keep it simple,it is(common sense)The paint on bandit wheels is very,very thin .The alloy under it is very,very smooth(on my bike ,have NOT seen yours)
IMPORTANT>>Use good quality masking tape I used 3m automotive 19mm and 50mm(1 roll each)2sheets 600,2off800,2off1200 wet and dry paper.Small tin paint stripper.25mm paint brush(not 20c one)Alloy polish like autosol.Clean rags,A hose with water in it.Remove CLEAN back wheel,leave tyre on,wash hands and wheel again.Pull out sprocket and housing.Tape up to lip on rim starting with 19mm tape use rag in middle if you like both sides.You know what it should look like.Make sure tape has stuck around edge maybe press down with icy pole stick.Paint on stripper it should be quite gluggy so it won't go everywhere(hopefully) Do both sides ,paint will come off easily. See how tyre ON makes it easy to spin around ,work slowly work on those stubborn bits.Hose off thoroughly,you may need to work on small bits of paint still there.Be careful because tape has probably washed off.All ready they should look pretty good .Start with 600g paper lots of water.Work on a SMALL section 50mm.then 800 then 1200. Dry then polish.REMEMBER you are only working on a 50mm section to see how it will look.It's a bit of a feel thing .You can rub as hard as you like with 800and 1200 but be a bit more careful with the 600g.That's why you did a small section first to get used to it.Go around wheel never sideways!I don't need to tell you when to put on gloves or glasses do i.If you got the back wheel off you'll be fine. Any questions e-mail me.If you like the end result e-mail me.If you hate it don't e-mail me.
NO responsibility taken Now mabe paint chain guard(go to next page).Take paint off,put paint on, bit strange all this.

Hey Gus,

Helensburgh’s in the Royal National Park south of Sydney next to Stanwell Tops. You may or may not have heard of my brother Rod Gorvin who is a surfboard restoration specialist. He lives in the Burgh to and has been featured in both Tracks and Waves magazines. He has a website if you’re interested and I'm sure you two wouldn't mind beer together. His specialty is long boards; he’s 54 and loves everything about surfing.

Thanks for the rim polishing info it’s on my “To Do’ list. I’ll let you know the outcome.

Scottie…

Now that absolutely every body has polished wheels LOL

You might want to paint the chain guard black to really set it off.Matt black is the go.

I like the look of polished rims, but given how often I don't wash my bike they'd be black again very quickly.

I have to say the black chain guard does look good.

b12mick wrote:I like the look of polished rims, but given how often I don't wash my bike they'd be black again very quickly.

I have to say the black chain guard does look good.

Yeah I'm the same......Gotta get around to washing the bike sometime

A dirty streetfighter shame on you Whitey.

Pay for a return ticket and i'll wash it for you.I do a good job,honest!

My girlfriend thought she saw a blemish on my bike the other day.She was mistaken!

Yeah.........sorry

Get out there and wash it now ,on second thoughts just send me the ticket.Due for a visit toW.A.
Road from Tassie to Busselton once to see some friends only to find out they had left for vic.the day before.
A long way home.(VIC)

that does look quite nifty

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