Most street and race motorcycles come with black painted stock rims. Black rims tend to take away from the overall look of your bike in the same way that hubcaps take away from the overall look of just about any car.
To polish your rim edges and bring out a glossy aluminum shine similar to that of chrome at very low expense follow these simple steps:
Purchase a paint remover in gel form from a local home improvement store. These chemicals are toxic so make sure to purchase heavy protective rubber gloves and eye goggles at the same time if you do not already have them. You will also need steel wool, a small paint brush, metal polish (for aluminum), and plenty of clean cotton cloths or rags.
Set the bike on its stands and place a seat near the front wheel. Sit on the seat next to the wheel and make sure you can reach a good section of the rim edge from your location. It is easiest to always work on the part of the rim at the bottom and move the bike a few feet forward or back to access the next portion.
Begin by applying your duct tape around the inner edge of the rim where you wish the black paint to remain. Make sure your tape line is straight and that no space remains beneath the tape along its entire length.
Apply your paint remover gel onto the rim with your small paint brush. Allow the remover sufficient time to sit and work its effect on the painted rim. Read the back of the remover can for specific instructions for this portion of the process. Once the proper amount of time has passed, remove the gel with a piece of steel wool. Rub with a bit of pressure to help the remover get the job done. Paint on older bikes will tend to be more difficult to remove as over time the paint has set and become more permanent. Continue to rub with the steel wool until all of the gel has been wiped clean.
If paint remains on the rim repeat the process until it has all gone. Rotate the wheel and begin again. Repeat the process with the other side of the rim once the first side is clean.
With all of the paint removed from the rim’s edge you can now move to the polishing phase. Use a clean cotton cloth and apply some of your metal polish to it. Rub the polish into the rim while pressing down and into the rim. Continue rubbing until the rim turns dark. Wait a moment until the polish dries so it does not stick to your second clean cotton cloth and remove. Use a similar rigorous movement with downward pressure to remove. With the polish removed use a third clean cotton cloth to buff out the shine. Continue this process all around both sides of the rim.
Your rim edges are now high polish and the look of your bike should have changed dramatically.
Made Man: How to Polish Rims on a Motorcycle
