OzVMX Forum

Marque Remarks => Yamaha => Topic started by: Bruised on August 18, 2008, 10:22:59 am

Title: Black Spokes
Post by: Bruised on August 18, 2008, 10:22:59 am

A quick question?
Did any of the early YZ's or IT's come out with black coated spokes as standard?
Bruised
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: mx250 on August 18, 2008, 10:46:40 am
No!!!! ;)
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: TonyB on August 18, 2008, 11:33:41 am
Black spokes .... nuff to make you blow chunks
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Bruised on August 18, 2008, 12:07:43 pm

thanks ...
I stumbled upon a couple of '77 YZ125 wheels and they have black spokes.  They put a fair amount of effort into paint'n them as well.
I hadn't see then like this before - thought I ask.
cheers ...
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: vandy010 on August 18, 2008, 01:20:17 pm
i like the idea.
i've dismantled a few wheels and kept the spokes and have often thought about painting them black. did they look ok?
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Bruised on August 18, 2008, 03:00:07 pm

they look good - they are showing the signs of wear and tear however. 
I have a few wheels lined up against the wall and the wheel with black spokes makes the rim really stand out. 
it makes the spokes less visible - hey now theres a thought, camouflage spokes for the true vinduro enthusiast.


Bruised
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: BJJ on August 18, 2008, 08:35:12 pm
Hi Bruised.  I also like the idea.  Do you have any pics you can post here?
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Bruised on August 18, 2008, 09:44:31 pm


yep will do - I'll grab the brownie and grab some snaps tomorrow ...
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: holeshot buddy on August 18, 2008, 09:45:56 pm
back in the eightys kawasaki
had black spokes on jeff wards
works 250 supercross bike :P
the reason was so that when
they took photos you just saw the rim  cool eh 8)
i think they were the only ones to do it ;D ;D
bet ya didnt know that ;D
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Nathan S on August 18, 2008, 09:56:04 pm
Jim's got the wheel I built up with black spokes - maybe he can post a pic? With a polished rim and a polished hub, I reckon it looks great.
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: jimg1au on August 18, 2008, 09:58:42 pm
i cant post pics but if some one pms me there email addy i will send it to them to post
cheers
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Doc on August 19, 2008, 08:05:10 am
I've painted spokes before for the simple reason they looked better black than rust ;) here's a pic of the works kwacka with black spokes. I don't mind them at all 8)

(http://www.vintageworksbikes.com/sitebuilder/images/sr2503-961x809.jpg)
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Bruised on August 19, 2008, 08:53:08 am

That is one sweet looking bike ...
I road a 500 of these on the mid eighties - frigthen the Bjeezuz out of me.  Gee I miss it.
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: firko on August 19, 2008, 09:05:33 am
Please don't do that black spoke thing again....ever...
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: vandy010 on August 19, 2008, 09:08:54 am
theres always one isn't there
 :D
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: TonyB on August 19, 2008, 10:02:20 am
damn that looks crap guys, can't help reminding me of a pram. prams used to have painted spokes. stop it, one day you'll wake up and go FAAARK what was I thinkin
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: vandy010 on August 19, 2008, 10:46:25 am
and sometimes two
 ::)
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Doc on August 19, 2008, 11:57:09 am
Maybe FAAAARK! what have I DONE!! is more apt Tony :o and it's better'n silver frost Fiko ;D been there too..I figured if it was good enough for the Rickman factory it's okay for me :-X My TS125 has black spokes also and it is such a highly desireble piece of crud that the black spokes were an absolute nessecity for the overall effect to have it's affect ::)..what's the prob ??? gold would look spastic and bright shiney new ones would mean I'd need to upgrade the whole bike to keep it inline with the bright shiney spokey spokes. Bottom line is rusty spokes look shite but if the opportunity arose you wouldn't relace a wheel with rusty ol' spokes if ya know what I mean! ;) obviously Kawasaki had spent all their money on the SR before they got to the wheels. Being a little different to to other factories Kawasaki decided to build their bikes from the bars down and not from the wheels up..when the funding started to run dry the results were quite obvious :P they were known as 'STEALTH' wheels! ;) an' I'm full of it too  8)
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Nathan S on August 19, 2008, 12:22:45 pm
Looks a lot better when the colour contrasts with the hub. Mostly we're used to looking at badly applied cheap aerosol painted spokes, complete with overspray on both the rim and hub (and tyre and swingarm and fork legs and...).

