MOTORCYCLE WHEEL & PART FINISHING
Table Of Contents (Click Below To Get Started)
1. Pricing and Payment
2. What makes us different
2a. Chrome Plating
2b. Black Chrome Finish
2c. Fusion Powder Coating / Specialty Finishes / Polishing
3. How do I get started?
3a. Paperwork & Packaging
4. Motorcycle Wheel Type Guide
4a. One-Piece Wheel
4b. Multi-Piece Wheel
4c. Trike Wheel
4d. Wire Wheel
5. FAQ
6. Questions Regarding Bearing Holes
7. Gallery
8. How Do I Get Started? Step By Step Instructions On How To Send Your Wheels/Parts To Us
PRICING & PAYMENT
| Chrome Wheel Pricing: | Pricing starts at $450* | Approx. processing time: 3 – 4 weeks* |
| Black Chrome Wheel Pricing: | Pricing starts at $650* | Approx. processing time: 4 – 6 weeks* |
| Fusion Powder Coating Pricing: | Pricing starts at $150* | Approx. processing time: 2 – 5 days* |
| Parts Pricing | Price varies. Please send detailed photos and a list for an estimate |
*Due to the different types of motorcycle wheel construction (one-piece cast, billet multipiece, forged) and depending on how many spokes and the design of those spokes can affect pricing. Please use this guide as an approx. pricing estimate. For an exact estimate, please send detailed photos of your wheels.
*During the winter and spring seasons, processing times may take longer due to the high volumes of wheels we receive during these times.
Payment is required prior to any work being performed. Payment for work is accepted via Personal / Company check, PayPal, Visa / Mastercard, Money Order, and Bank Wire Transfer. Do not send payment along with the wheels. We will ask for payment once the wheels arrive. We will send you an invoice via your provided email address. Please make sure this is an email address that you check regularly.
** For rechroming of wheels and parts, WE DO NOT accept credit cards for payment. Local customers can drop off and pick up to save freight costs. Los Angeles sales tax is 9.5%. No sales tax if shipped outside of California. All prices estimated are in US Dollars. All out of country orders Bank Wire Transfer is the method of payment. In review, once we have received payment the processing of your wheels or parts begins. If for some reason you have not heard from us requesting payment for processing after your parts have arrived, please double-check that we have received your payment.
What makes us different on motorcycle wheel processing
We offer many custom finishes, all under one umbrella, which includes our Show Quality Chrome plating, our Black Chrome Hybrid process, our Fusion Coating / Specialty finishes, and our High Luster Polishing services to the motorcycle industry such as Performance Machine, West Coast Choppers, Mid-West Choppers, etc. Harley’s, Sportbikes, and Billet aftermarket, we have just about done them all. Please note that very few exchanges are available because we primarily process your wheels to ensure that the wheels you receive fit exactly and correctly. Due to the intricacy of these wheels, the processing time varies, depending on work load. During the winter and spring seasons, processing times may take longer due to the high volumes of wheels we receive during these times.
CHROME PLATING
Our show quality Chrome Plating starts at $450 per wheel. Our process starts which with meticulous polishing done by one of our top technicians and he does the entire polishing job on each wheel. (Unlike automotive wheels which are polished via assembly line) Then the plating process begins. Our craftsmanship is reflected in all chrome plated finishes. You can read more about our Chrome here.
BLACK CHROME FINISH
Pricing starts at $650. At CalChrome we have worked very hard to develop our Black Chrome Hybrid finish. Our Black Chrome is a combination of 3 separate processes combined to achieve this unique finish. True Chrome Electroplate, our Black Transparent Layer, and a Urethane Clear Coat to seal it all up and protect against UV damage. You can read more about Black Chrome here.
FUSION POWDER COATING / SPECIALTY FINISHES
Pricing starts at $150. Our Fusion Powder Coating™ is an advancement in powder coating technology. This new proprietary process is a combination of Eco-friendly clean pretreatment, enhanced application methods, and Pulse Power technology. You can read more about Fusion Powder Coating here. If you want to take your wheels to the ultimate level in customization, we offer our custom specialty finishes. The sky is the limit when it comes to custom paint. Want to match the color of your wheels to the paint on your bike? No problem. You want to make a custom color, multiple custom colors, all customization is possible. You can read more about Specialty Finishes here.
NOW THAT I KNOW I WANT CALCHROME TO DO MY WHEELS, HOW DO I GET STARTED?
What do I need to get started? We need the wheels with the tires, brake rotors, any sprocket or belt drive, and the wheel bearing assemblies (races if they apply) removed from the wheels.
How do I do that? We suggest a local professional motorcycle shop perform these services as the wheel bearing area is a very delicate section of the wheel and requires the proper tools to press out and press in new bearings. Also, assembly bolts holding on rotors, belt drives, etc. can be stripped if not carefully removed. We can for a nominal charge remove these pieces once the wheels arrive here. The price depends on what needs to be removed. We can reinstall the removed parts and recommend new bearings be fitted to the newly processed wheels. For multipiece wheels please separate the hubs from the wheel and remove the bearings from the hubs. We cannot emphasize enough that bearing assemblies need to be removed professionally by the use of a bearing puller. Using a hammer to remove the bearing can cause warping or distortion of the bearing hole. This will lead to problems when re-assembling the wheels. To determine what type of motorcycle wheel construction you have, See Moto Wheel Type Guide.
