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