Painting wheels

[G-Man]

or possibley powder coating them.  Need advice please………

Have a 2007 1100 Spirit.  The wheels seem to have a texture to them, like very fine horizontal ribbing on the spokes and around the outer circumference.  I can't tell if there is any paint or clear coat on the wheels due to this texture.  Do you think paint or primer will stick?  Will powder coat be any better (I know it will be more durable)?  

Is there anyway to find out if the wheels were painted or coated at the factory?

[Black Dog]

If ya go the Powder Coat route, a good shop will 'bead blast' the wheels, in prep for the Powder coat.  Bare material, and the result is very nice.

I have a powder coater that has done 3 sets of car wheels (VW R32 and 2 GTI's), and numerous parts on my Valk, and it is not all that expensive... $88.00 for a set or 19" VW R32 wheels.

Black Dog

[Hook#3287]

The PO of one of my bikes had the wheels powder coated silver. 

They look good and are much easier to clean.

[BigBad1]

The PO of my bike had the wheels and saddle bag brackets powder coated black. The bike was all black. I changes most of it but left the wheels. Yes, much easier to clean.

[R J]

Powder coating.

The Chevy Trike I had the front wheel powder coated.

Also had the headers and the muffler with 4" turnout coated.

This was like 4 years ago and it mucho easier to clean.

Spray it with the hose, wipe it with the sheepskin mitt and some suds on it and rinse it off.     Then fire up the leaf blower and blow it dry.

Before the leaf blower I used to take it out and do the 100 MPH blow off.

To those of you who don't know what that is, ya hit the bypass, wind it up to 100 MPH and hold it there for 3 or 4 miles.    It is all blown dry, but ya got to do some clean up, where the leaf blower ya just walk away and you are done.

Before we did the new rear wheels.



After we did the rear wheels.



Powder coat and be done with maintanence on the item.