| Author | Message | ||
     Stryker_buell |
Another question... I want black wheels so: 1. Can I have the wheels I have now painted and will that work? 2. Is it better to just buy the black wheels from Buell? Thoughts? Thanks, Chad | ||
| Livnlo |
powder coat the ones you have now...should run you about 75 to 100 bucks each mine are getting done right now | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
You don't specify the color of your current wheels, but assuming they are plain aluminum you can do the following: 1. Paint them yourself with a rattle can. This requires a special aluminum primer. Cost about $20. The problem with this, is that the paint quality is low, and the paint will be very prone to nicks and chips. 2. You could have them professionally painted. This can work well, and you don't have to remove the bearings. Should cost about $100 the pair if you do the prep. I have seen this work well, and even though the paint may chip here and there, it is easy to touch up. 3. Most people preferred powder coating because it is much stronger than paint, and wheels are subject to lots of debris. Cost $100 to $300 per wheel depending on the job. Powder coating is done by spraying the part with electrically charged powder and then baking at around 400º for 45 min or so. This produces a much longer lasting coating than paint, and is sort of the industry standard at this point in time. Because of this heat, the wheel bearings are normally removed before coating. People often install new bearings at this point, if only because everything is apart already. 4. Sometimes one can trade one's wheels with another Buelligan who would prefer to have your color. This is hard to do if you want black wheels, as they are very popular just now. just my .02¢ | ||
| Stryker_buell |
Got it. Forgot to add they are white want to make them black. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
What about mounting the tires? Every time you get a new set you'd have to repaint the edges with the tires on the rims. I'm having this problem with the thin factory powder coat on mine right now and looking for a different solution. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Mounting the tires is a problem with painted rims especially, not to mention powder coated ones. A good solution seems to be using the No mar Tire changing tool. http://www.nomartirechanger.com/?gclid=CPiEl8zWsIo CFQtXUAod2BUpEQ This tool eliminates metal to metal contact on the rims, as it uses a plastic tipped tool. Used carefully, it rarely chips the paint. Some Bad Webbers have been able to change their tires by just using the No Mar Tire mount/demount bar alone, but I have a hard enough time using the entire classic machine system. I guess I haven't done it enough to get the hang of it.  | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
My local Ironhorse dealership uses a No-Mar plastic tipped machine and it still chips the factory powder coat. That's why I've been asking questions about chrome. Seems more durable if you can find someone who can do it right. (Message edited by Tx05xb12s on February 15, 2007) | ||
| Hellonwheels |
I am about to paint my bike and I would love to find some chrome wheels...Does anyone know where to look...I cant find much for this bike... | ||
| Damnut |
for the hassle I found that it was easier to sell my stock ones and buy the black ones. Cost me about 75 bucks a wheel. that's a lot less than it would cost you to powder coat. If you powdercoat you have to remove the bearing so that means buying new ones $$$ Having the bearings pressed $$$ removing and replacing the tires $$$ and if you have to prep the wheel before powdercoating $$$ | ||
| Liquorwhere |
Ok Guys...I run the powder coat shop here in Bradenton...Phil I believe your wheels are anodized gold, correct? not powder coated, I have two bikes with powder coated wheels, both bikes have been through numerous tire changes without any chipping...I cannot speak to your particular problems Phil because I have not seen the rims nor have I observed the manner in which they were changed...on average we have seen very little problems with our powder coat BECAUSE it is a matter of prep...many coaters use an acid etch as opposed to sandblasting..that acid etch does not provide as stable mechanical retention points as does the sandblasting, we use no chemicals here, it is all mechanically etched, first with a sandblast then with a fine hand sand with very fine sand paper to ensure we have a well prepped clean surface, any silicone lubricants, oils, dirt or dust can cause a weak point that can cause the powder to fail, also what formulations are they usings..epoxies are great for chemical resistance, but are terrible for UV protection or salt spray resistance, hybrids such as eurothane/epoxy or polyesther/eurothanes can be problematic as well depending on the substrate (metal) it is applied to, also, you have to consider if the metal achieved curing temperature, it must reach 350 degrees in most cases for a minimum of 15 mins, this varies from product to product and if it was improperly cured the power will fail. My advice is to use a solid coater that only sandblasts with a fine DuPont sand, and choose a color and formulation that is designed for outside/UV use, also make sure the coater cures it properly..now to the last and final problem, in most cases we press the bearings out here and replace them in the cost of the wheels being done, it is part of some of our prep, if it comes pressed out all the better and faster, if not we press them out, prep your wheels, coat them, replace your bearings, wrap your wheels, package and ship. ok...anymore questions I will be happy to get you answers...sometimes it may take a bit, if I don't know I go to the owner.. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Liquorwhere, How much for a set of Uly wheels?  Black Powder Coat (Message edited by wolfridgerider on February 15, 2007) | ||
| Sjh |
