Z1OwnersClub GB

I am looking for some opinions on re chroming wheel rims. I bought a KZ900 which was imported from the US a few years ago and has been stored dry with no rot, and the wheel rims are not bad, there is a few small rust spots and one bit on the rear rim which has about a 1" small patch of corrosion at the right side of the rim .I spoke to my man who has done my chroming on several bikes over the years which I have been very pleased with ( Agbrigg in Leeds) and he said he could chrome the rims no problem, I would rebuild the wheels with Stainless spokes from central wheels which I do myself, so the question is it worth getting the original rims with the date stamps re chromed at £150 per wheel + £80 for spokes or would I be better keeping them original with the few marks and galvanized spokes which are not bad,or what results have other people had with rechroming rims does it keep the date stamps OK.

Before going that route, without pictures they sound totally salvageable. Check out quick glo from https://www.airevalleyclassics.co.uk/ if your not aware of it. You might well be surprised with the results achievable on what at first glance appears to be knackered chrome.

Going down the 'completely original' is great if the rest of the bike is completely original. Personally I'd go rechrome with numbers showing and stainless spokes which are much more durable than the galvanized one's which I've found can lose the coating in a very short time.

I’m not bothered about really original as the bike is a Z900 and it’s getting painted Z1 colours, I done the stainless spokes on my Kettle with the original rims and I done my 400four with stainless rims as well, it was just theses wheels are reasonably OK and weather to justify the cost and if the chrome would remove the date stamps it would also let me get the front hub powder coated black like the Z1 I have attached a picture that shows the water mark.

warren3200gt wrote:Before going that route, without pictures they sound totally salvageable. Check out quick glo from https://www.airevalleyclassics.co.uk/ if your not aware of it. You might well be surprised with the results achievable on what at first glance appears to be knackered chrome.

Thanks for the mention.
As Warren has stated it's very likely that you will get very decent results from using Quick-Glo on your chrome. Please check out our website and you will see before and after photos and feedback from users.
We have 15% discount until the end of October using the code STAFF21.
https://quick-glo.co.uk/
Please do get in touch if you have any questions and I will be happy to answer.

Also note that myself and a friend had some chroming done at Abrigg and were very disappointed with the results. Stampings polished off, staining and inconsistent covering. I have a euro grab rail which had lots of staining in the chrome (looked like not rinsed properly between processes). These areas have now started to rust..

Cheers

Ultim8pc wrote:

warren3200gt wrote:Before going that route, without pictures they sound totally salvageable. Check out quick glo from https://www.airevalleyclassics.co.uk/ if your not aware of it. You might well be surprised with the results achievable on what at first glance appears to be knackered chrome.

Thanks for the mention.
As Warren has stated it's very likely that you will get very decent results from using Quick-Glo on your chrome. Please check out our website and you will see before and after photos and feedback from users.
We have 15% discount until the end of October using the code STAFF21.
https://quick-glo.co.uk/
Please do get in touch if you have any questions and I will be happy to answer.

Also note that myself and a friend had some chroming done at Abrigg and were very disappointed with the results. Stampings polished off, staining and inconsistent covering. I have a euro grab rail which had lots of staining in the chrome (looked like not rinsed properly between processes). These areas have now started to rust..

Cheers

I was going to say, if you go the re-chrome route, be VERY clear with the chromer that the numbers must not be polished out.

Express that if he polishes them out he will cost you £200.00 to convert £100.00 of original rim with numbers into £100.00 of chromed rim without numbers and you will not therefore, be paying and make him sign to agree.

Harsh, I know, but unless you do it they WILL polish off the numbers.

Took the rims of z1000a1 to Abrigg chrome rs in Leeds, they polished out the stamps.

DavidZ1R wrote:Took the rims of z1000a1 to Abrigg chrome rs in Leeds, they polished out the stamps.

Sorry to hear that, but par for the course with them. Avoid...

DavidZ1R wrote:Took the rims of z1000a1 to Abrigg chrome rs in Leeds, they polished out the stamps.

Then you try to explain that you could buy new rims with no stamps for less than the cost of chroming the originals so THE ONLY reason you are getting them chromed is for the stamp, so they have charged you you de-value your rims just to be met with a blank stare.

Unfortunately, chrome playing must be a trade for the hard of thinking!!!

DavidZ1R wrote:Took the rims of z1000a1 to Abrigg chrome rs in Leeds, they polished out the stamps.

yep they did the same on my z1 after specifically asking them not to.

Seems to be a trend with Agbrigg, I also took two very respectable rims to him with very little pitting, but they polished out the dates and then swore blind that they had pitting over the stamps. I think Shaun want to get a grip in there or people will be going elsewhere......

I’m a serial restorer and pretty much every year I spend between £600 and £1000 on re chroming of items for my winter projects.

I had a brief spell of using Agbrigg and had inconsistent results, some items were ok and some items were very disappointing.

Agbrigg are comparatively very fast with the turn round but if the quality of finish isn’t what you want then the lead time becomes irrelevant.

It is a shame really as the setup there has all the makings of a fantastic refinishing contractor, however, it seems to me that the business lacks some understanding of what the classic vehicle owner needs and wants, they’re not just bits of metal they are important components in a restoration an need to be treated with care and consideration relative to both the original finish AND what the customer wants and if these criteria can’t be met then the customer should be told up front to enable them to explore other options.

I have now explored those other options and have moved my business to another long standing chrome plater who has the empathy and willingness to give the customer exactly what he wants, if indeed it’s possible.

I have not had any issues with my current supplier at all and provided that all involved accept the limitations imposed by the condition of the components to be re chromed then all will be well!

Regards

r3sc wrote:I have now explored those other options and have moved my business to another long standing chrome plater who has the empathy and willingness to give the customer exactly what he wants, if indeed it’s possible.

Can you share who you are using?

Hi Nigel,

Yes, I’m now using Prestige Electro Platers at Mexborough.

They are very experienced and on and off I’ve been using them for years and only strayed to Agbrigg for shorter delivery times.

They understand the problems associated with the re chroming of old, damaged and sometimes severely corroded parts but more importantly they communicate the possible problems to the customer prior to going ahead with the work.

If a Takasago stamping on a rim can’t be saved, they’ll tell you but will always warn you that nothing that is corroded can be guaranteed until the polishing starts and then it’s your decision.

This years batch for a Yamaha is there already and has a quoted delivery time of 5 to 6 months but considering that I know they’ll be right when I get them back, I’m prepared to wait.

I suggest that services such as this will never be all things to all men and everyone is entitled to their own opinion so for me, Prestige is the choice I continue to make.

Regards.

r3sc wrote:Hi Nigel,

Yes, I’m now using Prestige Electro Platers at Mexborough.
I suggest that services such as this will never be all things to all men and everyone is entitled to their own opinion so for me, Prestige is the choice I continue to make.
Regards.

I've heard of other good reports for Prestige, so thanks for the feedback.