Chrome plating and common sense

powerdoc · Aug 15, 2011

OK, I'm just about ready to offer my Commando as-is, where-is. I got a quote on my rims, to be chromed, from a good plating house in Vancouver, for $180 ea. I think I can get new for about that price. Going in that vein, what on the bike should I re-plate and what does it make no sense to re-plate because I can buy new? Are the fenders chrome or stainless on an 850 Mk3? If anyone wants to chime in on a good plating house that would be good too.

DogT · Aug 15, 2011

I take it you're in Canada? I sent a front fender, 2 stays and the gas cap to Carolina Chromers and it cost me over $300. If you can buy new SS or chromed it's usually a better deal, if the stuff is quality. SS can be polished to look like chrome. Sometimes you just have to fix and chrome things because they are not available (pre 71 fenders and headlamp shells) but sometimes you can modify stuff that makes it look the same. New chrome is usually because you can't buy a good reproduction, but it should only be the fenders and headlamp, maybe the headlamp holders. I had to find little parts for my 69 levers because they were not available, I kind of pieced them together and fixed/plated some parts.

Dave
69S

powerdoc · Aug 15, 2011

Actually, I'm in Atlanta; One of my daughters' father-in-law is into car restoration and he's been doing his chroming from Canada; apparently the EPA has made chroming more expensive because of the disposal fees of the chemicals involved such as hexavalent chromium (? Erin Brockovitch are you listening?) and it's cheaper to do in Canada but with those prices maybe not! Is there something great about my rim or is a new one more practical?

grandpaul · Aug 15, 2011

New rims are more practical, but there are some people that just HAVE to have an original Dunlop rim for thier concourse bikes.

DogT · Aug 15, 2011

There's nothing great about your rim. I got a new WM2 or was it 3, whatever, from Walridge at at much less than $300. It looks exactly like the original except it doesn't say Dunlop on it. You might want to wait for his fall sale which should be coming up soon, he usually has rims, tires and spokes at a discount.

Dave
69S

Nortoniggy · Aug 16, 2011

Your fenders (mudguards over here) will be stainless steel. If your chainguard chrome isn't good you can get stainless ones which mean you never have to worry about it again. Depending how deep your pockets are, there are loads of parts you can replace with stainless.

Ian

maylar · Aug 16, 2011

I bought an excellent Dunlop front rim on eBay for reasonable cost. The plater I talked to wanted $300 to rechrome my old one. Fenders would be stainless, but I've had mine chromed anyway. Stainless scratches easily.

willh · Aug 16, 2011

Polish the fenders, the stainless will shine like new if they aren't to heavily scratched up.

lrutt · Aug 16, 2011

I'd be willing to bet though that the re-chrome you would do on the rims will be superior to the repro rims that will be coming from God knows where. Even at the same price, I'd go with re-chrome if it's a quality house doing show chrome 3 layer work (copper, nickle, chrome).

DogT · Aug 16, 2011

You'll be paying a lot more than $300 a rim for show quality chrome. The UK made chrome ones I got from Walridge were perfectly good. Like I say, there is a stainless one available for not much more.

Dave
69S

powerdoc · Aug 16, 2011

Are the stainless rims supplied polished or slightly matte? Other than for looks, is there a reason to replace spokes in good condtion?

DogT · Aug 16, 2011

Stainless rims, I don't know, but stainless can be polished to look like chrome, but it scratches easier. Spokes, depends on how you want them to look is all, unless they are worn and they shouldn't be unless they are really hard to get off.

Dave
69S

batrider · Aug 16, 2011

It used to be that chrome platers would not touch old rims because of the rolled edges. The hollow part can contain rust and junk that contaminates their tanks.

Also you can save money by bringing everything you want chromed to the platers at once. They have minimums and it can cost the same for 1 piece as it does 50 pcs. If possible go someplace local and talk to them first so there are no surprises. You want a place that does polishing and plating. The polishing is the most important part. At my local place the employees are mostly all Harley riders.

The place I dealt with when restoring my '51 Matchless about 15 years ago was North Penn Polishing and Plating in Sellersville PA. I liked them. http://www.npplating.com/

Scooter62 · Aug 16, 2011

Not stock but if that doesn't matter you may want to look into alloy rims. IIRC I got ally rims, stainless spokes and a new set of Avons all laced up and ready to roll for about $300 per wheel.
You really don't want to spend the $$$ on new or replated rims and use the old spokes.
As you may be finding out, having a Commando is not an inexpensive proposition but the investment is worthwhile. Remember cheap ends up being expensive when you have to do it over (unless you plan to flip it like those home decorating shows on TV)

The key to Norton happiness is to manage expectations and desires and ride the wheels off it!

Scooter

Orsonoce · Aug 17, 2011

it's a philosophical question: if you want to keep stock look: re-chrome or buy from eBay. original/reasonably priced; if you don't care: buy new.

DogT · Aug 17, 2011

The WM2 rims I got from Walridge look exactly like the Dunlops that came on the bike. But it didn't say Dunlop on the rim, only difference.

Dave
69S

Chrome plating and common sense

Similar threads