I saw a pic on here of this piece polished. Can anyone confirm it's alluminum? I want to polish mine but don't wanna take it off to find out it's plastic. I can't find the pic anywhere. Anyway this is the part I'm talking about.

Prozac, It is aluminum. I have only a few pics with then polished to mirror like shine. I remember someone on the forum had done it. Here is one I found, even the correct color bike too.

Yes the covers are aluminum. Yes they can be polished. It is a pain without a bench grinder type polishing wheel. I had mine polished for about 2 months and decided to paint it black. I like it black better.

Oh yeah,

There aluminum!!!

Lots of work but worth it!!!

Sides and rear pegs

By the way, I had just come back from a ride in the rain when I took that side pic. They are usaually shinier.

Thanks for the replies. So just some paint stripper and then polishing compound and a grinder type buffer pad?

Or is it more complicated than that?

Hey mifun3 what kinda seat you got?

Originally posted by ProZac
Thanks for the replies. So just some paint stripper and then polishing compound and a grinder type buffer pad?

Or is it more complicated than that?

Never a GRINDER!!!!


A commun mistake is people use a grinder with a wire brush or other adapters. This is bad. Why? because the grinder spins so fast that pieces of brush, grinding stone,etc.... break off and dig deep in the aluminum. After that it's really hard to get it looking good cause it will appear all pitted.

Best way, a good old hand job( ), sanding from 80 up to 1500 even 2000. Orbital palm sander can be used but the best way is by hand.

As for paint thinner, use AIRCRAFT paint stripper nothing else works!!! I know I tried.

I personally would wait till the winter season or a long period of bad weather before starting cause it is very time consuming and you don't want to miss some good riding time due to you bike being apart.

Hope this helps,

Mike

Originally posted by ProZac
Hey mifun3 what kinda seat you got?

Replied to your pm, but for the others. It's homemade foam added and recovered.

It's better than stock butI probably will get a corbin in the future.

Later,

Mike

I was thinking of stripping it and then using 1500 sandpaper and then using a my polishing grinder (with a foam pad on it lol) and some polishing compound. I may just take them off and do it. They don't add any function to the bike right?

As for you seat it looks amazing. Looks like you got the lines perfect. Especially the way the front goes up a bit. It must stop you from being pushed into the tank all the time.

Originally posted by mifun3
Oh yeah,

There aluminum!!!

Lots of work but worth it!!!

Oh man, your bike is making me rethink staying with the black and red scheme. The polished wheels look awesome!

I guess the grass is always greener.... or shinier....

Originally posted by speedwoble

The polished wheels look awesome!

I feel a mifun3 rant coming on.

I don't think he liked how much work that mod turned out to be.

Your're going to need to go way lower than 1500. The aluminum under is rougher then you think. The paint smooths the surface quite a bit. If you don't go low then up. It will have a shiity finished look but I am abit on the perfectionist side.

Good luck, any questions don't be shy.

Here is a thread about polishing lately

Polishing Aluminum?

As for maintenance, ain't bad at all. They do lose there shine abit when dirty but I thnk still looks awesome.

Haven't even repolished since the bikes been out (3500kms) wet or shine don't care! I ride!!!!