One of the best things about rolling out of your garage with a fresh coat of paint on your bike is the way people turn around to look.
However, if your chrome polish scrapes off, it can make the rest of your paint job stand out, and not in a good way.
Luckily, chrome restoration isn’t as hard as most people make it out to be. Its a relatively simple process that you can easily complete in just a few steps.
So to help you fix up your metal polish, here is a dedicated guide on how you can restore your motorcycle chrome layer.
Not only will we go over how you can remove the old paint, we will will also go over how you can polish and protect your new paint job.
What is a chrome layer on a motorcycle?
Chrome is a very common metal in vehicle modification, as most people use it for decorative purposes.
People will often add chrome to their cars or bikes to give them a unique shine that can help them stand out. A good chrome finish can be a thing of beauty, which is why scrapes or discoloration can be so heart breaking to watch.
In some cases, the motorcycle manufacturers offer chrome variants to their vehicles, and in other cases people can get them from modification shops that have a range of chrome plated accessories.
Granted, it is worth noting that these additions are not made of chrome. Instead, this a a chrome finish with steel beneath, which gives it that necessary strength and durability.
Of course, if you do get chrome plated accessories , you will have to be especially careful. Chrome is especially susceptible to corrosion, which is why you will be spending a lot of time cleaning and maintaining your ride.
Finally, if you really want to improve the finish of your bike, you should first consult a professional about what type of polish you should get. They can recommend if you need to get a fine chrome polish or anything else specific about your bike’s chrome.
What you will need to improve your chrome polish
Chrome polish can really make your bike stand out, when it is maintained properly. And when you are able to maintain your chrome plating effectively, you know for a fact that your bike will stand out.
However, if you don’t care for the plating properly or generally have a hard time with maintenance, then the chrome plating will likely deteriorate significantly.
Luckily, all you need to properly restore chrome plating are a few supplies and a little bit of elbow grease. Here is how you can properly fix the chrome plating on your bike.
Gathering supplies for chrome plating
Before you can actually start fixing your chrome plating, you need to gather a few supplies.
While it may not be difficult, you need to be a little careful when you are fixing your chrome.
Some of the supplies that you need include a soft cloth, a buffer, chrome polish, and different grits of sandpaper. You can also get mild tire cleaner, glass cleaner, aluminum polish to clean chrome. You should avoid using steel wool though, since that could damage chrome. Finally, you can even use a microfiber towel at the end to properly clean chrome.
When you’re done gathering your supplies, you can start focusing on restoring your chrome.
Removing the old motorcycle chrome
It is important to understand that the shiny chrome that you are seeing on your bike is just a coating on top of steel. Think of it similar to aluminum foil.
And even though plenty of motorcycle enthusiasts enjoy getting black chrome on their bikes, they will rarely put in the effort necessary to maintain its shine.
So before you can start fixing your old chrome, you need to first take it off. What you want to do is remove rust and remove dirt with the proper tools, while keeping away from harsh chemicals.
You want to take off the old chrome and ad a new thin layer on all of the parts of your motorcycle.
You can remove the rust and chrome using a razor blade or even a steel wool. When you finally get to the base metal, it is now ready to be re chromed.
You can also use a chemical stripper to take off most of the chrome, and then you want to hose down the base with a garden hose to have it ready for the new coat of chrome.
Finally, what you, want to sand down where ever the chrome was to have it read for the new chrome.
How to apply chrome to your motorcycle
applying chrome is fairly easy as long as you’re willing to put in the time and patience to do it. But when you do, you can feel really proud that you were able to complete it.
Clean the area with a degreaser
The first step to make sure that the chrome that you bought sticks to the surface is by getting a degreaser or another type of cleaner to take off any residue that could prevent it from sticking.
Apply the Chrome
Next, you want to start applying the chrome where you wanted it in a thin layer. Make sure you take the time to read the instructions first, so that you can make sure you’re applying it correctly.
Buff out the chrome
Finally, you want to use a smooth cloth to properly buff out the chrome and give it that extra shine.
You should also go through the instructions to see if you are polishing the chrome right.
Some chrome have specific instructions that you cannot buff it our until a specific time. that time is usually ten minutes. After waiting that time, only then can you start buffing out the chrome.
Add wax to protect the finish
Finally, you want to apply a layer of wax to protect the chrome finish and make sure it lasts longer. You don’t have to apply wax too often, since it usually stays for a long time.