Wheel seems to be evaporating…

[SBD]

1997 F650 rear wheel

Covered in flaky grey/white powder on the inside of the rim and around the spokes

Not seen this before. It will scrub off easily, eg pan scourer

Do we think a replacement rim is required? It passed an MOT about a month ago

Thoughts?

Thx

 

[Davey B]

Scrub some of the crap off and re-photograph...altho looking at that I'd say a new wheel would be an easier/cheaper option. there's bound to be some for sale on ebay/FB marketplace (Has it been kept on a boat or right next to the sea?) How old is the tyre?

 

[Snaf]

There was a certain era of D.I.D. rims on Hondas and probably others that did that. Scrap it as once it starts there is no stopping it, most likely the spoke holes and inside will be much worse. I'll see if can't find a past piture of some of mine.

 

[SBD]

Thanks both. We live about 200m from the sea, and the bike lives outdoors under a cover.

I’ll see if I can get a rim, tyre is maybe 2019, just before Covid. Don’t want to spend money if I can avoid it, but if it’s dangerous, I obviously don’t want to use it.

We were planning to do a holiday with it and then get rid…

Bummer.

 

[Oldrat]

I was going to say that it looks like salt damage

 

[SBD]

It’s in one area in particular, I wondered if it was dog/fox piss damage…

 

[jacksdad63]

1997 F650 rear wheel

Covered in flaky grey/white powder on the inside of the rim and around the spokes

Not seen this before. It will scrub off easily, eg pan scourer

Do we think a replacement rim is required? It passed an MOT about a month agoView attachment 328225View attachment 328226

Thoughts?

Thx

That wheel rim is shot! I had exactly the same problem with a (modern) Triumph Tiger 900 adventure bike. The rims are made from an aluminium/magnesium alloy, which does not like road salt! I bought a tidy looking bike, needing work so I had it delivered. It was soon very clear that the bike had been left soaking wet after winter riding, where the salty water dripped down to the bottom of the rim, it was rotted right through! The spokes then pulled the wheel apart. Very common fault in the UK, I ended up importing a perfect wheel from the USA...I had to pay import tax and vat for a used paet, that came from the UK.

 

[Oldrat]

It’s in one area in particular, I wondered if it was dog/fox piss damage…

If I were to make a guess, I’d say that (salt?) moisture maybe pooled at the bottom of the wheel and even when it evaporated it might have left salt crystals on the surface.

Without inspecting it sounds plausible to me…

 

[SBD]

Yeah, plausible. I could believe that.

 

[steve hughes]

Thanks both. We live about 200m from the sea, and the bike lives outdoors under a cover.

I’ll see if I can get a rim, tyre is maybe 2019, just before Covid. Don’t want to spend money if I can avoid it, but if it’s dangerous, I obviously don’t want to use it.

We were planning to do a holiday with it and then get rid…

Bummer.

Wheel failure is never going to be minor ! If you are considering two up riding the braking forces will be significantly greater which could lead to a spoke rim detachment. As others have said its a low cost change, just do it.

 

[SBD]

Just to close this thread, I got a replacement from Abbey motorcycles via eBay. Usual disclaimer - excellent service.

Looks brand new, tyre certainly is, think I got a bargain.

 

[SBD]

If anyone needs a good Bridgestone 17” tyre, about 4 years old with a couple of thousand relaxed miles, yours for the postage, includes a free wheel…

 

[RPMDAKAR]

If its a Std 17 inch have a spare here if needed, PM me.