Gloss black spokes with a satin or flat black hub (or visa-versa) might look OK, but I've never been brave enough to try, and the KX photo suggests it isn't a good idea.

Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: paul on August 19, 2008, 12:25:55 pm
jim sent me these to post
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g120/ibop/190820082-1.jpg)
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g120/ibop/190820083.jpg)
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g120/ibop/190820082.jpg)
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: firko on August 19, 2008, 03:51:00 pm
Talk it up ally you like and cry poor boy all you like fellas but there is no accounting for taste. Black painted spokes look like shite. In the past I've carefully masked a wheel and painted the spokes a nice metallic gunmetal grey that closely resembled aged galvanising and the job was so good nobody noticed. Black is not a spoke colour and never was and shows a lack of aesthetic understanding in my humble opinion. :'(
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: mx250 on August 19, 2008, 05:52:25 pm
Oui, whats wrong with black spokes.....

(http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn458/mx250syd/Matchless_1930_ohv_14-802.jpg)

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Doc on August 19, 2008, 06:29:34 pm
exactly MX250!!..black or painted spokes were once a standard for the motorcycle industry.There is no 'poor man' crying going on here only a commonsense approach to an age old problem of rusted or dulled spokes. Firko my TS125 spokes are painted and to me the asthetics look just fine, bright silver/plated would not look right for my way of thinking. Basic 2 colour black and red with a splash of chrome is just what I wanted and the black spokes accentuate this 2 colour feature. I want to ride the bike, not spend big bucks and loads  of time on something that isn't neccessary..if it ain't broke don't mess with it ;) personally I don't see a thing wrong with the SR125 and it's black spokes, infact I reckon they could have done the rims black too and it still would have looked the goods. It's a practicle idea to be used on ride bikes not restos so what's the issue?

Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: firko on August 19, 2008, 06:44:20 pm
I guess we'll have to disagree Doc. I reckon they look horrible. I've got nothing against painting them, like I said I've done it myself a number of times. The difference is that I did them a natural spoke colour. Black spokes? Never seen 'em.

But, in the end who gives a flying a shit what colour spokes are? I had a pink Maico once so who am I to dictate taste? ::)

Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Doc on August 19, 2008, 06:55:19 pm
true ;) I don't think it really matters what colour they are so long as they work but in the case of the Kawa and the TS as I've said, asthetically they look fine in my eyes ;) to say you have never seen black spokes is a little hard to believe Firko, maybe not on a Jap vintage but surely you'd have seen them on the likes of Bantams and pommie stuff ;) an awful lot of my spokes are painted and standing beside the bikes and looking at them you'd never know unless you got down on your hands and knee's and took a close optic from about 12 inches away..matter of fact I have to double check sometimes to know which are the painted and which are actually relaced ;) a little added note, I don't use spray paint on them either ;)
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: pokey on August 19, 2008, 07:26:31 pm
I wasnt a fan of painted spokes but  neccesity being the mother of invention  and having a can of metalic black paint and a heap of rusty spokes  i tried it and it looks blood good.

the paint has a fine green mica flek and looks brilliant with the silver hub and aly rims.

 try it on your racer guys its honestly a pretty schmick look

(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/pokeit1st/jig.jpg?t=1219138808)
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: LWC82PE on August 19, 2008, 07:31:07 pm
You take a look at a lot of the early british bikes from the 20’s, 30’s,  40’s and some of the later low budget models. they all had black spokes  :)
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Wombat on August 19, 2008, 07:41:46 pm
It's a personal taste thing ay. You either like it or you don't; I can't see anyone being converted.
I quite like the black spokes on that works Kwaka and Docs beastie.
Similarly I notice a lot of bikes have black rims. I really don't like that but that's just me.
I think I like a contrast between the tyre and the rim - instead of looking like it's a one piece.

