so, if i strip them to make them have the polished look, how hard would it be if i didn't like it to paint them?

Stripping the smooth outer edge is easy. The rougher sand cast is a pain to get all of the paint off, even with aircraft stripper. Repainting if you do not like it is no problem. Just use a good primer or if completely bare metal use an etching primer.

dgyver- you've been alot of help, thank you very much. I think I am going to try the polished look on the lips and black/silver on the spokes. thanks for all your help.

My pleasure. I better see some pics of your finished work.

I just stripped mine and painted with engine paint it lays well like caliper paint.



striping takes time but it's not to bad.

what year is your bike crucial??

89

if i go with the polished lips, can i put anything on them to coat them and keep them clean, polished looking all the time?? some clear coat or anything?

Heather Plasticote makes a High Heat Clear Coat Engine Enamel.

Yes, you can clear it. It won't have the "fresh polished" look, but it won't get dingy either.

  -Anti 

I'm sure you could but I'm not sure what type you could use that wouldn't look bad after a year or so.

The wheels have high quality polish on the lips I don't think it would take much to keep them looking good. When you first strip the wheels it almost perfect just a little polish to clean it up. I use mothers polish and it works.

Make sure when you are stripping to use a rag with stripper

("NOT" SAND PAPER, WIRE WHEEL, SCOTCH BRIGHT) or anything like that

thanks- you guys are great. When I get the time, I'm gonna start on this. I will post before and after pics. If you guys think of anything else you would like to add at any time, just let me know. I'm always looking for suggestions.

If you stated the city..... somebody would be more than willing to help, if asked....without the stalking..... just help.

I'M  in near asheville, actually live about 25 mins. from there, but that's the closest "big" city. 

What side? I'm about 45min west in Sylva.

see,
Val seemed like a normal guy....
didn't notice any stalker tendencies when I met him in black mt.

I'm Pretty close My Brother Lives in Asheville.Of course I have no long Haul Transportation but May have that Solved tomorrow. I Gaurantee Not to be too much of a Stalker.

So, I tried cleaning them with the denatured alcohol...didn't really work that well.  It didn't work as good as anything else. I used a washcloth wet down with it and I really had to scrub to get any dirt or grime off.  I got some aircraft remover, think I'm going to go ahead and strip the lips and get to the polish.  May do it this afternoon if I can find something to hold me down from this wind.

good luck let us know how it turns out.

aircraft remover did the trick.  I taped off the 3 spokes only stripping the lips.  Don't know if that's going to look ok or if I'm going to end up stripping it all. just got finished with the lips a few mins. ago and need to ask- when I stripped that ugly @ss white paint off, my rims are kinda dull, is that normal?? I know I'm gonna have to polish them with something, but they are kind dull now, will they get more shiny when I polish them??