I need a new back tire - that's given.  the old one is original so that makes it 17 years on the bike!! (That's 68 in human years!)  I'm going to go all out and get nothing but the best - a Kenda, for $42 large.

Seriously, though, my problem is the spokes.  The bike was left OUT IN THE CANADIAN WINTER, uncovered, for three years!!  Lots of pitting everywhere and tons of rust but I just about have everything cleaned up - except for the spokes.  Nothing I do seems to work - I even painted them with chrome from a rattle can and that looked good for about 8 hours.  Should I just trash them when I get the tire off and put on new ones?  I hear that's a bugger of a job!  Are new ones expensive??  Thanks, guys and gals...

thanks for the input!

Powder coating - what is that, exactly?

jbrough7 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:


get it real hot and dip it powder coating/paint that melts and sticks to it very well.

Lacing spoked wheels is an "art-form" ... not exactly for those lacking in patience and/or experience. sadly, the spokes on the LS650 don't keep up appearances anyway ... my Bike is only a couple of years old, has never been left outside and the spokes are now dull and lifeless looking ... in fact they were that way after the 1st Riding season ... whatever the OEM spokes are coated with, appears to oxidize very quickly ... e-bay LS wheels are unlikely to be much better ...
So, a Savage/S40 owner learns to live with dull spokes, or decides to paint or replace 'em ... both of which are, as have been already pointed out likely to involve a substantial investment of time and/or money.

PerrydaSavage wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:


I believe that the stock spokes are zinc plated...as in galvanized.

Some things can't be rushed and though we live is such a ridiculously fast paced world where our minds get frustrated without that feeling of instant gratification, a motorcycle is one of those things that may require patience and time....

About once a year I saturate my wheels in a combination of liquid spray and paste wax.  Just part of a spring time  detailing (and a 6 pack) and I make a mess.  I just coat them thoroughly and then take the time to run a rag in and around each spoke.  I usually do this with the wheel off since I usually have it apart anyway....

I know that some of the wax gets into the threads and crevasses on the spoke ends and can't be wiped off.  This I figure is as good a rust preventative as it gets...and I am rewarded with generally clean spokes....

For those that don't have any patience, they invented solid or cast wheels ....

Quote:


This is a mod I would absolutely love to see pics of!

BTW Greg ... the ass-end of your Savage looks super in your signature photo!

PerrydaSavage wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:


Thanks Perry.  At the moment I'm trying to find front signals of the same style for the bike....but maybe I need to get a new handlbar first, 'cause I'd like them bar mounted.

Or Harley-style directionals that hang off the underside of the bars?
Greg I've entered "Suzuki Savage" into e-bays search engine and from time-to-time I've seen a set of rectangular directionals, similar to those on the rear of your Savage, 'cept a bit smaller and these have clear lenses with amber bulbs ... they look pretty good actually.