White wheels

[aaronstj]

Who invented these things?  I like white wheel.  Honest, I do.  I konw they're hokey, but they're pretty cool, in an '80s kinda way.  (And face it, the '80s were cool).

But I just spend something like 2 or 3 hours in the tub with two white wheels, a five pound box of rags, and a jug of kerosene. 

The fuckers still aren't clean.

Or, they're cleaner than when they started.  A lot cleaner.  But there's spots on their that I don't think will ever go away, unless I repaints the wheels.

Which I'm tempted to do.

But seriously.  Who thought this was a good idea?

[makenzie71]

The only people who ever thought white wheels were a good idea were the people who knew how to clean them...and face it, cleaning them weekly is a pivotal step in how to clean wheels in general.

kerosene isn't a good cleaner...all it will do is thin out the mess you've already got on them so that it'll seep nicely into the tiny surface imperfections and make the whole wheel look dingey.  The best way to clean any wheel is with a strong detergent (dry tide laundry detergent in the absolute best) and a  toothbrush.  A very important thing that MANY people seem to forget to go with painted wheels is waxing them.  Yes...you're supposed to wax them.  They look better waxed and they're about a alotofgazillion times easier to clean.

[TragicImage]

dude.... Krylon... rattlecan them weekly.

[RVertigo]

So, I take it you're getting new tires for your pretty white wheels?

[aaronstj]

kerosene isn't a good cleaner...all it will do is thin out the mess you've already got on them so that it'll seep nicely into the tiny surface imperfections and make the whole wheel look dingey.  The best way to clean any wheel is with a strong detergent (dry tide laundry detergent in the absolute best) and a  toothbrush.

You could has told me this several hours ago.  Then it would have heplped me.   

So, I take it you're getting new tires for your pretty white wheels?

Sport Demons.  Had them put on today.  I'll probably put the (clean-ish) wheels back on tomorrow.

Actually, a moderately amusing story (it amuses me, at least):

After wandering about Aurora Suzuki, sitting on bikes, waiting for my tires to be mounted, I go back to the service bay, and they're done.
Mechanic: "So, did you have an RO open?" 
"Err, no..."
"Did you just have cash deal work out with him?"
"Umm... no, I just brought in the wheels, and gave them to you..."
"Do you have $20 on you?"
"Sure."
I give him the twenty, and he gives me the wheels.
"I just saved you twenty bucks.  He was going to charge you a third of an hour each."
"Sweet."
I don't know what he did with the twenty.  I assume he just pocketed it.  But I got me tires mounted, so... 

[RVertigo]

Sweet!  Put 'em on and I'll put on my new (old) Kat shock...

Then we'll go "test" our bikes on some twisties.   

[aaronstj]

We'd be negligent not to.

[roguegeek]

White wheels are ghey.

[yamahonkawazuki]

imo the white wheels look good on certain colored bikes

[blue05twin]

Cool I like the white wheels, for cleaning wheels WD-40 works great, so does engine degreaser.

[CirclesCenter]

I love the way white looks.

I hate the way it always needs cleaning.

[Alphamazing]

I liked the white wheels. Cleaning them does suck though. Now that I have polished lips on my wheels I'll have to clean them fairly regularly as well.

[Church6360]

whats this cleaning you speak of?
when i had my 500 (with white wheels) i washed it about once every 6 months.

[scottpA_GS]

Cool I like the white wheels, for cleaning wheels WD-40 works great,

+1

Thats what I use.. works great! Takes about 10 mins for me to clean both wheels

[Codger]

Black is beautiful, baby.
I don't know if my wheels are dirty or not.

Actually I know that the rear is, since I lube my chain the cheap aS way with WD40.  It's lubricant not solvent.

[RobTheTyrant]

dude... any kind of brake cleaner will melt anything off your wheels.  Brake kleen brand works best imo.  A 5 dollar can should clean 4-6 rims.  Spray em, let em dry and wax em every time you wash it.