Corrosives stored in same area. So some times its not the chromes fault..

 

use "Never Dull", works great and leaves a protective coat. apply every so often, maybe every couple of months and it will keep them clean. i live in florida and it's like a salt marsh, and with care have no real issues.

 

JRK5892 - thanks for the hint on the shout. I will give it a try! As far as storing my bike with corrosives - does not happen! I never said I did oct1949. I keep the bike very clean so the only thing I can think of is environmentals. This is something that quality chrome does not have an issue with as long as it is looked after. So I go back to the fact that yes it is the chromes fault or should I say MOCOs for not using quality chrome! Shame on them considering we spend so much on our bikes!

Thanks all I will try the shout or the never dull before I go full bore and use steel wool.

 

Harley spoked wheels are very poor quality my brother had his replaced after only 800 miles. When I replaced my front wheel, the inside had thick rust....this was on a bike that had never seen rain and was regularly cleaned. When I got my first Harley in 2003 the spokes rusted within 500 miles. The spokes on my Triumph still look new after 4 years

 

See that is what I am saying. It bullshit that we spend this much on our bikes for them to rust out after 500 miles. Your right I have just over that amount and my front rim looks like ****. I know most guys pull their rims off and replace them with custom but you should not have to just cuz your chrome is junk! What are you going to do though? I refuse to ride any other bike and most all of us are that pigheaded as well. Harley I think knows this and counts on it! I just wish for a American motorcycle they would start making the parts back here in the US were the quality control is part of the process.

Sorry for the rant!

 

Spokes are a different metal than the rest, and might go through a different process to help eliminate hydrogen embrittlement. It's could be single plate instead of tripple which of course is thinner and less corrosion resistant. That's my best guess at the moment, but plating on many differet bikes spokes blow.
Ron

 

The chrome on my wheels is holding up fine, the chrome on my spokes is not looking good. Also, the chrome on my shocks and the chrome on the top of my fork lowers are pitting as well. I am guessing it is cheap plating, but I do not know much about the process really.

 

I have an 09 Deluxe and the rear rim has pitted and the spokes have the start of corosion. The bike is always housed or covered. I will try some of the products mentioned here to see if I get good results, but in my estimation I shouldn't have to.
The front wheel seems to be holding up better than the rear wheel. Someone else suggested steel wool and naval jelly then finish with wax.

 

0000 wet steel wool for the spokes, and/or balled up wet aluminum foil for the chrome rim. You can then coat the cleaned spokes with mineral oil, and use chrome polish on the rim. The spokes will clean up and shine, however the older the wheel, the less "chrome like" the spokes will appear. The balled wet aluminum foil can be used to remove surface rust from pitting on all chrome. The pit however will always remain and will need to be "sealed" from the elements with a polish or oil coating.

 

Once you get the rust off, use Metal Gloss from Masters Formula to polish them, and then Metal Sealer to protect them for several months.

Thats what I did with the wifes Deluxe and I only had do the spokes every 3-4 months to keep them looking good.

http://master-formula.com/english.htm