Hi there.

When getting my tyres changed, the guy who did the job informed me there was a decent ammount of rust on the rims as well as on the spokes.

The bike is about 20 months old and he commented that if it was his bike he'd talk to HD about lousy coatings etc.

Just took a photo of the spokes and if you don't mind I thought i'd ask you guys for your opinion.

The bike is garaged.

I don't go over the whole bike with a towel every time it gets wet but it's cleaned once a month.

 

Hope it works this time!!!!!

 

 

 

 

Wouldn't think that's right for 20 months old, sure the dog's not pissin on em?

 HAHA Rider.....

No dog!!!

Shit maybe it's me on the way home from the pub!!!!

The ferrous metals in the compound of the brake pads is really what aggravates this issue.

Fuck off the OEM shit and get a set of Lyndalls in there.

I bought a set of profile smooth rims sight unseen a few months back, the plating is crap, the rear is f***ed and will need to be replated and only the front is useable and seems to be OK so far. I read a few threads on American forums and it seems the plating process for '07 & '08 models is poor, not sure on later models but it should be covered under warranty - chase it up. I obviously can't do the same with mine as bought them after market

Thats pretty rough though for 20mths!!

Partner has wire wheels on her 2009 Sportser which has 34,000ks on this bke, the chrome on these wheels are as good as the day it rolled out of the dealers shop.

You must clean the brake dust off your wheels after every time you ride your bike to make sure they don't rust. Also if you life near the coast I guess they will rust faster.  Spoke wheels look awesome but they are alot of work to keep them looking good.

 Thanks for your responses.

Got some wd40 and green scotch pad and got most of it off.

Knuckle banging work on the back wheel and hard to get it all .Front came up pretty well-but how long before we go again!

I think for the money spent on such a bike the quality of the finish is shite and we all expect better.

Same sort of thing as fogging speedo's etc. Other bikes don't have the problem so Harley should ,considering the dollars spent by us, improve their workmanship.

If different brake pads decrease the problem then HD should install as stock.

I'll definitely take your recomendation next time i change the pads guys-thanks.

 

I bought a second hand set of HD spoked rims for my Iron, they weren't anywhere near as rusty as yours but I have been using autosol with a rag on the spokes, mequries metal polish on the inner and outer hubs and ACF-50 to keep the corrosion at bay. Its all working very well!!

Well it seems this is a world wide problem me mate in cairns had a simmilar prob on a 06 widey smooth rims he was told ya live in the tropics what ya expect had his re chromed an now stores his bike with silicon spray on the shiny bits seems to work lots of FNQ riders have mags not spokes

yeh count me in that lot, I'll be buying mags when I get around to it...

 Have the same problem starting to show on my street bob , checked out my mates bike who also has the same issue.

Both bikes are under 12 months old.

Looks like new wheels soon.

I'd use steel wool or whatever then a bit of rust convertor - patch test first. Its a Harley - the fucking things used to be made of rust.

You could pour diet cola over the rust and rub it with al foil messy job but works .