Polished vs Chrome

[boydog]

Due to snow storm this past weekend ( going this week) , I was unable to go and buy my BD .
I have a question that I would like to hear some feed back on .

Can you guys give me you feelings towards buying a polished bd vs chrome package BD . ( k-9 ) , thanks in advance .

 

[Eric]

I hate polishing aluminum, wish I had the chrome package, I've got a HD road king & everything is chrome or chrome cover, just need to wipe it down when cleaning no polishing, alot of trouble but easer than aluminum polish

 

[pig pen]

chrome is great, much easier to keep up. But when it peals or pits your s.o.l. Polished it much more work , but it can always be brought back to a great shine with some work.

 

[LDO]

My bike didn't come with a chrome package but I've been able to pick & choose what is chromed based on function and how I use my bike.

I had my wheels chromed cause they look great and are easier to clean but I like my trees being polished since I like to have my roll strapped to them and when the trees get scratched up, I just polish them up and I'm good. Scratches in chrome are permanent.:2thumbs:

 

[BorgerBigDog]

i have alot of chrome but if you go the other way or not get FLITZ .its the shit, stainless and chrome cleaner spray on and wipe off. It is also a degreaser i bought mine at ACE hardware !!!!:2thumbs:

 

[P8RIOT]

I'm just now having mine all chromed up aftermarket - probably a lot cheaper if you get the chrome kit directly from BDM. What's it add to the cost??

 

[Gas Man]

chrome will definately be cheaper thru bdm

ever consider powder instead... pennies on the dollar compared to chrome

 

[nymikeok]

I had a 05 polished. It was alot of work keeping it up. New one is chrome and then I chromed the few things they didn't. Love it!

 

[WRM66]

how do you get scratches outta chrome ?????????

 

[pig pen]

how do you get scratches outta chrome ?????????

You don't.

 

[Vegas]

I actually prefer the tint of a properly polished surface over chrome. The problem with the bike is it's a bitch to polish everything.

 

[JR07]

Just got the wheels chromed. Last winter I chromed the the lic bracket, front fender parts and the shift rod. Also have a cam put in. I will post some pics when I get the bike back.

 

[TCALZ06]

Just got the wheels chromed. Last winter I chromed the the lic bracket, front fender parts and the shift rod. Also have a cam put in. I will post some pics when I get the bike back.

Who did your wheels and what did it cost?

 

[DRBarnhart]

Unlike the rest I prefer polished!

I didn't say I preferred to polish but I think well polished aluminum has more "character" than chrome. Kind of like the difference between wood veneer and a solid piece of hardwood. When I go a bike show or other gathering of scoots I can appreciate the time it takes someone to have their aluminum shining. A real effort has been made considering there are no real shortcuts. It shows true dedication to their machine as opposed to just spending money on it.

And, like some have mentioned, when there are scratches in aluminum they can be dealt with. (I use a Micro-mesh kit for the worst of them.) When chrome gets scratches you just have to live with them or re-dip/replace the part. I had a teacher in a technical school I went to that always said, "Whatever you can do to wood you can do to aluminum." That makes for lots of possibilities...

Lastly, in the continuing effort to have a bike at least be slightly different from the rest, aluminum is one way to do it!

Guess this makes me the proverbial trout swimming upstream, eh?

Dennis

 

[jimizee028]

mine is all polished aluminum and every year more and more i break it down in order to polish it and for some reason i can never fully remove all the polishing scratches,so next year when i break it down i will be at least sending out wheels for chrome.......

 

[HOOLIGAN]

Personally I like a little of both. I think the contrast between chrome and polished aluminum looks cool. It kind of breaks it up a bit. Polished is definately more work but well worth it in my opinion.

 

[bpernie]

my liver wishes i had chrome after consuming all that alcohol it takes to polish the billet

 

[jimizee028]

if i drank anymore i am sure it would take me all season to polish everything...it be more like i polish during drinkin...instead of drinkin during polishing..........i shall live vicariously through you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sarge06]

I heard a rumor stainless steel cleaner works great on cleaning up and shining the polished aluminum wheels. Going to try it and let you know.

 

[pig pen]

I heard a rumor stainless steel cleaner works great on cleaning up and shining the polished aluminum wheels. Going to try it and let you know.

I would be very cautious. I have seen some products stain the aluminum. They were able to polish it out but they worked their ass off. I would try a small area that isn't easliy seen.

good luck