Cleaning motorcycle spokes and rims - 3 tips from the experts Speichenshop24

Who hasn't experienced this? The motorcycle was in the garage over the winter and you spent the cold season doing other things than getting your favorite motorcycle in shape. But then spring comes, you get your BMW R50 or NSU Max out of the garage and start cleaning it. Whether it's due to heat, dirt or moisture, the spokes just don't look the same as they did before.

For this reason, we have put together 3 tips for cleaning the spokes of your vintage motorcycle. Please note that the topic is quite complex and can vary depending on the material. If you have an insider tip that should be included in this list, please write it to us in the comments. Now, enjoy reading!

1. Use VA stainless steel spokes (it depends on the material)

Stainless steel spokes or spokes made of V2a steel are much more robust than chrome-plated or galvanized spokes, for example, and do not tarnish as quickly and do not rust. The former is particularly important when it comes to cleaning the spokes. This sometimes requires aggressive action. Aggressive cleaning agents or vigorous scrubbing can quickly cause the often thin zinc or chrome layer to be sanded away, leaving you with a much bigger problem: deep-seated rust.

Buy VA stainless steel spokes

2. Choose the right cleaning agent

During our research, we found many different products for cleaning spoked wheels through advertising and personal recommendations. Many people swear by the good old "Nevr Dull" - a polishing cotton for removing dirt and rust. The polishing cotton is very easy to use: simply apply it with soaked cotton, allow it to work and then wipe it off with a cloth. Another product that has proven to be an insider tip is Coca-Cola. The soft drink is not only a cool refreshment, it also helps you clean the spoked wheels and rims of your vintage motorcycle. Simply apply it to aluminum foil, rub the rims or spokes with it, allow it to work for a while and rub it off. Another good recommendation is the polishing paste "Elsterglanz".

3. The right technique makes the difference!

Once you have found the right product, you can now start cleaning the spokes. If you have decided to use a product in a spray bottle, you should also get a large cardboard box. The reason for this is that spokes offer little surface area to spray on, meaning that most of the cleaning product ends up on tires, brake discs, etc. - exactly where you don't want it, or where you forget to rub it off. You can use a soft cloth or a toothbrush to rub off the paste. Steel wool is only recommended in the finest grades, as it will otherwise scratch away the spokes and coatings.

So! We hope our tips for cleaning spokes and rims have helped you. If you have any questions or suggestions about what should be included in this article, don't hesitate to write a comment. We will keep updating the article and look forward to your recommendations.

You can watch a helpful video that we found on YouTube here:

We offer stainless steel spokes for the following vintage motorcycles: