Changing Black Forks To Silver/bare Ali

Discussion in 'Builds & Projects' started by reggie62, Nov 4, 2020.

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  1. reggie62

    reggie62 New Member

    Nov 4, 2020
    6
    3
    South London
    At some point I'd like to change the black lower forks on my Street Twin to silver (and remove the reflectors). Does anybody know if this a case of sandblasting the black off or if silver parts are available? I've had a look about but haven't found any yet. Any advice gratefully received.
     
  2. Rocker

    Rocker Elite Member

    May 1, 2016
    1,662
    800
    Suffolk
    The old hairdryer trick for the reflectors or some use dental floss and a solvent to clean off the residue either way
    Then mask up and spray the legs silver sorted
     
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  3. reggie62

    reggie62 New Member

    Nov 4, 2020
    6
    3
    South London
    Thanks. I hadn't really considered painting over the black as I think a polished bare metal would look better but it's definitely an option. I guess powder coating would be most hard-wearing.
     
  4. Rocker

    Rocker Elite Member

    May 1, 2016
    1,662
    800
    Suffolk
    The over spray is the easiest and cheapest as any other option requires a strip down but your choice :)
     
  5. reggie62

    reggie62 New Member

    Nov 4, 2020
    6
    3
    South London
  6. Baskey13

    Baskey13 Well-Known Member

    May 19, 2019
    247
    93
    United Kingdom

    Mine are painted :cool:
     
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  7. ChasChas

    ChasChas Marxist Scum

    Aug 9, 2020
    518
    243
    Kent
    You do need to do this. Having a bike with lots of exposed polished ali is a rite of passage. It's a necessary step on the curve.

    *buys more stock in solvol*
     
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  8. Camperman

    Camperman Senior Member

    Mar 23, 2019
    220
    283
    Wales
    These were originally black, cleaned them up using various grades of wet and dry paper, 400 to 2000 grit. Finished off with good old Solvol. IMG_20200403_155251773 (2).jpg
     
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  9. ChasChas

    ChasChas Marxist Scum

    Aug 9, 2020
    518
    243
    Kent
    I used a lot of solvol on this

    FB_IMG_1598015840974.jpg
     
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  10. Gladtobebackontwowheels

    Nov 23, 2019
    398
    393
    Dover. UK
    Aye, and polished again, and again, and again, and...........
    All very nice but wayyyyy too much TLC required for my liking.
     
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  11. ChasChas

    ChasChas Marxist Scum

    Aug 9, 2020
    518
    243
    Kent
    Like I said above, part of the learning curve ;)
     
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  12. Camperman

    Camperman Senior Member

    Mar 23, 2019
    220
    283
    Wales
    True Gladtobebackontwowheels, but very therapeutic in these times of lockdown :), can't beat a bit of a rub now and again;)
     
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  13. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    3,011
    800
    Yorkshire
    Find a local polisher who'll do it in a fraction of the time of faffing about with wet and dry and Autosol etc. I had a brushed alloy Fireblade silencer done to a mirror finish years ago and it didn't cost much at all really. We're lucky here in Sheffield in having quite a few metal working/refinishing workshops, at least we had back then!
     
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  14. ChasChas

    ChasChas Marxist Scum

    Aug 9, 2020
    518
    243
    Kent
    #14 ChasChas, Nov 5, 2020
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2020
    In the spirit of full disclosure, the maintenance was buckets of solvol but the finish was due to having access to a three phase polishing mop
     
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