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View Full Version : What to clean your rims with?


Goinfasterthanu
05-08-2010, 11:36 PM
I have painted gold rims on my new r6 , what is good to clean them with ? I hate to ask a newb question like this but dont want to ruin them either....
TLR67
05-08-2010, 11:50 PM
WD 40...Just keep it OFF the tires...
A&A Motorsports
05-08-2010, 11:58 PM
I clean mine with a cloth :)
Goinfasterthanu
05-09-2010, 12:07 AM
I clean mine with a cloth :)

LOL....Well yea i hope so... But wondering what you put on that cloth.... The micro fiber cloth works good for the front but the back rim gets chain lube every where....
Goinfasterthanu
05-09-2010, 12:08 AM
WD 40...Just keep it OFF the tires...

Ok and it wont mess up the finish? Thanlks!!
jdread
05-09-2010, 12:28 AM
soap and water only for me.
Georgiacbr
05-09-2010, 12:35 AM
wheel cleaner used for cars is what I use (Non acid stuff) or simple green too.
nhs
05-09-2010, 01:32 AM
Yep = WD40 is great and shouldn't harm your wheels. I use it on my R6's painted black wheels. I would recommend you hose the wheels down first though - to get rid of any small rock granules and road debris that may have attached itself to the wheels. You otherwise risk rubbing it into, and scratching, the paint when you apply WD40 using a cloth...
NiceGuysFinishLast
05-09-2010, 03:07 AM
WD40 is a great degreaser, it'll cut chain lube and anything like it. Like he said though, keep it WELL away from your tires.
THE MUFFIN MAN
05-09-2010, 10:10 AM
soap and water only for me.bingo, wheels that are kept clean REGULARLY, need nothing more than mild soap and water. keeping them clean regularly, keeps crap from building up, and ensures you will never have to use any type of harsh chemical.
Goinfasterthanu
05-09-2010, 10:50 AM
Ok thanks for all your help!!
Todd
05-09-2010, 11:24 AM
and if you use the proper chain lube, it wont fling off onto your wheels in the first place. :up:
Georgiacbr
05-09-2010, 12:13 PM
and if you use the proper chain lube, it wont fling off onto your wheels in the first place. :up:


chain Lube i'm just waiting on someone to twist this LOL and you know it's going to happen Todd.
NiceGuysFinishLast
05-09-2010, 12:16 PM
and if you use the proper chain lube, it wont fling off onto your wheels in the first place. :up:


Yeah, but road grime, brake dust, etc all need to be removed too.

Also, soap and water and a grunge brush are a fine alternative to WD-40 and the like. Some people swear by simple green too, I'm a big fan of the stuff, but have never used it on a motorcycle. Pretty sure I remember reading that if you're gonna use it on anything that's painted (plastics), you're supposed to dilute it. I just prefer wd-40 because I find it to be the quickest/easiest grime cutter. Rinse the wheels off, a little WD on a rag, wipe 'em down a few times, rinse, done. Also, WD-40 is an easy/quick way to clean your chain before you lube it (with a separate lube.. WD-40 IS NOT A LUBRICANT). Just use a can with the red straw, and a piece of cardboard behind the chain to prevent overspray.
svmtbman
05-09-2010, 01:08 PM
WD-40 for me as well.
wicked
05-09-2010, 05:28 PM
turtle wax bug and tar remover...
jroc95
05-09-2010, 05:55 PM
WD-40 works great and also leaves a little glossy shine as well. And as far as "chain lube" in 17 years of riding I've never found a brand that doesn't fly off atleast some amount. PJ1 Blue Label is the best I have found.
Todd
05-09-2010, 06:36 PM
in 17 years of riding I've never found a brand that doesn't fly off atleast some amount. PJ1 Blue Label is the best I have found.Bel-Ray SuperClean (make sure its the "Super Clean". Apply when the chain is warm, then dont ride again till its cool. Stuff will NOT fly off, even a little bit. Been using the stuff for 10 years now.
redbeard
05-09-2010, 06:38 PM
I use kerosene to clean mine. I just have a jug of it around anyway because thats what I clean my chains with. Its probably cheaper than wd-40 too.
NiceGuysFinishLast
05-10-2010, 12:54 AM
Yeah, Kerosene in bulk is definitely cheaper than WD-40. I like WD40 for portability, ease of application, and (relative) lack of mess. I've heard good things about that bel-ray stuff, but I always seem to end up with Maxima chain wax, it's like a compulsion. I generally just ignore the wheel grime. I used to be OCD about keeping them clean, but after I started riding every day, year round (with the exception of this last year), I got tired of it. I clean the bike when I lube the chain. Ok... like every 3 or 4 times... sometimes.
Lazarus
05-10-2010, 08:56 AM
I use the chain cleaner on mine. Stuff works good considering the condition of my wheels. Ask Dickiedoo how they look. EEKS!
TroyBoy30
05-10-2010, 09:50 AM
wheel cleaner

