Cleaning Spoke Motorcycle Rims?

**Beemerboy** · 05-10-2010, 11:06 AM

I have a Harley I`m working on this week, the rims are chrome spoke, was thinking of using the S&W with some brushes then rinse and dry best as possible.

Anyone have ideas or tricks for me?

**Stephan** · 05-10-2010, 11:29 AM

Do you mean spray & rinse??? I would think it would work for most of it...although you may still end up needing to use a small brush in parts. I did on once but used my steamer which helped to blast away the brake dust and grime...even with that I still had to go over each spoke with a MF towel.

**Paul Sparks** · 05-10-2010, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Beemerboy

I have a Harley I`m working on this week, the rims are chrome spoke, was thinking of using the S&W with some brushes then rinse and dry best as possible.

Anyone have ideas or tricks for me?

Try your S&W with some micro fiber gloves. Guy down the street swears by them for getting in tight around the spokes.

**Beemerboy** · 05-10-2010, 12:22 PM

Thanks I meant spray and rinse Steve wheel cleaner. They are not that bad but its just the tight areas you have to get into...I have plenty of brushes and was planning on using some ORN as well

**TLMitchell** · 05-10-2010, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Beemerboy

Thanks I meant spray and rinse Steve wheel cleaner. They are not that bad but its just the tight areas you have to get into...I have plenty of brushes and was planning on using some ORN as well

If you indeed have chrome like on the Profile laced wheels, there isn`t any substitute for polishing spokes one by one. Most dealers have the Luster Lace strips impregnated with polish that are supposed to make things easier. Never used `em, I just go after `em with a MF by hand. No spray & rinse product is going to give the results that manual, pain in the neck manual cleaning and polishing will give.

Many *think* they have chrome spokes on their Harley because they sparkle when new and are sadly surprised when they get dingy and they try to polish them. Unless you have the optiuonal chrome spokes most of H-D`s spokes are cadmium plated. Once they get dull they`ll never shine like that again. Get too aggressive with a polish and you risk stripping the cadmium off and then they look even worse.

TL <--- cast wheels are your friend

**Beemerboy** · 05-10-2010, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by TLMitchell

If you indeed have chrome like on the Profile laced wheels, there isn`t any substitute for polishing spokes one by one. Most dealers have the Luster Lace strips impregnated with polish that are supposed to make things easier. Never used `em, I just go after `em with a MF by hand. No spray & rinse product is going to give the results that manual, pain in the neck manual cleaning and polishing will give.

Many *think* they have chrome spokes on their Harley because they sparkle when new and are sadly surprised when they get dingy and they try to polish them. Unless you have the optiuonal chrome spokes most of H-D`s spokes are cadmium plated. Once they get dull they`ll never shine like that again. Get too aggressive with a polish and you risk stripping the cadmium off and then they look even worse.

TL <--- cast wheels are your friend

Thanks these are chrome but the spokes don`t look that way to me..The bike is less than a year old so its not that bad...shouldn`t be that hard for me just time consuming

**bigron62** · 05-11-2010, 06:56 PM

wax on wax off

**betterdan** · 02-19-2011, 05:30 AM

I just detailed my bike this weekend (pretty easy actually since it has a lot of black and the paint is the denim finish so no waxing) but the spoke wheels about killed me. They had a lot of brake dust. I had to go over them one by one with never dull and it got them looking pretty good but it was a pain. I may try and use an sos pad next time as it should be quicker on the brake dust. Yea my spokes are chrome.

**Poorboy** · 02-20-2011, 11:15 AM

I`ve use Spray & Rinse with a foam sprayer ..it make quick and easy work of cleaning spokes

**klink10** · 02-28-2011, 09:12 AM

SOS pads are way to harsh for those spokes, the only thing I use those for are bikes with wide white walls. Try 4/0000 steel wool with a good chrome polish. That works. Luster Lace also works well and provides a nice shine to coated exhaust pipes. A good APC with a spoke brush and soap and water will pretty much get everything off. Follow with a chrome polish. It`s tedious I know. Bike detailer and owner of 6

**John@Autopia-Carcare.com** · 02-28-2011, 09:24 AM

Beemerboy, you may want to check out some of the S100 products we carry.

Here`s a link to the wheel cleaner: S100 Wheel Cleaner

It`s not acidic, and safe on all wheel finishes.

**Beemerboy** · 02-28-2011, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by John@Autopia-Carcare.com

Beemerboy, you may want to check out some of the S100 products we carry.

Here`s a link to the wheel cleaner: S100 Wheel Cleaner

It`s not acidic, and safe on all wheel finishes.

John,

Thanks but I have been using PB S&R for years with excellent results!

I started this more for techniques or tricks from riders or detailers that had experience with cleaning spoked rims.

**Dtrick.22** · 03-02-2011, 10:06 PM

Afterwards Pro Polish gives them a nice look...Did my uncles Harley a few months ago, spokes were not looking too good. You can only do so much but PP did help quite a bit

**Daniel Ellow** · 03-23-2011, 05:53 AM

Originally Posted by Beemerboy

I have a Harley I`m working on this week, the rims are chrome spoke, was thinking of using the S&W with some brushes then rinse and dry best as possible.

Anyone have ideas or tricks for me?

I am using spoke brush having bristles twisted in plastic coating wire. you can try yellow degreaser with this spoke brush for easy cleaning of wire rims and removing of built up dirt.