PAPERWORK & PACKAGING
We can blackout your wheels, however, due to how backed up we are, we cannot blackout other parts of your vehicle. We are not currently taking appointments. Sorry for the inconvenience.
MOTORCYCLE WHEEL TYPE GUIDE
Motorcycle wheels come in various types of construction. What type of construction do I have and does it make a difference in the price? Absolutely, a one-piece wheel is just that. The bearing area is incorporated into this one-piece wheel design. A multi-piece wheel can be of various types of construction. For example, an outer hoop and a one-piece center section is different than a billet one-piece wheel with billet hubs bolted to it. The bearing area can be in the center section or can be in separate hubs. Hubs must be removed from the assembled wheel and processed separately. A trike rear wheel which is like an automotive wheel where usually only one side, the outside, is designed to be cosmetically appealing, but we can custom process the inside to look like the outside. All these options of various designs can all be customized but are all different prices due to the number of pieces to process inside, outside, etc. This is why it is very important to send pictures so we can accurately estimate your request. See below various types of construction
ONE-PIECE WHEEL
A one-piece wheel is usually a solid cast of continuous material that houses the bearing area in the center of the wheel.
MULTI-PIECE WHEEL
A multi-piece wheel can be of various types of construction. For example, an outer hoop and a one-piece center section is different than a billet one-piece wheel with billet hubs bolted to it. The bearing area can be in the center section or can be in separate hubs. Hubs must be removed from the assembled wheel and processed separately. This is an additional cost.
TRIKE WHEEL
A trike setup is a combination of a motorcycle front wheel and automotive-style rear wheels. The trike rear wheel usually has only one side, the outside, designed to be cosmetically appealing. But we can custom process the inside to look like the outside. Just cost money.
Wire Wheel
We do wire wheels!
FAQ & INFO
CAN YOU RECHROME MOTORCYCLE WHEELS?
Yes we can. The cost to just chrome strip a Motorcycle wheel starts at $100 per wheel. If your wheel is a Billet wheel and has Billet hubs, chrome strip pricing starts at $50 per hub. This removal chrome pricing is a guide line only, please contact us for your personalized estimate. The total cost of a rechrome motorcycle wheel includes the chrome plating costs and the chrome strip charges added together. Chrome Plating + Chrome strip charge = Total cost to rechrome.
A concern about chrome stripping a previously chromed motorcycle wheel is the bearing holes, metal races, or anything steel attached to the wheel. The chrome strip solution dissolves ferrous metals but does not dissolve the aluminum alloy, therefore all races must be removed.
For more information about rechrome go here.
NOTE: Previously chrome plated parts require being chrome stripped before being rechromed. (Chrome Strip processing time is 3 to 10 business days.) Rechroming a wheel does not guarantee a perfect wheel. Corrosion can cause pitting which may show through the new chrome. We will rechrome the wheel with the best effort to make the wheel look as good as possible.
**Payment for all rechrome wheels and/or parts is by personal check, money order, and wire transfer. WE DO NOT ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS FOR ANY RECHROME PROCESSING.
CAN YOU CHROME PLATE MAGNESIUM WHEELS?
Some motorcycle wheels have magnesium content as part of the mixture of the alloy makeup of the wheel. This magnesium content prevents us from being able to paint strip and or chrome plate the wheels. How do I know if my wheels have magnesium content? Most aluminum cast alloy motorcycle wheels with the tire and the bearings removed, usually weigh more than 10 lbs. Where as magnesium content in the alloy wheels will weigh normally less than 10 lbs and we have seen wheels as light as 7 lbs. This is a good indicator of which wheel composition you have. Magnesium content wheels, when heat is applied to can combust (catch on fire), which makes them not a candidate for normal chemical paint removal and chrome electroplating. Although minimal amount of heat is used to remove paint and electroplate, caution has to be taken to avoid catastrophic problems. See the photo below, if this symbol (Mg) appears on the wheel, this indicates that there is magnesium content in the alloy make up of the wheel. Please contact us if you think your wheels are magnesium. The icon in the image below is an indicator of a magnesium wheel.
QUESTIONS REGARDING BEARING HOLES
Customers routinely ask “What about the bearings? Should I leave them in? Should I take them out?” Please remove all bearings, and races if applicable prior to shipping wheels for plating. This procedure is best performed by a professional shop which has the proper tools to remove and re-install the bearings.
We use specially made high-density rubber plugs or we manually mask off to assist in preventing plating build-up in the bearing hole. The following images illustrate how the rubber plugs work, and the final image shows a fully chrome-plated wheel, with a clean bearing hole.
WHAT IF MY WHEEL UPON COMPLETION, HAS PLATING INSIDE THE BEARING HOLE?
