Topic: Did factory DID wheels have a coating?

[Scott S]

 Cleaning up a set of DID wheels that I pulled out of my stash. They felt....flat...slightly rough or matte. And when I started hitting them with chrome polish, it almost looks as if some clear coat is coming off. Super shiny chrome underneath.

 Were the factory wheels coated with clear or something? Or is this just overspray of some sorts?

[Stev-o]

Hey Scott....do not believe they had a coating other that the chrome finish.

[BenelliSEI]

I agree with Steve 99%....... But, I also remember a set of wheels (K3?) that did seem to have something on them, and cleaned up really nicely......

[PeWe]

Someone has sprayed protective coating of wax, thin oil? I knew people that did that wintertime on cars. Sure same guys should spray bike before long storage.

Clearcoating something with wheels nearby? In that case acetone needed.

[Scott S]

 These definitely had *something* on them. I tried lacquer thinner (didn't have any acetone) and it barely touched it. It was coming off with 0000 steel wool and chrome polish, but so was the skin on my fingers!
 I sprayed some stripper on it and got 99% of it off. The rest cleaned up with steel wool and some elbow grease.
 I thought that were just dirty at first, but there was definitely some old clear or something on them.

[HondaMan]

Way back in the day...guys would apply carwax to them to prevent the water from seeping into the spoke nipples and making rust inside the rim.

[Tim2005]

Here in the UK, it wasn't uncommon in the past to get an aerosol of clear lacquer and coat the chrome. Especially as more bikes were used all year round than nowadays and roads get salted here.

[Scott S]

 Whatever it was, it's gone now!

[HondaMan]

Boy, are those nice! Don't let my 750 see them...