Well, I hate to admit it, but the weather went in the toilet today in Houston. rain this morning and then a cold front and the high was only in the 50's with winds in the 20 mph range. It sucks.

But it is a good day to detail the scoot while I am waiting for the weather to warm back up in about 3 days.

So I go out to the Harley Shed and open the doors and turn on the TV and get to work. Well everything goes good until I get to the wheels and then that BAD memory returns.

I had bought a new 2003 Sporty 1200, and got the mag wheels on it. I loved those wheels. Looked good and easy to keep clean. But in 2005 I just had to have a SuperGlide Custom, so I traded in the Sporty. The day I made the deal, I took the old lady with me (ALWAYS a mistake). We were sitting in the dealership and sitting a few feet from me was the exact scoot that I wanted, color and all, except it had laced wheels on it. The salesman asked me if I wanted it just the way it sat, or did I want something added or removed. I told him to take off the laced wheels and put on the (no cost) mags. Kimberly asked what I was talking about and I showed her the difference between the laced wheels and the mags. She asked what the difference in price was and I told het the laced wheels were $450.00 more than the mags. She thought for a minute and said 'Oh, keep the laced wheels, they are so pretty and only cost a few dollars more". So I did.

I have hadthe scoot for 2 years and 9 months and NOT ONCE has Kimberly offered to sit her *** down and help me clean those wheels. The spokesare starting to rust, and no matter how you do it, you can't get the wheels to look clean. I am only waiting for next Sping to get two new tires and a set of stock Harley mags (only because they are the least expensive mags I can find at $550 each).

Meanwhile, today, I cleaned those stupid laced wheels again and every minute I worked on them, I had baaaad thoughts in my mind about Kimberly.

New Buyers............take note.

C66

 

i agree with you i just got a 13 spoke mag for the front and a duce wheel for the rear of my bob cant wait to get them installed and spend more time riding insted of cleaning those spokes that never really come clean.

 

At 66 years old, I do have periods of "just plain stupid", but those laced wheels are a high point in my personal stupid tricks.

After you get them on, post us a picture.........I'm still looking at different styles....I like to see them.

C66

 

Hey Clutch,
I know what ya mean. One of the many reasons I bought the 06FXD was the mags. I told the sales guy then, I was buying a bike to ride, not shine. Spokes are pretty, but too many downsides to em, IMO.
I think, if you looked around, you should be able to pick up a set of stock mags cheap, cause a lot of folks just "have to have" spokes and think the mags are ugly, and unHarley lookng.
My mags shine up nice and quick with a little Mothers.

Good luck,

DougJ

 

Hey Clutch, I never have bothered to argue with any of my wives either.
My policy has always been - Don't argue, just dicker.

Anyway, I never will forget the day I installed my laced wheels.
I had ordered my 06SuperGlidewith the laced wheels,
and it didn't come in as ordered.

So I didget a set from a forum member here
at a price I could not refuse.

When I installed them,
I stood back for a looksee,
and I said to myself that there is nothing
I could have that would have made me happier.
It was a good day.

Note also the WideGlide rear fender (2 pix below).
It stayed on about two weeks.
Traded it off to Trotter for a set of RineHart 2into1s.
That was a good day as well.

They ain't that hard to clean.
You spray some shineola on em,
hose em off and go.
I use Meguires somethin or other.
Works real good.

mud

 

rear-fatboy wheel.......front - chrome thunderstar

[IMG]local://upfiles/33303/97BBCA9B70CC4069A2E5102E523E301F.jpg[/IMG]

 

I agree with mud, I don't see what is so hard about keeping the spokes clean, well if you have a garge to keep it in that is. Someone I know has a 07 Street Bob and his spokes are already rusted from being stored outsidearound the ocean air.
The newer bikes are even easier as the spokes are all chrome I believe, mine are anyways. The 05 Sportster I had, the spokes weren't chrome but it still wasn't hard to keep them clean, they just weren't as shiny.

 

I understand what the clutch is saying, my SB is an outside bike, and the spokes do get a little crusty after a while. On the other hand, I have to side with Mud, the spoked wheels do make the bike look pretty.

 

Hey mud, ya losin' ya pants! Thank god, not your sense of humor!

 

I occasionally wipe off the rims, but have never once cleaned a spoke. Sounds very tedious...