http://www.kneedraggers.com/image_storage/8/ca/8ca4fbd54aa6cd42309c8fab0d300675_rough.jpg?height= 520&width=580

best chain lube known to man

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31S1QN23HCL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
Todd
05-10-2010, 10:31 AM
best chain lube known to man

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31S1QN23HCL._SL500_AA300_.jpggood stuff, but will still fling off.
TLR67
05-10-2010, 10:33 AM
You should have seen the LITHIUM grease off my New RK Chain I put on at Barber this weekend... My Left side looked like I ran through a wet cement puddle... WD-40 took it right off though!!
ramm
05-10-2010, 10:47 AM
soap and water here
TroyBoy30
05-10-2010, 11:31 AM
good stuff, but will still fling off.

never has. I apply when I get home from the ride and let it sit over night
Todd
05-10-2010, 01:07 PM
You should have seen the LITHIUM grease off my New RK Chain I put on at Barber this weekend... My Left side looked like I ran through a wet cement puddle... WD-40 took it right off though!!wtf dude??? why didnt you soak that bad boy in kerosene before you put it on and get that shit off????
TLR67
05-10-2010, 01:19 PM
Because I had a can of WD-40! : ) Hell I wiped most off it off before the first session but I knew it wouldnt get it all...
Todd
05-10-2010, 01:23 PM
new chains, i always soak in a bucket of kerosene for at least 24 hours prior to installing. Pull it out, rinse that puppy off with the hose, blow it dry with the air compressor, install, then lube.
The Lazy Destroyer
05-10-2010, 01:54 PM
If it is REALLY caked on, I've had good luck with just letting some mildly cut down Simple Green and then simply spray off with a hose. I'm talking about caked on as in WD-40 doesn't do anything for it. I had some 10k mile nasty collection of all kinds of grime on my GSXR rims and this method worked pretty well. Did not get it perfect but got it clean enough to wipe down with soap and water after.
Ranger
05-10-2010, 05:01 PM
Clean rims? I had my rims powder coated black so that I wouldn't have to clean them as often. Seriously though, I use Purple Power to clean the rims when I come around to it. Since a lot of people here are recommending WD-40 then I'll have to give that a try, just to compare.
bluerider
05-10-2010, 08:52 PM
WD 40...Just keep it OFF the tires...

+ 100% spray it on a rag and wipe off. Gets the chain lube off also.
BadAssRX-7
05-12-2010, 03:24 PM
WD 40...Just keep it OFF the tires...
a little wd on a rag will get all the wax and dirt and stuff right off with little to no effert. and even helps to keep the new stuff from gluing down hard.
BadAssRX-7
05-12-2010, 03:31 PM
Seriously though, I use Purple Power to clean the rims when I come around to it.

MAN watch out with that stuff. when 100% it will fade paint on contact and even when mixed it can if u let it stay on to long. ALSO DONT GET P.P ON ALUMINUM! it turns it white and will totally trash polished alum. I learned that the hard way with my polished koyo rad. in the rx-7... i was not a happy camper. but p.p. is a kick ass engine cleaner... on a hot motor if you spray p.p. it steams a nasty smell and stuff but will really put a hurt on oil and crap builtup.