Wheel color poll time.

[The Pilot]

Well, now in week 2 of quarantine and bored. Thinking of powder coating the wheels when this is all over. Leaning towards fairly obnoxious colors at this point. Let me know what you think.

 

[34nineteen]

As much as I didn’t like the gold in the beginning, it’s sort of an XB signature color. The other colors look like a 18 year old got their hands on plasti-dip.

 

[Cooter]

100% this^^^
It's funny but I have had so many of the Black/Gold XB's I tried everything to change them. Black wheels, CR wheels, blue, pewter.... Bubbles got her Scg in Black/Gold and man it's pretty just stock the way it is.
I feel old saying that:upset:

 

[outthere]

Gold

 

[lancruza]

Part out the bike. I'll take the gold wheels.

 

[34nineteen]

pm’ed you.

 

[The Pilot]

Pretty overwhelming response to not change them, thanks for the input. I’ll see if I can thing of any other ideas and photoshop them, just really want to get them redone because of a little rash and finish issues... I’m OCD. I don’t think my powder coat guy will be able to match the OEM finish... maybe black?

 

[Cooter]

They are still available to buy new, and then re-coup some cost by selling your scratched ones. When they're new they are SO pretty.

You could spend this free time with a super detail polish/wax and maintenance? Lube the cables and all that:angel:

 

[rb70383]

My favorite color is clear....

 

[Melfo]

I love green, looks fantastic

 

[Cherry_Bomb]

Do what makes you happy. Mr. Buell himself didn't produce some of the best bikes (little biased) by following everyone elses lead.

I will say while some days I find myself personally more of a Buell purest and love things stock, every so often I like a little extra uniqueness. The bright colors are certainly unique but may get old quick. If you can afford to maybe keep a set of stockers and another more loud coloured set. If you choose powered coating just make sure you put in new bearings.

 

[Danthehitman]

I really love the original translucent Orange but perhaps it's because I have a little bit of history with them! I got to travel to China to develop that color. It was VERY difficult to get a consistent thickness (especially between hand-operated powder application) on those wheels so if it was a few mil too thick, or thin, it would really effect the color...and therefore the match between front & back. A few mil too thin the color could look Green, too thick and they look Red. This color variance was exaggerated by the machined outer portion of the rim which bounces a spectrum of color. Other obstacles would be he geometries natural Faraday Cage in a few spots which would repel the powder. I remember the powder coat factory was super low quality, dust everywhere, and at one point during my tour the electric that controls the track went out. The operator had to just wiggle the extension cord a bit and they were back up & running! After the disturbing tour they showed us the fully automated, state-of-the-art, facility above that particular operation. It was clean enough to eat off the floor but we had to double our volumes before they fired it up! Lots of fun with them and I got a mild case of SARS, don't know if you recall that virus?!?! Good times and I LOVE that color

 

[Cooter]

OMG Dan thats a funny and terrible story:upset:

I have a powdercoater buddy who is an absolute perfection fanatic. I had asked him about matching that color years ago and his answer was a "Hell no, not a chance to get it right" Haha.

 

[Danthehitman]

OMG Dan thats a funny and terrible story:upset:

I have a powdercoater buddy who is an absolute perfection fanatic. I had asked him about matching that color years ago and his answer was a "Hell no, not a chance to get it right" Haha.

Well, if it makes him feel any better let him know that facility looked like the floors were dirt, not concrete! I'm thinking it was just years of dust and powder build-up. If they pulled it off I'm betting he will, too!

Also, we did relax the "boundary samples" that I provide to them on my visit, meaning we relaxed our color match standards because we were rejecting so many that the supplier didn't want to work for us any longer! If you try matching front & rear while they're off the bike sitting directly next to each other you'll rarely have a "match"...but once mounted-up on your bike they look just fine. Sometimes things that aren't perfect have a life & quality all of their own

 

[tukkayak]

Stock here. But I'm OLD!

 

[RidetheLightning]

I was always convinced I was going to get a black/amber lightning, but when I saw my first cherry bomb that was that. Even still, black/amber is my next choice, partly because it harkens a bit of HD to me. It sucks how they treated buell, but my favorite part of the lightning is the sound, and how it complements the raw looks. If you're picking a completely new color, I always liked the black/green BMW Rockster combo. Almost snagged one of these when I was waiting for a good lightning to come up for sale.

 

[The Pilot]

That’s a neat story about visiting the production facility back in the day.

Well decided on unmentioned option... melt your eyes highlighter yellow. A quick and dirty photoshop, but I always loved this color on the newer Yamaha streetbikes.

 

[The Pilot]

Well the conclusion to this long and boring story... I found a brand new set of hero blue wheels for only $150 a wheel... still in the original boxes... jumped on it and now she has blue wheels that I was not even considering until I stumbled on them. Anyway, here she is.

 

[Danthehitman]

That color is called, "Nuclear Blue", one of Buell's all time classics! You done good, looks great!

 

[The Pilot]

That color is called, "Nuclear Blue", one of Buell's all time classics! You done good, looks great!

Thanks Dan, you guys came up with some truly awesome colors... might end up just collecting them all!