Anodised Wheels

[Xhiler8r]

Has anybody in the club had thier wheels anodised if so what is the process and how well do they keep and what would be a better option cause i am trying to get away from the full polished wheel as everybody is getting them

regards Bill

[Xhiler8r]

Come on guys someone out there must have them get back to me guys
regards Bill

[peter altas]

Had a chat with Ron Balls about this issue.

Two options - Polished or electroplated.

1/ Polishing - They polish the rim back to bare metal. You will need to clean and polish (hard rubbing by hand) to keep the shine. If it's full rim, you'll most likely need to remove the rim and discs to get in there properly. He showed me one about a year old and it looked like shit. Must be maintained.

About $100 a rim (have heard some people say $200)

2/ Anodising/electroplating - They polish the rim back to metal, sit it in a solution of the electroplating metal (nickle/copper/gold/whatever), connect to electricity (one end to the rim, other end in the solution), and the metal in the solution bonds to your rim. Then they polish the plated rim. Looks awesome and only requires a wash and Mr. Sheening to keep looking good. Must be whole rim though.

About $500 a rim

If you only want the outer rim done, will require polishing, but should be easy to maintain (as access is easy to re-polish). This is what I'm considering doing. Should look good on my black/silver.
Peter Altas
BUSA-1

[Xhiler8r]

thanx peter i think anodixzing is the way to go for me
regards bill

[Volvi]

busababy aka Les had his wheels anodised on Busa No 1, still there on No 5.
Had done somewhere north of Melb. I think, perhaps he will fill you in on more details.....Les?

[Xhiler8r]

Thanx for the replies guys I have been ringing up here in Brisvegas and nobody wants to touch them they reckon that the wheels are a cast alloy and pourus so it wont turn out that well looks like i need more info.

Regards Bill

[busababy]

actually they were nickel plated by electromold in thomastown victoria and it's true that they have been transferred from bus to bus (now no 5) and still look as good as the day they were first done.... lucky that suzuki haven't changed the wheel details on any of their busa models....

cheers les

[ac boosa]

Bill - there arent any electromoulder up here in vegas - tried to find one myself.

IMO polished rims look just as good - makes the wheels look nice and FAT. - Matt's metal polishing did mine for about $240 all up. Ph : 3252 3283 or check out his work on www.go.to/mmptpp

While you have to polish the wheels yourself every now and then he get's it real smooth which makes the job TONS easier (from having owned previous bikes with polished wheels).

cheers,
adrian

[Xhiler8r]

Thanx Ac i rang Matt today and had agreat chat going in there tomoorow arvo and we gonna talk wheels turbos and polishing so expect some new pic in the post and btw ac where abouts are mate

Regards Bill

[gazza414]

In Queensland there are a number of companies that do Nickel plating--what you are after is Electroless Plating . It is not what most assume to be the conventional electroplating process where an electrical current is used hence an anode and cathode is used in the process.
Electroless uses a solution that deposits an extremely even and extremely hard ( 45 to 50 Rockwell C and can be further heat treated to approx 65 to 70Rc ) deposit of Nickel Phosphate (10% normally )

If you look at the Australasian Institute of Metal Finishing website you'll find details of particular companies in any state that can help.

Electromold in VIC just happen to market their services extremely well and do an excellent job.

Nickel Phosphate Electroless Plating Technology to my knowledge was developed in the USA and is extensively utilised not only for decorative effects but for robust solutions to engineering issues.

www.aimf.org.au/index.htm

[Viking]

You blokes think the blue/black would look good with polished wheels, it's got a Yoshi stainless exhaust which is very shiny. Just trying to get a mental image and if the polished would looker better than the black.

Viking

[peter altas]

I think it would look fine. Something different, a personal touch. Have you seen gdyup's bike in "bikes, the future and you". He's only had the outer 10-15mm polished but you get the idea. This is what I want to get done.

By the way Phil, where did you get this done, how much and how long did they need the bike?
Peter Altas
BUSA-1

[Xhiler8r]

going a new way guys have spoken to a guy that knows what he is doin but it aint gonna be cheap we are gonna give the rims a full polish then paint the spokes and hud with a 2 pack Hi Temp clear in with a touch of electric blue in it we are also gonna put the hayabusa name and logo on the spokes so it look like it is etched into the wheel so basically the rims are gonna look like a 3 piece rim with a chrome outer and the little lip and the spokes and hub are gonna be electric blue he also told me that he knows of nobody that could anodise busa rims properly as they are cast and the anodizing would come out flat instead of shiney so the total cost of this wonderful idea is gonna be around the $1100 for a very personalized set of wheels i will show u guya a pic of what he does and i will post my bike when its done he also uses the high temp paint on carbon fibre cans to get them to look different

[GDYUP]

I had my 2002 Busa wheels polished at Elecromold. As you said just the outer part. On my 99 Busa I had fully polished wheels, they were an absolute pain to maintain and keep looking good. I then had them nickel plated, and they are also a pain to keep looking good. Mainly because it's so hard to clean the hub and spokes, especially the front wheel. (Keep in mind I'm riding not talking, rain, hail or shine 30 to 40,000 klms a year.) So this time around I choose the polishing just on the outer section (See posted pics) Best idea yet, much easier to maintain and clean. Cost about $120 for the both to be polished. (Excluding rim and tyre removal from bike, refitting and balancing.) I suppose it would depend on the ammount of klms you travel and how much time you have to clean on which option you'd go for. I'd nickel plate if I was a Chapel/Lygon St (Vic) cruiser.
Just my 2c worth.
Cheers, Phil. Riding not polishing!

[peter altas]

Thanks Phil, I think I'll go with the outer rim like you. Really can't be stuffed pulling the rim apart to clean it, and on my black/silver, they'll come up good I reckon.

Have you got a number for electromold? Where are they exactly? (I know the area fairly well).
I'm up for a new set of tyres as well, so is it easier to take them there with me and get them to fit and balance after they're done, or pull the rims off at home, take them the rims and tyres? How long do they take? Don't really like leaving my bike anywhere (no transport) and prefer to wait around.
Peter Altas
BUSA-1