Topic: What do you think of chrome on a CB750?

[mycb750k6]

I'm doing another CB750 K1 restore and have always done polished side covers but this new chrome shop I found said they would chrome all the covers for 100 bucks rather than polish them. What do you think of the chrome look on a regular restore like is done on a chopper/bobber. I know it will chip and rust in time, bu not in my life time.

[Johnie]

Well, just my opinion here but I like the polished look. Gosh, I think about how much I spent having my chrome done on my KO, K1 & K4...he is going to do all your covers for $100??? Seems pretty cheap to me. Are you sure he will do a reputable job???

[MCRider]

Well, just my opinion here but I like the polished look. Gosh, I think about how much I spent having my chrome done on my KO, K1 & K4...he is going to do all your covers for $100??? Seems pretty cheap to me. Are you sure he will do a reputable job???

Yeah gotta be suspicious of the price. Browns wants $100 for the dyno cover alone.
If you're actually going to ride it, and put it thru some heat cycles etc. even Browns chrome won't last.  And by that I mean it will yellow, and fade away. Not necessarily chip off, but that's possible too. And unlike polishing, there's no way to bring it back once that starts other than strip and replate.

But realistically, if the bikes going to be show mostly, and you like the look why not. You won't be out much. I'd "amortize" a $100 plate job in a year. After that who cares?

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

MC,

I gotta say that my valve cover was done by Brown's about 1977 and still looks good. No discoloration or chipping/peeling. They did 3 step back then now Ronnie Brown says they do 7 step. Not sure of the difference but 3 step lays down copper to the aluminum which fills in small blemishes and help adherance of metal to the aluminum then lays nickle to the copper for better adherance of the final chrome layer.

If it's "cheap" chrome don't do it. ie $100 for everything. I've seen too many of those parts out there. Doesn't look really good initially and doesn't last. They may just prep the piece and lay chrome directly on the aluminum. I am planning on sending my other valve cover to Brown's this week. $300, but they're considered one of the best. Another shop I've heard of is Meclec (?). Not sure of the spelling but many Harley shops et al use them too.   

[MCRider]

Yes Jerry, if any would last it would be Brown's. But the question is open: did you put a lot of hi temp miles on it, over and over? Like spend an afternoon riding from Tucson to Phoenix? For perspective, how many total miles do you have on the chromed cover?

That sounds a little, say, antagonistic? don't mean to be, just collecting data. Thanks.

[mycb750k6]

I don't know who Browns is. Sounds expensive though. I live in Orange County CA and this guy's in Anaheim. Big shop. Primarily Harley customers although there were a few vintage Japanese parts hanging from fixtures. I wend through the entire process. It's triple chroming and there were a lot of copper and nickel plated parts hanging from fixtures next to giant tanks plus the chrome parts that were finished looked great. WDIK? I left a bunch of stuff there. Mostly re-chrome like fenders and gauge backings and so on. 18 parts total for $240. Plus the fenders needed dents removed and mud flapper holes brazed shut. If it looks good when I pick it up, I'll do more. A brand new front fender is $240 and that's with cheap chrome so I think it's worth it. Rims are $65. Handlebars $35.00 and so on. To be continued. Says I will be very happy and to give him more customers. If I am, I'll let you know.

[MCRider]

I don't know who Browns is. Sounds expensive though. I live in Orange County CA and this guy's in Anaheim. Big shop. Primarily Harley customers although there were a few vintage Japanese parts hanging from fixtures. I wend through the entire process. It's triple chroming and there were a lot of copper and nickel plated parts hanging from fixtures next to giant tanks plus the chrome parts that were finished looked great. WDIK? I left a bunch of stuff there. Mostly re-chrome like fenders and gauge backings and so on. 18 parts total for $240. Plus the fenders needed dents removed and mud flapper holes brazed shut. If it looks good when I pick it up, I'll do more. A brand new front fender is $240 and that's with cheap chrome so I think it's worth it. Rims are $65. Handlebars $35.00 and so on. To be continued. Says I will be very happy and to give him more customers. If I am, I'll let you know.

Brown's is an elite Motorcycle only chrome shop in KY. They're my gold standard.
http://www.brownsplating.com/

Sounds like you're in good shape. Not a lot of money, not much to lose for the experience, you likee, go for it.

I expect prices on this type of stuff and others to be trending down, though it won't be advertised. But if we look around I think we will be findiing good deals on more and more parts and services, as a long and grinding recession drags on.

[HavocTurbo]

Chromium is laid directly over the top of nickel. It's actually clear. What you see gleaming back at you is the chemically high polished nickel.

Might be worth it to look at your polished side covers and have them powdercoated clear.

I'm going to do a clear test piece on some polished aluminum.... We'll see how it stands to repeated heat cycles.

[BobbyR]

There is another consideration. A highly polished aluminum does not look like chrome, it is a deeper and softer shine. You have to think of the look along with the shine. I like the deeper feel of aluminum.

[mycb750k6]

I know. And I have to agree with you about the look. It's beautiful. But I'm tired of polishing. There's no end to it. And clear coat or powder coat I don't think I would like. And I have a couple of 71s and I'll try this for a while. If I don't like it I can switch back. I've got spares of all these parts just like I know all of you do. And there's always ebay. Maybe I'll look up some pictures of chromed 750s before I decide. Anyway I thought I'd ask this group as I always get a strait answer here.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Yes Jerry, if any would last it would be Brown's. But the question is open: did you put a lot of hi temp miles on it, over and over? Like spend an afternoon riding from Tucson to Phoenix? For perspective, how many total miles do you have on the chromed cover?

That sounds a little, say, antagonistic? don't mean to be, just collecting data. Thanks.

I have ~25,000 hard miles since I blew it up and had the cover chromed. Made one trip from Lexington, KY to Colorado and back. When I have it on the road it's usually at 80mph. I don't baby it around town either. It redlines if I'm on it. Many 250-300 mile days. The engine is sitting on the lift right now as I'm going to tear into it. I could take a picture or 2 if you'd like to see it but chrome sometimes is hard to really see in a picture.

Looking forward to seeing/hearing about mycb750k6's stuff when it gets home. I despise polishing too.

[bucky katt]

not sure why, but i really prefer the look of polished aluminum rather than chrome. it seems to have a "warmer" look to it, almost like nickel plating i guess. but thats my opinion, if you like the chrome then go with it because really, the only person you have to please or impress is yourself, screw what everyone else likes.

[MCRider]

Yes Jerry, if any would last it would be Brown's. But the question is open: did you put a lot of hi temp miles on it, over and over? Like spend an afternoon riding from Tucson to Phoenix? For perspective, how many total miles do you have on the chromed cover?

That sounds a little, say, antagonistic? don't mean to be, just collecting data. Thanks.

I have ~25,000 hard miles since I blew it up and had the cover chromed. Made one trip from Lexington, KY to Colorado and back. When I have it on the road it's usually at 80mph. I don't baby it around town either. It redlines if I'm on it. Many 250-300 mile days. The engine is sitting on the lift right now as I'm going to tear into it. I could take a picture or 2 if you'd like to see it but chrome sometimes is hard to really see in a picture.

Looking forward to seeing/hearing about mycb750k6's stuff when it gets home. I despise polishing too.

Thanks for the update, I like to hear testimonials. Sounds like some good hard miles, and sounds like it was fun. I had all my covers polished for current project years ago. They've been wrapped in newspaper for years. Someday I may switch to chrome. I may find that I'm tired of polishing as well.  

[754]

My Platingmaster chromed aluminum went 25 years, probably 10 of which were in quite heavy outdoor exposure.
 Yeh it got pretty hot at times.. froze a few times too.. finally not washing it after Bonneville  (parked at Lands end), then left it outside under a low overhang another 20 months, it had some pits forming on the valve cover, quite a few..

 That chrome was good for 25 years, in fact Dyno cover and clutch cover still look great..

 Plating,master , Ontasrio  Canada is also bike only place.

 Cleaning, wash with soap & water, blow off with airhose...done

[wdhewson]

Just to be disruptive, I opt for "patina", which is code for cheap and lazy. 

But seriously there is a lot to be interpreted from patina.  It speaks to the quality of materials, resources, and previous owner care.  There is often quite a story to be sleuthed from patina.

[754]

Patina and shiney..... people that like one of those, may not like the other...

 What he is saying is he only has 30ish years of riding left, and 45 ish of polishing behind him...

 Hey , I dont blame him one bit..

[BobbyR]

I ave found that chrome needs polishing since it dulls. Once you have them polished up nice, a quick wipe with Mothers or Neverdull once a year keeps them fresh.

[Magpie]

I prefer polished aluminium for a stocker/restore. But if you're going for a more custom look, chrome the hell out it! I'm wondering what to build next and like chrome too.
Cliff.

[754]

 We got a chromed up KO on the way, Cliff..
 Should look good "Slammed & Stretched"

[Magpie]

PICTURES please!

[traveler]

All thiungs being equal, polioshing for a CB750.

better yet, matte/satin finish from WD-40 and a scotch brite pad works too!

~Joe

[Johnie]

I think chrome will look nice on any bike. Just need to decide what look you are trying to create. If you are not into the stock look then chrome it. I did not chrome my KO covers but did polish them myself with red, green and white rouge. They do not look stock as the stock had more of a satin finish to it. But this was the look I wanted and created. I did not clearcoat mine as I did not want to mess with any yellowing. Plus, I wanted to be able to touch them up whenever I wanted. They still look the same after 3 years and I have not touched them up. So do what you feel you need to create the look you are after.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

If we could all polish as well as Johnnie I don't think you'd ever see chrome! Looks great. The only piece I chrome is the valve cover since it's impossible to polish it on the bike. 

[Hinomaru]

Somewhere between chrome and polishing there is the Aluminum / Ceramic coating. Forum member: 736cc did this to his bike and I'll think it looks good. It will probably hold up quite well over time as it does in automotive applications.  

[Don R]

I have too many old peeling and pitted chrome parts to like chrome. however my chrome valve cover has held up OK. I am intrested in the satin or polished jet hot coating, I like that look.

[Gregorymoto]

Aluminum / Ceramic Coatin, if you have the money to spend this is the best way to go. The Chrome that you are going to get for $100 is not going to be of the best quality. It will give you more cosmetic pains in the future.

[bwaller]

I have two engines with aluminum/ceramic coated covers and it's great. It matches the original satin finish quite well and is an option other than polishing. It's tough and not expensive either,

[754]

I dont mind that ceramicoat look on a customized ride..
 But I dont think it passes for stock..

 I have an NOS KO forkleg here, and you can clearly see that it is a layer of clear, over a brushed surface. I dont think the brushed surface is that hard to duplicate..