Who posted the photo of the gorgeous Maico with the black rims? I think it's Pauls bike.
It's a real stunner, but I wonder if I'd like it more with gold or alloy coloured rims.
Just a personal taste thing.
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Nathan S on August 19, 2008, 07:42:42 pm
Pretty sure that the Brough Superior and the Douglas I recently had the chance to look at, both had black spokes.
Obviously the poor man's choice...
 ;D

Chrome plated spokes offend me a lot more. They look garish and tacky - and that's before they start rusting...
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: TonyB on August 19, 2008, 08:16:56 pm
I guess it IS a personal thing as I have allways hated the red frames on the 80's KTM's. I plan to paint my 495 frame a husky silver, and if there is some silver paint left over I'll give it to you Doc , you can fix up that TS good !! and if you have some left over give it to Pokey and so on ... you get the picture. ;D
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: mainline on August 22, 2008, 06:51:55 pm
Hey Nathan, where on earth did you get to look at a Brough Superior in the flesh?

I remember seeing that Lawrence's bike sole for a couple of million about 10 years ago!
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Doc on August 22, 2008, 07:46:41 pm
 :D hey I get the picture but I also like to stir shit :D isn't it amazing how the smallest thing can blow up into such that a national enquiry is required. Black , rust, gold, zinc or chrome, as Firko says, it really doesn't matter so long as they keep the wheels turning. I have to admit I love nothing better than nice shiney spokes, it sets off the whole bike but I figured once again I'd go into bat for the underdog backyard boys and wear some flack :P lowering my standards further here's another I did with black spokes. it looks far better than it previously did..trust me ;)

(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a205/Doctor_Suzuki/Vintage%20Sales%20Brochures%20and%20Advertisments/conondaleclassic2008268.jpg)
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Nathan S on August 22, 2008, 08:29:44 pm
Hey Nathan, where on earth did you get to look at a Brough Superior in the flesh?

I remember seeing that Lawrence's bike sole for a couple of million about 10 years ago!

I was picking up a bike for another forum member (no, nothing as exotic as a Brough!).
The bloke I picked the bike up from had the Brough, a Douglas, two old BSAs (does 1937 V-twin sound right?) and another old bike with a sidecar that I didn't see.
All immaculate.
They're not the type of thing that floats my boat, but it was hard to be unimpressed.
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: paul on August 22, 2008, 10:11:34 pm
this would be the one nathan saw
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g120/ibop/109_0004.jpg)
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: mainline on August 23, 2008, 06:39:58 am
the Rolls Royce of motorcycles

........with black povvo spokes ;D
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Wombat on August 23, 2008, 08:00:25 am
Imagine the note? I'd love to hear it start up! 8)
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: k2000x on September 22, 2008, 05:38:20 pm
1
$15 can of black paint or send spokes of to be zinced, last set i had done $36 for front and rear at newcastle why paint just 2 save $20 why why why..........
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: Doc on September 22, 2008, 06:24:14 pm

the reason is simple k2000..the bikes I painted the spokes on were not exactly restos and I did not plan on pulling any wheels apart. The spokes are tight but pitted badly and would look terrible replated due to the pitting.Very time consuming job to re-lace wheels when the bike is/was just stop gap cheapy projects to utilize parts laying around. After all is said and done a black painted spoke in my eyes looks better than rust. To answer your question with a question..the wheels work fine so why mess with something if it's not broken. Seriously, I've bought 'new' spoke kits for near all the wheels I've ever gone to the trouble of pulling apart ;) 
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: k2000x on September 23, 2008, 09:52:09 am
right o brother....i shouldn't talk ive fixed up a few rust spots in my time with a silver paint pen
Title: Re: Black Spokes
Post by: caps 999 on September 23, 2008, 10:35:47 pm
all the techniques are coming out the wood work here :D