Restoring Honda Goldwing polished aluminum wheels?

[Ed_Flecko]

I was helping a friend detail his Honda Goldwing. It looks like the previous owner used some liquid on the wheels which has left them with streaks. The wheels are in mint condition, with the exception of the streaking/staining.

I'm pretty sure these wheels do not have any clear-coat. I think they're just pure, polished aluminum.

Is there anything we can use to remove the streaking and staining and return them to their previous beauty? If we manage to make them look pretty again, is it safe to ceramic coat them for future ease of maintenance? I have plenty of Gyeon Q² Rim EVO (https://gyeonusa.com/collections/wheel-coatings/products/q2-rim) that I can use.

Thank you,
Ed

 

[Kestas]

It's rare to have modern aluminum wheels that aren't clear coated.

If it's truly uncoated, Wenol polish comes to mind.

The product you linked appears to be formulated with SiO2 and siloxanes.

 

[kballowe]

What year is that Gold Wing ? Most of the GL1800's came from the factory with bare aluminum wheels.
Some cleaners will streak aluminum and maybe that's what you have there.

I typically use Mother's aluminum polish on a foam wheel at the end of a drill.
Finish up with White Diamonds metal polish.

That White Diamonds polish provides good long term protection and it's relatively cheap.

 

[Ed_Flecko]

What year is that Gold Wing ? Most of the GL1800's came from the factory with bare aluminum wheels.
Some cleaners will streak aluminum and maybe that's what you have there.

I typically use Mother's aluminum polish on a foam wheel at the end of a drill.
Finish up with White Diamonds metal polish.

That White Diamonds polish provides good long term protection and it's relatively cheap.

I think my friend told me it's a 2006 with ~53K miles. He bought it for 6K.

Ed

 

[kballowe]

I think my friend told me it's a 2006 with ~53K miles. He bought it for 6K.

Ed

That bike came from the factory with bare aluminum wheels.

 

[mrsilv04]

Yes, they're bare aluminum. For heavy duty cleaning, I've had good luck on the past with a green scotchbrite pad and any off the shelf aluminum polish such as Mother's. Since they're bare aluminum, everything will turn black... so don't use anything that you don't want to throw away when you're done. You'll need to buy a new scotchbrite pad for your wife, LOL.

And lots of elbow grease.

 

[EvoMan]

Mother’s aluminum polish used to be my favorite but I like Blue Magic better. It does a great job and leaves a protective film.

 

[KE7JFF]

I had a towing customer once who bought a well neglected Goldwing at an estate sale. The wheels were worse than what your friend has. When I saw that customer again, he had restored the wheels. If I remember right, he used some product from Mothers to clean the aluminum.

 

[HouseTiger]

Simichrome Polish. It's pricey, but it works.