How do you clean your white wheels?

I'm having a tough time cleaning the back sides of the wheel spokes, and near the hubs. I looked at some wheel cleaners in the automotive section, but most of them warn against spraying on brakes, and things like that. Does S100 Clycle Wash work as good as they claim?

What works for you guys?

Ron

 

Just how dirty are they? Brake dust, mud and dirt, or chain flink. Maybe all. Post up a picture so we can see to try give you our best advise.

I know Toecutter is maticulous about cleaning his bike so he may chip in here. I have used a few things with good success. Mother's Metal Polish works but is time consuming. It does remove bake dust and grease. WD40, sprayed carefully right on and agitated with a clean paint brush works well too, in breaking down most kinds of crap you get on the wheels. You need to wash that off relatively quickly or you end up doing it again when the WD40 evaporates off and leaves residue marks. Not a big problem but you make more work for yourself.

Be careful and avoid getting the WD40 on brake pads or your tires. If you get some on your chain, I would rinse the chain well with a hose on full pressure. Not a pressure washer though. Just a garden hose with the nossle set to stream. Then wi[e and lube again

 

I've found Honda-Brite to be totally unnatural in its ability to get stuff clean. It won't hurt the painted surfaces, and yet has no problem getting gunk off the swingarm. Crazy shite.

 

I'm learning to live with my grey wheels - have tried most, if not all, of the recommendations on the forums, all to no avail...

 

I just painted mine black. I figured they're gonna look black anyway so I might as well make it official. I hated cleaning my white wheels. I could never keep em clean.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

 

Honda has their own brand of chain cleaner that works wonders on tires. I also use Simple Green mixed rather stong with a wheel brush and it takes almost anything off. What the Simple Green doesn't, the chain cleaner does.

 

I use something called "Purple Power". It is a spray and you can find it at just about any auto parts store. I've used for as long as I can remember and it works great.

 

OK, ONE last time.

Simple Green in the pump bottle, a stiff brush, and wash off with hose and dry. A good wax job helps too.

Larry

 

Maybe the simple green here in Oz is a different product, waste of $$$ IMO... Kenko Shift it is supposed to be shit hot, fail... Kero works well on black wheels but leaves white looking crap unless you want to spend hours on each wheel... :frown:

 

Works great! Several versions of the stuff at Walmart or Costco as a concentrate about $7.00/gallon. I dilute it 100% in a one dollar atomizer bottle from Wally's

Load up the wheels before washing the bike. The trick is to use a synthetic 2.5-3" paintbrush to get into the crevasses. I squirt some on the brush too, Hose it off.

I do the mach 1 91 on the centerstand. Another trick is to fire the bike up, put it in first and the centripital force will toss the dirt, brake dust and other gunk outward. Hose it off.

Paintbrushes work best for me. Most parts brushes any more cause scratches and fall apart.

WD 40 is great stuff but not around brake parts. A little may have you going a long way..

 

Thanks everyone. I didn't think of using a paintbrush with some good ol' Simple Green. I love that stuff.
Might check out that Honda-Brite too. Keeping white wheels clean is a full-time job.

 

I have tried Simple Green on many, many things and have not been happy with the results from that product at any time, whether onthe bike or anything else. Mr. Clean is a far better product than Simple Green. So is Fantastic, but that stuff is faily potent and corrosive. I have bought SImple green two or three times now. That is one or two times more than I should have. Never waste my cash on that again.

 

For those in Australia, Bowdens Own Wheely Clean is the best I have found. Only Autobarn stock it though. PH neutral too, so it's totally safe for painted surfaces etc.

 

Hell, I just soak a rag in petrol and run it over the rims. Takes no time at all and cleans them right up.

 

WD is the best thing I have ever used to clean my wheels...gets everything off in a snap...including chain lube. Spray it on a rag and wipe!

I swear by Honda brite too but it does not work well on chain lube.

 

On the rare occasions when i do clean the white wheels on an '86 700, i use Go-Jo hand cleaner scrubbed in with a toothbrush, then rinse with a hose.

 

I got some rims powder coated white several years ago and the guy that did them told me the best thing to clean them with was pledge furniture polish, and damn if he wasn't right. That stuff sprayed on a towel just wiped off any grease or grime that got on my new rims. Still use it today.

 

That is exactly what I use. Either that or 409, it cuts the grease well, and adds that 409 shine.

 

Was using mineral spirits on shop towel for white and orange wheels, mainly for chain lube splashes. Don't need a lot after normal soap washing. A second bike with black wheel for daily commuting to keep your jewel in the garage is another solution . But since I use Dupont chain saver, I no longer need to use chemicals to clean my wheels.