Wheel rim colour change

[Esstee 13]

Hi all.
My 2002 ST 1300 is the model with the black rims. I would love to change them to the later model silver/grey rims. Is there anyone who has done this? Is it cheaper to try and source the rims or to have my current ones powder coated.
Thanks

Tony
 

[Beaker]

Definitely cheaper to powder coat your current rims if you can afford the down time - I looked into doing something similar on my B-King. Ended up going chrome in the end though!!

[Abe]

This is worth reading in regards to chrome plating of parts.  Just food for thought.

Taken from the "Australian Design Rules" :-

Results 1–10 of 39 for "chrome plating"
1. Street_COP

of Steering Components Steering Rack Shortening Manufactured Steering Linkages Checking the Tracking of all Four Wheels Steering Columns Steering Universals and Couplings Locking of Steering Components Steering Wheels Chrome Plating ... 4.9.2 4.10 CHROME PLATING 4.10.1 An unfortunate side effect of chrome plating in some instances is a phenomenon known as hydrogen embrittlement.
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/pdf/Street_COP_sec_4.pdf [ 191k - pdf ]
2. NCOP16 Appendices V2.0 01Jan2011

13 2 CHROME PLATING of CRITICAL COMPONENTS NOT ALLOWED.13 3 CHROME PLATING of OTHER COMPONENTS.13 APPENDIX E PROOF OF COMPLIANCE UTILISING RAWS GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES 15 1 SCOPE.15
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/pdf/NCOP16_Appendices_V2.0_01Jan2011.pdf [ 436k - pdf ]

This link discusses "hydrogen embrittlement" further:-

http://corrosion-doctors.org/Forms-HIC/embrittlement.htm



Cheers
Dave

[alans1100]

As a matter of interest and for something I might do in the future I asked about getting wheels powder coated while I was collecting my dash shelf on Thursday.

Providing the whole wheel  has been cleaned of possible contaminates like grease and silicon etc it's quite ok to have them done.

A rough quote for the colour, sand blasting etc was $70 to $80 per wheel based on a 15 to 17 inch car wheel

[bluehonda]

Have you thought of getting the wheels sandblasted and then having the bare metal polished by a specialist?

[Aj1300]

Have you thought of getting the wheels sandblasted and then having the bare metal polished by a specialist?

Brad, I had a Blackbird before the St, and I polished the wheels and frame my self.. I only polished the wheels back to where the alloy braces meet the rim. I used a paint stripper then wet and dry sandpaper going up in grades then got the 3different buffing wheels and wax. I swap each wheel on my bench grinder.takes a bit of time but it was a good feeling to know I did it myself and looked great

[alans1100]

Have you thought of getting the wheels sandblasted and then having the bare metal polished by a specialist?

My preference is to restore the wheels back to gold colour.