Chrome "Coating" flaking off front wheel

[Canuck]

When i do my fall tune up and get my bike winter ready for Vancouver Island im considering what to do with my front wheel. Its now flaked off 60 percent of the exposed part of my rim...

I was thinking of taking it in for a Sandblasting($50 Canadian per hour plus sand at $15 a bag), or polish the hell out of it and then get a new front wheel put on. (mine are cracked from weathering/age..etc)

I've seen some examples of people who painted over the chrome look with black...but I'd prefer not to ..

I know it wont match the rear wheel but will a THOROUGH polishing get it pretty close??

[Water Warrior 2]

If both "tires" are cracked from age I would suggest that be the priority. New tires and tubes first. The chrome finish on the wheel is cosmetic, the tired tires are your life line to the road.

[patrick_777]

:plus1:
If your tires are cracked from weathering or age, they're in need of immediate replacement. They are very dangerous and you're looking at a blowout causing an inconvenience or worse.

Forget the chrome for now...like WW said, tires are your life and THE most important part of a bike.

[Easy Rider]

When i do my fall tune up and get my bike winter ready for Vancouver Island im considering what to do with my front wheel. Its now flaked off 60 percent of the exposed part of my rim...


WOW.....TWO guys with flaky chrome .....in the same day !!!

I'm now wondering if it really is the chrome metal finish that is coming off......or a clear coat finish of some type and the actual chrome is still there. Having the actual metal flake off is somewhat unusual. If I were in that situation, I think I'd be shopping for some new wheels.

[VTXorcist]

Appreciate the info about the cracked sidewalls on the tires. I saw that elsewhere on this forum and never even knew to check for that (not as big a deal on cars, I don't think). I'm actually getting my tires on my VTX replaced this week now as a result. Thanks for potentially saving my life!

[Water Warrior 2]

In a perfect world we would all get to wear out our tires before they ever get old and start to crack.

[dannylightning]

i also have flakey chrome on my front rim. it started to rust a bit, think that is what set it off and after i had my new tires put on the chrome really started to flake off. think it was the machine that takes the tires off and on that really made it start chipping. before that there was just a little chrome chipped off.

nothing wrong with my rim either, just chipping chrome. but you know what, i dont think im gonna worry about it unless i can find a good used front rim really cheep. the bike still rides just fine and it is just a gz, awsome little bike to ride around but its kind of like the geo metro of motorcycles, i cant see spending money on it if i don't halve to. ill save spending money on cosmetic issues for when i upgrade to my shadow or sportster iron.