Powder Coat, or Chrome wheels?

[rmrc51]

Which type of wheel do you think is easier to maintain and keep clean?

Powder coated, or Chrome.

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

My new Trike had chrome back wheels so I had the dealer put a chrome one on the front.
Very easy to keep clean,

[jtilmon]

I like shinny, and my crome wheels are not that hard to clean.
Matter of personal preference and choice.

[Hot Rod 1]

I have chrome wheels on my trike, alot easier to keep clean.

[Rick Kay]

Powdercoat...easiest to clean bike wheels I've ever had!

[drumdoctor]

Both powder coat & chrome are easy to clean---BUT--- powder coat will chip.

If a stone or something else hits your wheels or rims, there is a real good chance that some of the powder coat will chip off.

Powder coat is exactly what it sounds like--Powder with color that is baked on.

There are choices when it comes to chrome & chrome-like coatings.

You have shiny chrome, black chrome, matte chrome, textured chrome and new finishes are being developed all the time.

It's not cheap, but lasts a long time with the proper maintainence.

[GARYD]

Good thread. My TriGlide came with uncoated aluminum wheels(%$#@ Harley)
I was investigating getting them chrome plated. No one will warranty the plating because I ride all winter in Chicago area. Will powder coating hold up better in salty areas? What kind of warranty comes with that? Anyone have any ideas or experience?

Does anyone out there have plated wheels and ride in cities that salt the roads and how do your wheels hold up - any problems?

I HATE UNCOATED ALUMINUM WHEELS - POS.

[SEAlaskan]

Good thread. My TriGlide came with uncoated aluminum wheels(%$#@ Harley)
I was investigating getting them chrome plated. No one will warranty the plating because I ride all winter in Chicago area. Will powder coating hold up better in salty areas? What kind of warranty comes with that? Anyone have any ideas or experience?

Does anyone out there have plated wheels and ride in cities that salt the roads and how do your wheels hold up - any problems?

I HATE UNCOATED ALUMINUM WHEELS - POS.

Gary, I have chrome plated rims on one car and powder coated rims on the other car and chrome plated rims on the trike and all three are being damaged from the salty air we have as well as the junk they put on the roads in the winter, tough one to control.
Butch

[Lee H. Mann]

Good thread. My TriGlide came with uncoated aluminum wheels(%$#@ Harley)
I was investigating getting them chrome plated. No one will warranty the plating because I ride all winter in Chicago area. Will powder coating hold up better in salty areas? What kind of warranty comes with that? Anyone have any ideas or experience?

Does anyone out there have plated wheels and ride in cities that salt the roads and how do your wheels hold up - any problems?

I HATE UNCOATED ALUMINUM WHEELS - POS.

If you have the time, you can clean the wheels up and have them clear powder coated. We do this with polished aluminum wheels. You still have to clean them but they are a snap.

[Chazzman]

For someone that has owned both, I prefer Chrome for the ease of cleaning and longevity...

[vwmaniac]

Both powder coat & chrome are easy to clean---BUT--- powder coat will chip.

If a stone or something else hits your wheels or rims, there is a real good chance that some of the powder coat will chip off.

Powder coat is exactly what it sounds like--Powder with color that is baked on.

There are choices when it comes to chrome & chrome-like coatings.

You have shiny chrome, black chrome, matte chrome, textured chrome and new finishes are being developed all the time.

It's not cheap, but lasts a long time with the proper maintainence.

If the powdercoatin g is done properly like it should be done, it will not chip or scratch, sure you can take a 40lb hammer and hit it and it will chip, but lets see you do that to your chrome wheels and what will happen, let just say this, go to your local Home depot and on the large orange racks that hold up all the lumber there, hit it with a hammer and see if it chips, they are powercoated and done to take abuse,
Just my 2 cents,

[oleman69]

I've powder coated several frames on H-D's I've built over the years and haven't had one chip yet BUT I had them done with INDUSTRIAL coating which is the same thing but applied thicker as far as I know no problems last bike was in '97

[viper]

"CHROME"

[lzski326]

Chrome

[Rick Kay]

Not one chip in my powdercoat...including the frame. I don't expect to have any, either!

[Lakeman]

chrome

[rhino 2]

My idea of cleaning a bike is riding in the rain, So chrome isn't for me.
Just saying.

[MormonCREWMC]

chrome has my vote!

[jtilmon]

Chrome is still my choice!

If I had an all black trike then I might consider Power Coat similiar to Rick's Trike.

[Rick Kay]

Chrome is still my choice!

If I had an all black trike then I might consider Power Coat similiar to Rick's Trike.

Our other motorcycles have a lot of chrome. This trike is much easier to clean because of the powdercoat. I think whether you have chrome or powdercoated wheels completely depends on the bike, and should stay in harmony with the overall "look" of the motorcycle.