| Author | Message | ||
     Bads1 |
I'm thinking of chrome plating my wheels has anyone had experience with this? Also look at my profile do you think it would look good on the bike or would it be over kill?? Can't make up my mind. BadS1. | ||
| Dynarider |
Dana, why not just get the polished PM's? Also where would you go to get them chromed? I havent checked into it, but there are a few parts on my Dyna I would love to have done. Wonder if we could get a discount for more parts? | ||
| X1glider |
The chrome would look like crap unless you polished the wheels smooth first. That aside I like the bike as is. The gray wheels give the impression of a raw tough industrial strength bad attitude ride. But it doesn't mean that the green that detroit diesel used would do the same. ick! BTW, what is your bike registered as? M2, X1, S1. I'm guessing M2. | ||
| Bomber |
Polished PMs, definately . . .those wheels need SOOOOOOOOO much work before chroming | ||
| Newfie_Buell |
Probably easier to go with polished PMs. Someone jump in here but I would think you would have to have the wheels machines to get the finish off them then the chrome applied. A friend of mine had the wheels off his fatboy chromed and the surface had to be shaved/cut on a lathe before they could be chromed. Plus the added weight. | ||
| Daves |
Spend the money on a track day or three! Ride to the edge! Dave HD/Buell Cycle Center 4022 Sergeant Rd Waterloo Ia 50701 1-800-342-7539 ext 14 | ||
| Ralph |
The place that does the chrome will typically do any polishing needed before the chrome is applied. bighairyralph | ||
| Dynarider |
But polishing is a lot different than machining a surface to make it smooth. Could you have a stock late model tube frame Buells swing arm chromed without machining it? | ||
| X1glider |
Dyna, there's usually ads in American Iron mag for chrome plating stuff, wheels included. I'm sure other big inch magazines do too. Usually any shop that does grinding (like pump shaft grinding) will send work out to chrome platers (hard chrome usually). Bike parts will be flash chromed (cosmetic chrome). 2 layers of flash chrome is recommended to wisthstand the abuse of road debris. | ||
| Brentx1 |
Dana, if price is an issue, the polished stock wheels from ASB might be what you are looking for. I checked into chroming my PM's and the cost was going to be around $800.I am having the swingarm, carrier and tail section Chromed and let me tell ya, it aint cheap brother! Polishing sucks. | ||
| Rick_A |
If I'd chrome anything...it'd be the swingarm and my exhaust heat shield. As far as the PM's...the finish eventually succumbs to the brake dust on the brake sides. Clean it all you want...ride the bike daily and it'll happen. The front rotor is at least big enough to mask it. | ||
| Nevco1 |
Dana... That powder coating shop in Sheboygan that does work for Buell has a great new shiny silver coat that might be to your liking. Had the wheels powder coated on my FJ1200 and it did not cost very much (in CA). They really looked good, were easy to clean and held up to a lot of desert sand and gravel. | ||
| Bads1 |
www.chromeprosplating.com and www.classiccomponents.com will both do this for $500.00 back to my door. My buddys ZX-11 has chrome and they look like expensive jewelery. Check out there web sights they will tell how the process works.Bomber underneath the powder coating there damn smooth,they have to be before they are powder coated from the factory. | ||
| Bads1 |
Newfie thats because Fatboy wheels are rough in the centers are cast wheels are infact polished before they are powder coated. | ||
| Nevco1 |
Bads1... Both look good. One in Texas and one a few blocks from my old office in CA. LOL Wonder why both share some common photos in their websites. Could just be same ownership with different company names, eh? Be advised that the State of California has severe restrictions on all plating companies out there and I am not sure if the restrictions effect the durability of the plating. Thus, I suggest you learn all you can about the process and then question them thoroughly before before going that route. Additionally, New Braunfels, TX is a good industrial community. FYI, when we used to build choppers both in Michigan and California, we used Browns' Plating in Paducah, KT. That was the best you could get back in the 70's and 80's. You can check them out at www.brownsplating.com. If nothing else you will save on shipping. Bill | ||
| Nevco1 |
Bads1... Forgot to mention that Brown's does high quality triple plate that is show perfect. Plus, they were one of, if not the, first to do show chroming on aluminum. They did a ton of engine's for me back then and I never had a single complaint. In fact, we used to buy junk bikes, strip the engines, send the parts to Brown's and sell the show chromed parts as a set at the shows and swap meets. Big Bucks were made doing virtually nothing. LOL | ||
| Bomber |
Bad . . .oops, my bad . . .. .yer right of course . . .. . be advised that I've read a number of less than satisfied customers of classic . . . the coating itself is apparently top notch, but the masking work leaves something to be desired . . .. no direct experience, but do a search here for more data . . . . you're so close, they MAY let you mask the stuff yourself at their facility? | ||
| Bads1 |
Bill I haven't cheked out Brown's yet. Still need to make up my mind between dual headlights from Trojan or chrome wheels.Wish my pocket book was as big as my eye's. Dana aka BadS1. | ||
| Nevco1 |
Ewwwww....I hate having to make those kind of decisions. | ||
| Nevco1 |
Bads1... FYI, there are 24 plating companies in the Milwaukee yellow pages. One, Badger Plating on KK in St. Francis, advertises show chrome for autos and bikes. FYI, Badger also advertises custom powder coating. None of he others have a display ad. If you get a chance, surf the online yellow pages for "Plating" in various locals near you. No sense in making UPS rich if you can get comparable service and quality locally. Perhaps the money you save on freight will be enough to soften the cost of the headlights you want. If you wish, I can snail mail you the page from the Milwaukee book, just email your mailing address. Then you can do a telephone survey. | ||
| Bads1 |
Bomber not classic coatings.I'm talking www.classiccomponents.com different company. | ||
| X1glider |
Another option would be to send the wheels to Jet-Hot or hp-coatings. Those kind of coatings actually look quite nice for cosmetic stuff. I've seen 50's hot rods with Jet-hot when chrome would normally go. A benefit is that it doesn't stain and spot like chrome. Pretty cheap to do too. Get on their websites and see the possibilities. | ||
| Sfarson |
FWIW, The M2 I bought this past Feb came with PM wheels. I am simply smitten with these things. Really sets the bike apart and gives it a custom/classy look. http://www.farson.com/buell/m2dino.jpg | ||
| Edmanning |
Browns chromed my recall swingarm about three years ago and it still awesome, Hey I like shinny. Ed "Hillbilly" Manning | ||
| Miguel |
 Or you could polish `em and get them clear laquered | ||
| Bads1 |
I made up my mind their (WHEELS) are getting shipped out tomorrow to Classic Components inc.$500.00 plus the shipping there.They take care of the shipping back to me.They told me I would have them back in about 3 1/2 weeks.Can't wait to see them on my bike. | ||
| Nevco1 |
Alright Bads1... Needless to say, we can't wait to see them either! So post some pics when you get the scoot reassembled. | ||
| Bads1 |
Classic Components called my wheels are getting sent back to me Monday afternoon.The person I was dealing with (Brad) said they look great. | ||
| Dynarider |
ROFLMAO, what the hell did you expect him to say? "Hey Dana we just finished your rims & they look like shit." | ||
| Bads1 |
Dyna it seems you are a very negative person. |
