Wheel colour

Message

rubberfingers · #1 Post by **rubberfingers** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:09 am

Hi

I am getting fed up with the white wheels on my bike looking dirty, they are impossible to keep clean. All it takes it a bit of chain lube to get on the wheel and its a sticky mess of black crud.

Here is a photo of the bike currently (still not done the bellypan yet). While I like the white colour its just too much work.

Any suggestions on a good wheel colour, I am thinking black like the standard RD 500 colour, was this gloss or satin?

Andy

aaronmvrider · #2 Post by **aaronmvrider** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:13 am

gold .....cleaning is part of life ..... i wipe my bum all the time something messy gets on it

aaronmvrider · #3 Post by **aaronmvrider** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:15 am

not me ..... but it seemed related to topic

rubberfingers · #4 Post by **rubberfingers** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:24 am

aaronmvrider wrote:gold .....cleaning is part of life ..... i wipe my bum all the time something messy gets on it

I have gold wheels on my TZR and they are nearly as bad to keep clean as the white

aaronmvrider · #5 Post by **aaronmvrider** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:48 am

what a beautiful bike.... what else are you hiding

rubberfingers · #6 Post by **rubberfingers** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 8:03 am

aaronmvrider wrote: what a beautiful bike.... what else are you hiding

Thanks

Also have a TDR with red wheels (not quite as bad to keep clean)

and a YZF600 with black wheels which are easy!

So what colour is the RD500 black - gloss or satin? Does anyone have a photo of an RZ500 with black wheels so I can see what it would look like please?

Andy

rd84 · #7 Post by **rd84** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:09 pm

Hi Andy,

I'm not sure a photo will tell you what you want to know.

Not easy to explain but the wheels look half way between satin and gloss black - however I think they're gloss black applied badly to a 'rough' surface - so don't go too glossy and perfect with the finish.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Paul

rzmad · #8 Post by **rzmad** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:38 pm

I had same problem. Bought my RZ with gold wheels which were looking tired and tatty. I felt they let the whole bike down. Always liked black wheels personally. I did a mock up of my bike with white, red & black wheels. My RD350R has white wheels and tbh I don't ride the bike much so I don't clean them often because of it but usually it's a clean every other ride if I want them looking nice which is a pita. My black wheels were powder coated satin black 70/30.

Original

Edited with white wheels

Edited with Red wheels

Edited with Black wheels

Inspired by this photo

Actual black wheels

rubberfingers · #9 Post by **rubberfingers** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 4:42 pm

Thats a great help thanks

I think the red and white ones look the nicest thou, I am just not sure about the black with the RZ colours. They seem to suit the RD more somehow, maybe its the fact the red is darker and it has black stripes and not blue?

hmmmmm what to do

The white looks the best I think but they are such a pain, maybe red is the way to go - decisions decisions.....

when you say 70/30 satin what is that?

Although this one I just found looks ok with black wheels

Andy

Andrew · #10 Post by **Andrew** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:05 pm

Well if anyone has a set of gold standard rims they want to swap for a set of standard black rims. Drop me a message. I have a set waiting.

Gary Papesh · #11 Post by **Gary Papesh** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:20 pm

Perhaps using a dry chain lube would help?
Sincerely, Gary P.

Grumpy · #12 Post by **Grumpy** » Tue Jun 15, 2010 3:49 am

70/30 satin just means a semi-gloss paint.
You'll get a good result using PJ1 Satin Black and give it a little polish.

rzmad · #13 Post by **rzmad** » Tue Jun 15, 2010 4:10 am

I'd go for a professional paint job not a home made one if you tressure your bike!

70/30 = 70% gloss, 30% matt

I think in the designs the white looks the nicest BUT as you say white is a nightmare and that is why I went with black. It's so easy to become a slave to cleaning of bikes. I have a polished stainless exhaust for my Buell and it's like cleaning white wheels really, always tarnishing and forever cleaning which last 5 min. For me I actually like the black wheels, goes with anything.

Andrew · #14 Post by **Andrew** » Tue Jun 15, 2010 7:40 am

ph4824 wrote:I'd go for a professional paint job not a home made one if you tressure your bike!

70/30 = 70% gloss, 30% matt

I think in the designs the white looks the nicest BUT as you say white is a nightmare and that is why I went with black. It's so easy to become a slave to cleaning of bikes. I have a polished stainless exhaust for my Buell and it's like cleaning white wheels really, always tarnishing and forever cleaning which last 5 min. For me I actually like the black wheels, goes with anything.

Paul
I would've taken your gold rims....
Mine are satin black and now back in the loft.....

rzmad · #15 Post by **rzmad** » Tue Jun 15, 2010 9:40 am

Andrew wrote:
ph4824 wrote:I'd go for a professional paint job not a home made one if you tressure your bike!

70/30 = 70% gloss, 30% matt

I think in the designs the white looks the nicest BUT as you say white is a nightmare and that is why I went with black. It's so easy to become a slave to cleaning of bikes. I have a polished stainless exhaust for my Buell and it's like cleaning white wheels really, always tarnishing and forever cleaning which last 5 min. For me I actually like the black wheels, goes with anything.
Paul
I would've taken your gold rims....
Mine are satin black and now back in the loft.....

I had a similar offer but it was the additional cost of postage not to mention I'm fussy and I don't like buying/swapping blind. It was much easier to buy second hand wheels and having them powder coated locally.