Suggestions on fixing my now semi-destroyed KZ650 spoke wheels??

I am continuing on my current project: converting my 1978 KZ650 SR into one that rolls on spoke wheels. (For you purists, I have a nice one that has the stock wheels)

I am pressed for time and needed the wheels chosen for this cleaned up. I dropped them off at a local detail place and asked the owner to clean up the spokes and etc. They were caked with chain lube and typical dirt.

I went out of town and when returned I noticed that the shop did not call me to pick up my wheels as he said he would. I stopped by and found out why.

I think he dipped them in some kind of acid bath. Then he realized that was a mistake and tried to polish the wheels shiny.

He's not too bright and clearly I won't be bringing him any more work.

Okay, so now what? Any suggestions? I believe the wheels came from a 1981 or so CSR650.

Here are some pics. The hubs are all etched and ugly and the spokes are worse.

Suggestions welcome.



 

Don't be too harsh on that fella!! You asked for the unattainable. Once the zinc is compromised isn't a thing you can do about it. I too have been requested to "Just cleanup spoked" wheels. Persons asking weren't knowledgeable enough to understand. Cut the spokes off and buy new along with the matching yellow chromate nipples. 

Well, they are clean enough. If you don't want to got to loads of effort but want them clean and shinny you could just laquer them with rattle can clear gloss polyurethane laquer. They won't be chrome but they'll be presentable and won't rust. 

Who in the USA sells spokes to fit that wheel?

Case-in-point. I have a Friend that used to run a Semi-Truck car wash. He sprayed a similar "etching" wash on those fuel tanks and bobtail trailers. Spray it, let it sit.. then wash it off. BUT You're only fending off oxidation on Aluminum and generally SS attachment hardware. YOU were apparently requesting and expecting a "nice quick" resolve on two different metals, just doesn't work that way. 

Ya could just rattle can them but that crap rarely lasts. Sometimes it just takes that extra step..it's just money, ha.   

"Nice" ain't easy or everyone would be doing it

chopper1963 wrote:

Who in the USA sells spokes to fit that wheel?
 

Buchanan's spokes can make just about anything but they are expensive.

Those look to be a "odd ball" wheel set for KZ because they are 48 hole rims, normally KZ street bike rims are 40 hole. They list spoke sets on the web site but under the KZ section they only list 40 hole sets.

Maybe EMGO might have made a set to cover 650/750/1000 CSR's?

Some of these replies are really something.

"YOU were apparently requesting and expecting a "nice quick" resolve on two different metals, just doesn't work that way. "

How would you know what I was requesting and expecting? The last thing I said to him was "use a brush on the spokes".

<<<You asked for the unattainable.>>

Is using soap and a brush to scrub decades-old chain lube and dirt off a wheel now considered "unattainable"??
 

Your going to need bearings also

""Nice" ain't easy or everyone would be doing it"

OH THANKS, WOOKIE. Working on 40 year old bikes is HARD? You gotta be kidding. Ha!