Wheel cleaning? - SV650.org

Mark_h · 16-06-14, 06:17 AM

Any tips on removing inground filth on the wheel rims? Rear usually comes up nice with a bit of paraffin on a rag but its not working on the front. Any tips on cleaning up the slightly rougher surface?

Sir Trev · 16-06-14, 07:17 AM

Paraffin or white spirit usually does the trick for me. Was looking at the wheel cleaner I have for the car yesterday and it specifically says do not use on bike wheels (reacts to the paint?) so that's not a suggestion...

How grubby are they? If it's just brake dust a solvent cleaner may shift it but I would have thought it would shift the coating too if used too vigorously. Any recommendations on a detailing forum perhaps?

650 · 16-06-14, 07:18 AM

Paraffin will cut through literally anything including super stuck on chain lube.

And as a future proofness from fling-off, invest in some Wurth dry lube. Used it year round for eons now and it's fantastic, no splatter and keeps your chain clean.

16-06-14, 07:41 AM

WD-40, but Paraffin is cheaper!
I have used a watered down 'autoglym clean wheels' for ever, been fine on all previous bikes including my dads bikes and ive never had a problem.... Apart from my SV in which it did make the paint flake!

Mark_h · 16-06-14, 08:27 AM

As per original post folks, Paraffin's not touching it. It always works fine on the rear which was a mix of lube and road sludge but it's not touching the front which is getting progressively grubbier over the years.

Anyone ever tried one of those steam cleaners that apparently make your bathroom surgically clean while you wave it at the tiles in a sexy summer dress?

I could try wonder wheels or similar but don't want to make matters worse.

650 · 16-06-14, 08:37 AM

If you can't shift it with paraffin (sorry, didn't read it fully!) then you're going into oxidisation territory. There are plenty of car related products available for this but they're designed to attack and thin out a top coat, so using them on motorcycle wheels might have a detrimental effect.

For the sake of around £100, I'd just get both front and back refurbed to a colour of your preference, or do a DIY job and whip the wheel off, sand it all back and spray it. It's not even remotely difficult and will take all of a weekend & a Monday for drying if you can mask off the tyre effectively and quickly enough.

_Stretchie_ · 16-06-14, 09:09 AM

Paging Dizzy Blonde

16-06-14, 09:24 AM

Autosol and some graft. It'll come up good.

Sir Trev · 16-06-14, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt-EUC

Autosol and some graft. It'll come up good.

On a painted wheel? Seriously?? Are you in league with your local paint supplier???

16-06-14, 09:31 AM

Never took the paint off mine.

Sent via the medium of interpretative dance.

16-06-14, 06:17 AM	#1
Mark_h Member Mega Poster Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fleet, Hampshire Posts: 2,448	Wheel cleaning? Any tips on removing inground filth on the wheel rims? Rear usually comes up nice with a bit of paraffin on a rag but its not working on the front. Any tips on cleaning up the slightly rougher surface? __________________ Don't want to be the quickest; don't want to be the best; just want to be the one having the most fun. XL125Varadero -> Curvy SV650N-Y -> SV1000N-K3 -> Multistrada 1200s Twin-tastic stuff. Minister for Sustainability *Aliquid prudentissimus delectabiles et intelligentes in adamasset lingua.*

16-06-14, 07:17 AM	#2
Sir Trev Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: High Wycombe, where the chair factories used to be Posts: 1,479	Re: Wheel cleaning Paraffin or white spirit usually does the trick for me. Was looking at the wheel cleaner I have for the car yesterday and it specifically says do not use on bike wheels (reacts to the paint?) so that's not a suggestion... How grubby are they? If it's just brake dust a solvent cleaner may shift it but I would have thought it would shift the coating too if used too vigorously. Any recommendations on a detailing forum perhaps? __________________ We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town, BEEP BEEP!

16-06-14, 07:18 AM	#3
650 Member Mega Poster Join Date: May 2012 Location: South East London Posts: 1,095	Re: Wheel cleaning Paraffin will cut through literally anything including super stuck on chain lube. And as a future proofness from fling-off, invest in some Wurth dry lube. Used it year round for eons now and it's fantastic, no splatter and keeps your chain clean.

16-06-14, 07:41 AM	#4
DanSp Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Wheel cleaning WD-40, but Paraffin is cheaper! I have used a watered down 'autoglym clean wheels' for ever, been fine on all previous bikes including my dads bikes and ive never had a problem.... Apart from my SV in which it did make the paint flake!

16-06-14, 08:27 AM	#5
Mark_h Member Mega Poster Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fleet, Hampshire Posts: 2,448	Re: Wheel cleaning As per original post folks, Paraffin's not touching it. It always works fine on the rear which was a mix of lube and road sludge but it's not touching the front which is getting progressively grubbier over the years. Anyone ever tried one of those steam cleaners that apparently make your bathroom surgically clean while you wave it at the tiles in a sexy summer dress? I could try wonder wheels or similar but don't want to make matters worse. __________________ Don't want to be the quickest; don't want to be the best; just want to be the one having the most fun. XL125Varadero -> Curvy SV650N-Y -> SV1000N-K3 -> Multistrada 1200s Twin-tastic stuff. Minister for Sustainability *Aliquid prudentissimus delectabiles et intelligentes in adamasset lingua.*

16-06-14, 08:37 AM	#6
650 Member Mega Poster Join Date: May 2012 Location: South East London Posts: 1,095	Re: Wheel cleaning If you can't shift it with paraffin (sorry, didn't read it fully!) then you're going into oxidisation territory. There are plenty of car related products available for this but they're designed to attack and thin out a top coat, so using them on motorcycle wheels might have a detrimental effect. For the sake of around £100, I'd just get both front and back refurbed to a colour of your preference, or do a DIY job and whip the wheel off, sand it all back and spray it. It's not even remotely difficult and will take all of a weekend & a Monday for drying if you can mask off the tyre effectively and quickly enough.

16-06-14, 09:09 AM	#7
_Stretchie_ Large Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minsterworth, Gloucester Posts: 2,353	Re: Wheel cleaning Paging Dizzy Blonde __________________ How to amuze an idiot: Look right-> <-Look Left

16-06-14, 09:24 AM	#8
Matt-EUC Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Wheel cleaning Autosol and some graft. It'll come up good.

16-06-14, 09:31 AM	#10
Matt-EUC Guest Posts: n/a	Wheel cleaning Never took the paint off mine. Sent via the medium of interpretative dance.

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