Topic: need some opinions - pic added

[KB02]

okay, I am replacing the fork seals on my bike and while I have them apart it's time to decide about the fork lowers:

A) - Repaint them Silver
B) - Paint them Black
C) - Paint them Red
D) - Strip the paint polish them up

What do you think? I'll post a pic of the perspective paint scheme as soon as I can.

 - Edited to add pic -
This is what I am planning on for paint (or something along these lines anyway):

[BobbyR]

Always polish never paint.

[TwoTired]

The color depends on the rest of the bike.  That's probably one reason the Honda finished the aluminum of lots of fork lowers to "brushed" and gave it a clear coat.  It kinda goes with everything except maybe Camo. (It even blends pretty well with flat black!)  This finish is pretty much maintenance free for 10 years or more unless you drive on gravel roads where stone chips are prevalent.

I don't particularly enjoy polishing, as I have many other projects to complete that are far more mentally challenging.  And so, prefer low/no maintenance equipment to minimize boring repetitive labor.

IMO

[KB02]

Added a pic...

[BobbyR]

Polish, they look gray. if you use a wheel and rouge it goes fast.

[KB02]

Yeah, the stock lowers (off of a Suzuki Katana) were painted grey.

[Alan F.]

I think the paler gray you used in your pinstripe would look great, just a few shades brighter than the wheel for contrast, but not much lighter than your frame.
Looks like painted fenders are all the rage this year.
Nice.  I've gotta find some time to read through your build thread end to end again.
-Alan

[BobbyR]

My bad I did not realize they were painted I thought they were oxidized. If you go red it may be too much, the pinstripe gray looks good.

[the architect]

I was at the same crossroads a while back.  I polished the forks that came on the bike.  Long story short, I ended up picking up a second set of forks (better condition tubes), and I painted these.  I used the same paint on the fork lowers as the engine and rear shock caps -- helps tie the bike together, IMO.

If durability is a deciding factor, I hear good things about epoxy paints.  You can get appliance epoxy in a spray can at most home improvement stores -- some folks paint their frames with this stuff and swear by it.  I'll probably try it on my next build

Here's how mine turned out: