Polishing frames/parts?

[cc123]

I was considering getting my frame polished and was wondering if others have had it done? Looks like I've got a shiney SS end can on the way soon but I think the way the frame is as standard, it's looks kinda dull.

I was also wondering about other bits of the bike that get get buffed up like the swing etc. Roughly how much it would cost to get it done. I've seen a red/blue ZX7R up close with a polished frame and it looked ace!

[instigator]

I'll listen in on this one as well. My foot peg hangers are scuffed to buggery by my boots and has worn away some of the finish to leave it shinier underneath.

If anyone can ADD to this topic about what you can and can't polish, thatd be great, as I'm going to do my "Not for road use" this weekend with some autosol, just want to make sure I can do other bits. Particularly the footpeg hangers.

cheers

P.S Sorry for barging in on your topic, but best kill 2 birds with one stone, eh?

[cc123]

No probs...

I'd like it to shine like new, I gave it 3 hours of my time last night, cleaning and polishing but I'd like certain parts to shine.

On the plus side, my Gold Renthal chain is spanking! The whole bike is but I want shine!

Also, what about a standard exhaust, can you polish that to a high finish as my standard one is like a 'battleship' grey...

[BLOFLY 636]

I have recently learned how to polish metal! the way I learned is if you were to polish a upper tripple clamp you would remove the part from your bike and place it in a bench vise padded with some soft pine to hold it firmly. Then use either a heat gun or hair dryer depending on the size of the area you want to polish for example a larger area will take a while to polish and could burn the hairdryer out. Start by gently warming the area to a good hot temperature to soften any paint and oxides on the metal surface then begin some hand polishing with some Oven cleaner working over each surface several times to work the oxides out and produce a bright shine the secret is to keep the surface quite hot like 80 degrees celcius after thorough polishing this way then it is time to apply one or two coats of a reputable metal polish such as Autosol and buff to a high shine. I have seen a hayabusa with almost every part polished this way and it looks absolutely TART! by that I mean it looks bloody brilliant
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Those bloody footpegs......they ought to do away with em!

[cc123]

What about an Allly frame? I take it there is some mess when polishing metal surfaces?

I'm taking the rear pegs off soon, think it's an idea to maybe experiment with one first before attacking the bigger parts? Or just pay someone to do it!
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[BLOFLY 636]

a good test to do is find a part off a bike or even a bit of scrap metal or alloy and try it out and see how it all goes I believe it works very well on all bikes though as the hayabusa is also an alloy frame
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Those bloody footpegs......they ought to do away with em!

[BLOFLY 636]

or even better try it on a pillion peg! the oven cleaner works like a very fine cutting compound to remove small pitts and oxides and leave a fresh polished surface
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Those bloody footpegs......they ought to do away with em!

[cc123]

I might give that a go, see how it comes out. Cheers.
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[Frost]

I've been told that sanding with progressivly finder grades of wet & dray can give a fantasic finish such as this.

[cc123]

Thats fooooookin lovely!
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[Big Pete]

If you are going to polish the frame (or anything else of any significance) buy a proper kit with the full range of mops (cloth wheels) and soaps (polishing compound) and a bench grinder to drive them, total cost about £100. Then strip the bike. Put on overalls, gloves, goggles and a good dust mask. Start polishing the frame. After about a weeks worth of evenings the frame will be done and you can start on the other bits. After a fortnights worth of hot soak type baths the last of the compound will be out of you skin. reassemble the bike (you will probably need to re polish (lightly) the frame 1/2 way through). To maintain the finish you will need to keep the bike in a dry garage at all times, and never ride in winter, regular wipe downs with a WD40 soaked rag are a good idea as well. Regular light polishing of the alloy parts will be required about once a fortnight.
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[Bendy]

Remember that most people when they see a polished frame think 'what happened to that bike that they're trying to disguise?'... just a consideration for selling-on time.

[cc123]

I did consider that fact about crashed bikes with polished frames.

Didn't know it needed as much care during the winter tho, kinda puts me off a bit as I ride on crappy days too.
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[stinkwheel]

Poished alloy is a SERIOUS pain in the arse on a bike that you ride on anything but the sunniest of days. I would give the frame in the picture a maximum of eight hours to look like it has sprouted a fur coat if I rode it the 9 miles home from work tonight.

I polished one of my wheel rims the other day, came out next morning and it looked like I had never touched it. I did it again and soaked it in 30:1 2-stroke pre-mix on the basis that it has kept my mates MZ trophy alloy rims pristine for longer than I have been alive.
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.