Every effort is made to reduce plating that may get past the plugs in the bearing area of the wheels. But sometimes there can be a small build-up that needs to be addressed. Since we do not have the bearings, we will leave any build up in the hole so that the end-user/ technician can remove the excess during the bearing reinstallation. This can be accomplished as simple as freezing the bearing assembly and heating the wheel to allow enough clearance to reinstall the bearing or the extra plating will have to removed manually little by little to allow clearance for installation. Or manually remove some of the platings to gain the clearances needed. Some shops have recommended using emery cloth or sandpaper by hand to slowly remove enough plating for the bearing clearance. Other shops have suggested and have used a wheel cylinder brake hone tool to provide for the clearencing. If the bearing holes are loose, you will need to peen, stake, or knurl the bearing holes and/or use a 3M Scotch-Weld Retaining Compound for bearings and sleeves. Many motorcycle wheel bearings are one-time use only. For example, Harley-Davidson recommends to not reinstall old bearings.
CALIFORNIA CHROME WHEEL INC. IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MOTORCYCLE WHEEL BEARING CLEARANCES AND FITMENTS
Since we do not remove or install wheel bearings, there have been incidents where customers have claimed that the bearing hole size has changed, only to find out that the wrong bearing was trying to be installed into the wrong wheel. Please double check the correct bearings are being utilized for your wheel. Please make sure a professional shop or technician performs the bearing removal and reinstallation. Some customers have attempted to remove the bearings on their own by forcing the bearings out through manual force and have damaged the wheel in doing so. Resulting in an uneven and distorted area making the new bearing placement not possible. We have no way of knowing how the bearings will be removed and reinstalled. Therefore again, we cannot be held accountable for the final fitment. Contact us for assistance and questions about bearings
MOTORCYCLE WHEELS, PARTS, AND WHEELS DISCLAIMER
All parts sent in for custom finish processing must be completely disassembled and checked for proper clearance for added material before shipping. California Chrome Wheel Inc. recommends that disassembly, tire and bearing removal, checking machine work for proper clearance, bearing installation, tire mounting, and torque of all assemblies to specifications, etc. be completed by a professional automotive, motorcycle or machine shop.
Please completely disassemble and remove all gaskets, seals, bearings, races, bolts, brackets, valve stems, tires, etc. from the parts and wheels before freighting. Parts that are sent to us that require disassembly or machine work may be returned to the customer with no work done, or we can provide these services at a nominal charge. Please do not send any parts that are not getting custom finish work done. Do not take the chance of parts getting damaged or lost if no work is being done to those parts.
California Chrome Wheel Inc. is not responsible for the bearing hole clearances, disassembly, checking and machining of clearances for added material for the bearings, brake components, hubs, or other clearances and assembly of the completed part. Your machine shop or installer will need to check and adjust the clearances for the bearings. If the bearings fit tight, you may need to remove material or freeze the bearings to contract and warm the wheel to expand to help with installation. If the bearing holes are loose, you will need to peen, stake, or knurl the bearing holes and/or use a 3M Scotch-Weld Retaining Compound for bearings and sleeves. Many motorcycle wheel bearings are one-time use only. For example, Harley-Davidson recommends to not reinstall old bearings.
Please note that chrome plating or rechroming a wheel does not guarantee a perfect wheel. Your wheels may appear to be in good condition but may have porosity in the wheel casting which can’t be seen until the finish has been removed or are just below the surface which may be exposed during processing. These casting flaws from porosity in the aluminum alloy base metal if large enough, may not be filled in during the chrome processing and may show through the new chrome as a pit. This porosity or pits are a defect or damage to the base metal of the wheel casting and not due to the chrome plating. Chrome plating and rechrome plating is completed on a best effort basis. We will do the best we can to make the wheels look as good as possible. We process thousands of wheels every year with excellent results.
We recommend wheels with porosity or pitting be bead blasted to help reduce some of the smaller pits and give the wheel a more uniform look. The bead blast cost if needed is $75.00 per wheel. We cannot get the large buffing wheel into every location on the wheel so some of the work will need to be polished with hand tools. Polishing swirl marks may be visible in areas difficult to access and may vary due to wheel size and design. If you would like an approximate price estimate on a part, please e-mail pictures of the parts along with the dimensions of length, width and height and the type of material the part is made of such as steel, stainless steel, die cast pot metal, aluminum, etc. so we can properly estimate you.
Due to the nature of telephone and e-mail estimates, all prices estimated may vary when the part arrives here at California Chrome Wheel Inc. and the parts are inspected to determine what work needs to be performed. Not all parts are suitable for custom finishing. The customer is responsible for all shipping costs whether no work is done, any portion of work or all work is completed.
Local customers can drop off and pick up to save freight costs. Los Angeles sales tax is 9.5%. No sales tax if shipped outside of California. All prices estimated are in US Dollars.
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MOTORCYCLE HUB ISSUES
When chrome plating motorcycle wheels, we insert rubber bushings in the hub to hold the anode and this also helps keep the metals in the chroming process get into the hub. We also have a solution we apply to those areas that helps with keeping the metals out. In these attempts, there still can be metal that gets in there. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you will need to be prepared to possibly take the wheels in to have the bearings re-installed. When reinstalling the bearings, the extra metal may need to be machined out. We do not offer those services and majority motorcycle shops are aware of the needs to reinstall the bearings.
