Wheel Rim coloured centre ?

[Signboy]

Hi Guys,
Ive got a '53 a7 Star Twin ( its the pretty one with polychromatic green tinware and dark green frame )  the question is.... were the wheel rims centers ever painted and lined ?  pictures of restored bikes are just plain,  which seems a shame
thanks in anticipation
Signboy

[Bsareg]

It's  your bike, if you like the idea of centre painted rims why not? You're not doing anything that's irreversible. And if it is incorrect think how it will wind up the rivet counters. Well done.

[spanersc]

Hi. I think that the later 53/54 Star-Twins always had plain rims from new, the earlier Star-Twins had a silver centre with a red coachline either side to match the tank colouring.

[jachenbach]

Being heretical by nature, I like painted (better still powder coated) rims. A relatively cheap way to get around replacing or re-chroming those that are badly rusted. And I  like to upset the rivet counters, but then I only want bikes to ride not to show.

[morris]

Being heretical by nature, I like painted (better still powder coated) rims. A relatively cheap way to get around replacing or re-chroming those that are badly rusted. And I  like to upset the rivet counters, but then I only want bikes to ride not to show.

I informed about the possibility to get chromed rims powdercoated, but the guy said it was a no go unless all the chrome was first removed which is something that can’t be done by sandblasting.
Removing chrome needs special equipment and gives off very toxic fumes so won’t be cheap.

[Black Sheep]

My unmolested '51 Star Twin had plain but rusty rims when I got it, both replaced with stainless ones after an encounter with a particularly vicious sharp-edged pothole.

[coater87]

Actually, getting chrome removed is inexpensive.

 Most shops that do your chroming will remove old chrome for little or nothing if your a regular customer.

 Even if your not, maybe 50 too 100 bucks for both rims should get them stripped to bare metal.

Lee

[BSA_54A10]

Actually, getting chrome removed is inexpensive.

 Most shops that do your chroming will remove old chrome for little or nothing if your a regular customer.

 Even if your not, maybe 50 too 100 bucks for both rims should get them stripped to bare metal.

Lee

It comes down to the size of the shop and weather they reprocess their own baths or not.
If they do then stripping can be a reasonable price, if not it gets real expensive

[BSA_54A10]

Hi Guys,
Ive got a '53 a7 Star Twin ( its the pretty one with polychromatic green tinware and dark green frame )  the question is.... were the wheel rims centers ever painted and lined ?  pictures of restored bikes are just plain,  which seems a shame
thanks in anticipation
Signboy

If you paid 1 & 6 each extra they were .
just like having a maroon, blue or black finish, painted centers on chrome wheels was always an option, right up to the bitter end.
As was pin lining in different colours, double  or triple pin lining.
There were lots of customising options available, some done in shop, some done in factory, but the latter naturally took a long while so most bought what was on the shop floor.
Thus there never was now will there ever be a true "exact true finish " for any model BSA but don't try telling that to the AMCA.
If concurs judges came equipted with both a catalogue and a price list or better still a copy of the despatch records then they would have some credibality but the morons work on nothing other than the image in the catalogue for any particular year and even then they get that wrong.
Another reason why I have a hatred of concours judges with catalogues in their head or hand.
AS previously mentioned , it is your bike, if you like the look of painted rims, then go ahead and paint yours.
When some slime bag comes over and tries to belittle you by telling you in a voice loud enough for 1/2 the state to hear you tell him in a louder voice the bike came with the original dealer receipt which included the extra paid for painted rims, or you wouldn't know this is how you got the bike from your great uncle who bought it new etc etc etc then watch the slime bag slither off to annoy some one else.

[Black Sheep]

You have to be a bit careful having rims rechromed. By the time they have rust removed and are sufficiently polished for rechroming, they can be perilously thin.

[dave55]

Just had a pair of Bantam wheels powder coated in a silver that looks very much like chrome don't know how they cleaned then up but cracking job for £60 all in.

[Rex]

Every rechromer I've ever asked won't rechrome rims as they reckon the polishing mops are destroyed by the spoke holes, but my local powder-coater will happily blast off old chrome and then powder coat.
I had that done recently for a C12 but unless the wheel is broken down to the rim (I did) a powder-coated complete wheel just looks like Mr Bodge is in town, and that's a big no-no for an "expensive" bike like an A ranger.