Cleaning Spokes - any tips?

[Maggar]

I have a 2001 FXDWG with std spoked wheels and although elbow grease and polish can make the rest of the bike look brand new it is let down by blackened spokes.

I have tried S100 total Cycle cleaner and a vast range of other "wheel cleaners" but nothing really shifts the muck. I have managed to partially clean one spoke - it took almost an hour - with polish and a rag, but I almost lost a finger and the will to live in the process.

Surely there must be some product which you can spray on and leave to work before rinsing off?

If not I'm considering having chrome or stainless spokes put in.

Any thoughts?

Mag

[SJC69]

The plating on your spokes has most likely deteriorated and gone black this happens especially if you have used the bike when there has been salt on the road and the wheel has not been cleaned properly.
If so no matter how much cleaner you use they will not clean up, if you took that long to clean one spoke and got a shine you have most likely removed the plating!

The only real answer is to replaced them and keep the wheels clean, brake dust is often corrosive to other metals and needs to be cleaned off regularly, a proper spoke brush works well.

[usabear]

You might try a small amount of oven cleaner on one spoke to see if it works.

Hi,

I was thinking of try a dremel drill,get the polishing kit for it and see how the spokes clean up,the bike is coming up to 2 years old now and being a tarty fair weather rider the Road King has not been riden in conditions that need to have salt on the roads,but i have been caught out in the odd downpour,bike always rinsed off upon the return to base,then polished the following day.

Anyone else tried the dremel?

Steve

[Terminator1449]

Cleaned mine over the winter months with a soft brass brush and they came up a treat..

[Buellibob]

Been happy using this stuff for a few years. Brings em up well.


http://www.lusterlace.com/

[PhillSpace]

Originally Posted by Maggar

If not I'm considering having chrome or stainless spokes put in.

Mag

I think you're wasting your time trying to get a shine on the standard spokes now Mags. If you decide on a change to Stainless take into account that will need to be checked periodically as they can tend to loosen up.

Phil....

[Evo160K]

Maggar,
IMHO the oe spokes are not worth the effort--constant work and aggravation--and they never look good. I replaced mine with polished stainless. They came in polished, but I wasn't satisfied, so I polished again, particularly the nipples. Now, I never touch them and they look fine, even when they're dusty. Just wash the bike, no need to touch the spokes. I wouldn't do chrome. They require more attention than I'm willing to give and they eventually pit and chip. I want simple and good looking.

[douglr88]

I would recommend changing the spokes to stainless ones, either that or go for cast wheels. That will stop any problems

If your interested in Stainless / Chrome spokes these guys are pretty good.
They are in Birmingham area, and i have previously visited them with a mate who got his front wheel done, whilst also visiting the bike show.
They usually have a stand at the bikeshow.

Central Wheel Components Limited

I know they may not be local, but they are good.