K11 Owners Group

[Jim]

washed the bike last evening - and my eyes were drawn (once again) to the unsightly wheels on the K. I dragged out most of the stuff in my cleaning arsenal and tackled the front wheel. After more than an hour, I still hadn't made much headway .

I thought about what I might have that would clean at least most of the crap off the wheel. At this point, I didn't even care too much about damaging the paint/finish/stuff that coats the wheel. I tried gel gloss - and it worked. .

I'm sure I did some damage to the finish, but I really can't tell it. The wheel looks a million times better. When I take it off the bike to install the new tire next week, I'll take the rotors off, too - then I, Mr. Dremel, and the gel gloss will get to know that wheel really well. After I'm done, I'll slap a couple good coats of wax on it. Then I'll take some pix for you. I should have taken some 'before' pix - it looked really, really bad.

I think there are probably automotive products made with a diminishing abrasive, but I didn't have any on hand. Gel gloss has diminishing abrasive.

I don't know if Bondo is still in business or not - at any rate, I don't have Bondo money this year. I guess another option is to get the wheels powder coated - but that's not in the budget either.

Unfortunately, I just installed a new rear - it'll have to wait awhile before it gets cleaned up.
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Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

[Off the grid]

Paint em black, you will never regret it.
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Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

[Flying Duck]

[Jim]

[jpberens1994K1100RS]

What's " Gel gloss"
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1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

[Off the grid]

I agree, the original finish is nice, but as our bikes age the finish on the wheels do not age well, and they are a royal pain in the ass to keep clean and looking decent.

Unlike the Rolling Stones, who have looked the same for 40 years.
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Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

[Flying Duck]

[johnpeter]

Look at pics of bikes w/black wheels.
I think it makes a motorcycle look heavy...don't like the look myself.

Best to powder coat in the color of choice@tire replacement time.
Powder coating in black will generally offer the fastest turn-around time as it is most common batch done.

My choice? Silver! Followed by white. White? Powder coated wheels clean easily.
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When the only tool one has is a hammer...everthing looks like a nail.

Red '91 K75S w/WILBERS damper..daily rider. Wanna K11RS
'79 Guzzi..stalled project
'77 900SS Duc to restore...For Sale

[Shoganai]

Not just paint, POWDER COAT!!! BABY
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1993 K1100RS aka The Shop Whore
1994 K1100RS aka Blue Streak

The long road is a rainbow and the pot of gold lies there.
So slip the chain and I'm off again,
You'll find me everywhere. I'm a Rover. - JT


Nana korobi ya oki

[Jim]

that's what I said "powder coated". I see that Bondo is now here with us - welcome, Bondo! He can speak for himself now. I wonder if that thread is still here in which Bondo was being trashed for taking too long to return wheels?
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

[Geoff]

Black paint hides wheels. I never liked the appearance. I use S100 or car wash solution to clean my wheels, and I wax them once or twice a year. I've never had any problem cleaning my wheels.
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2000 R1100RT
2008 H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic