I had a Goldwing and ask anybody who has one how much work it is to keep those bare aluminum wheels clean and the insane amount of time polishing, only to start all over again next week. Wouldn't you rather spend the time riding? A lot of Goldwing owners just end up getting tired of it and let them go to a nice dull brake dust dark gray.
Chrome won't get you home as they say, but chrome would stay cleaner looking longer.
I would say definitely clearcoat if you polish, but if blemishes show, how do you fix that? Strip and re-clearcoat? It's gonna get chipped. Your best bet is to pick a nice complimentary color and have them powder coated. You're in for all new bearings and seals, and be sure those areas are properly masked off.
Hey wait, aren't the wheels already powdercoated a nice silver?
blufjr, soak your wheel weights with naptha (lighter fluid) or WD40 and let them sit a bit, remove the weight, then remove the residue with naptha, follow up with alcohol or soap & water. It won't harm paints or clearcoat like stronger solvents such as lacquer thinner, toluene, etc.