Helllonwheels, what color of wheels do you have now? I have a set of chrome wheels xb wheels I would be interested in dealing on. | ||
| Bads1 |
Liquorwhere, The wheel's are not a anodized gold. They are indeed powdercoat. | ||
| Hellonwheels |
SJH I have the original wheels..(silver) i guess..they are a little dirty I need to polish them but I dont have a stand or anything just a kickstand and a stool...so I dont have the time, energy, or willingness to sit there and spend hours polishing them.... If I could take them off it would be no biggie...got any pictures? I would love some chrome wheels...I want to paint the bike a Deep orange with Lots of FLAKE I think chrome wheels would set it off nice... | ||
| Sjh |
I am thinking of changing the plastics back to white and going with sky white wheels. | ||
| Hellonwheels |
SJH do you have white plastics? what color are your now... Where is the best place to get some more plastics...i dont careabout the color I just want some in good shape...I want to paint them ...I should keep the white ones and put them away just in case... | ||
| Sjh |
I have a tuber, but use the xb front fender and windscreen. I once had my bike white before the xb conversion, but there was not xb lightning white windscreen at the time so I went to yellow. Now that there is a white windscreen I am wanting to go back to white and then have the option of changing colors whenever. If you are wanting any old plastics and do not care about scratches you can piece them together of ebay or look for complete sets. I do have a complete set of XBR blue plastics that are in mint condition. | ||
| Liquorwhere |
Wolf...depending on the color and the prep they run about $250.00-$300.00 for the set. But the HD replacement bolt for your brake rotors are actually quite expensive if you go to your local (st)dealership.........so if they come to us with the brake rotors on them, they will go back without the rotors on them, best if you just take them off there. | ||
| Liquorwhere |
I say that Wolf because we have several cool looking black's, a tex black, a flat black a semi gloss, high gloss and a silver and black hammertone...my favorite, looks like the old wrought iron silver and black gates...very cool. | ||
| Al_lighton |
My take on it is to sell the wheels you have, and use the proceeds to buy a new set in black. The powdercoating costs, the bearings cost, the installation costs, and you only get a certain number of bearing swaps per wheel. There is the right way and the wrong way to remove and install bearings in wheels. But even done correctly, each time they are extracted and installed, the bearing bores are slightly traumatized. Eventually they'll spin, but you'll get a number or R&R cycles But done wrong, you'll spin your bearing (especially the rear pulley side bearing) much sooner. So unless it is at a point where you are replacing the wheel bearings anyway, I think you'll find that the price of powdercating is not much less, if at all, depending on how much you get for your white wheels and how much you'd have to pay for the bearing swap. Amber wheels are harder to move, but racers/track day guys are always looking for another set and aren't as picky on the color of their track set. But white wheels ought to be a relatively easy sell. The stock wheels just went up in price (just ordered a set) though, the $336 listed on the web site isn't current, more like $362F,$375R. Al | ||
| Mhfirebolt |
Does anyone know what the powder coat color code is for the amber wheel? I have a silver one I want to have "powdered" amber.  | ||
| Bads1 |
There isn't a code. You'll need to buy a Amber wheel or Paint yours to match. | ||
| Mhfirebolt |
Thanks for replying Bads1. I bought a rear wheel to have widened to 8.5" to fit a 240 tire on. I want to match the amber that came from the factory. I'm going to see if I can contact the factory. There has to be a number or something somewhere. | ||
| Liquorwhere |
If you want a custom color done there are a few companies that will match it in small quantity, expensive, but you will get what you want...TCI is one, Govesan, Akzo-Nobel you can find them on the web, what you will need to do is actually send them the wheel to match or go to your local coater and have the color matched as closely as possible to an RAL color. good luck or just email me... | ||
| Mhfirebolt |
Thanks for the info Liquorwhere.  | ||
| Bads1 |
In all honesty talking with Erik back when the XB12's came out he said how much of a problem the actually had having consistancy with the color. Some wheels actually didn't match and I've seen some on bikes that don't match mine. Good luck though. | ||
| Molly_hatchet |
i have white wheels that im getting powdercoated black...i used to work at a body shop and all i can say is paint wont last too long....if u do bomb can it they should be easy to touch up though...paint just dosent last long on wheels they get to beat up...for me it was 75 a wheel i had the dealership take the bearings out seems how the bike was there for its 5000ml anyways...and i was feelin lazy...if u can go with the powdercoat or trade. | ||
| Bads1 |
Hatchet, Theres a few people on this board that had there wheels painted. If applied right and enough.... its strong enough. As long as you take care of them as well. | ||
| Molly_hatchet |
ya bads ,i painted the wheels on my katana and my R-1 if u have the means to do it its not a bad way to go i spose....if u get some touch up when u get them painted or poof can em u can touch up when needed i did my katana wheels 3 times while i owned it first two times my prep work was less than ok....last time i took the time to do them right...they still lookedcrappy when i sold it...but then again hey were crappy wheels hahaha....good luck stryker, whatever u do itl be better than stock  ...ive been pondering painting my own frame rails i cant stand that big silver blank billboard anymore...anybody line-x a frame and swingarm yet here id like to see it. |
