Chrome vs. Aluminum vs. Stainless Steel

How do these match up? If my primary is aluminum, and I bought stainless inspection plugs, what would it look like? Does chroming timing cover make it harder for heat to disipate. Does any chrome or stainless parts on the motor make it run hotter than original parts. If money were no object, what would you chrome, what would you replace with stainless and what would you leave as is?

Soon looking to completly redo one of the commando's, and only want to do it once and want the best. Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions, ( or donations of parts cash or beer :lol: ) would be very much appreciated.

This forum, and the people on it is the greatest discovery I've ever made. Wish this was around 21 years ago when I bought my first Norton. Although being a lot younger, I probably would not have listened to much of the excellent advice offered on this forum.

Thanks guys.

Used to have my engine plates, swinging arm, yokes & god knows what chromed. It all fell off.
Reverted back to paint.
This was all mainly due to crap chrome platers in England, who will insist on chroming straight onto steel. When will these idiots learn that it don't work. Even had an arguement with one of them at a show earlier in the year.
I want my chaingaurd rechromed, so I will pay more & send it to a platers that triple plate, as my replacement one has never really fitted that well.
Yes, chroming is good when it is done properly, you only have to look at the bumpers on older cars to see that it can last.
The thought of chroming aluminium frightens me, but it would stop it tarnishing.
Stainless is superb, but don't use it on highly stressed components like barrel base studs, believe me, they can break. It happened to a friend, & his barrels were going up & down with the pistons.

Blue noser said:

How do these match up? If my primary is aluminum, and I bought stainless inspection plugs, what would it look like?

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Don't do it, the aluminum will go grey faster and it won't match unless you keep it buffed regularly. I'd rather have aluminum than chrome because chrome can be damaged. Scratches etc can be worked out of Aluminum. Once chrome starts peeling off aluminum it looks like hell. Buffed n polished aluminum rules.

Blue noser said:

Does any chrome or stainless parts on the motor make it run hotter than original parts.

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Dunno, but there are many here who warn about using stainless bolts on the engine. Something about the different expansion/contraction rates that makes em come loose.

Blue noser said:

If money were no object, what would you chrome, what would you replace with stainless and what would you leave as is? .

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Top engine mounts and coil mounts could all be stainless or I'd chrome as a second choice. It also depends on the look you're after. On my 72 cafe racer I had the triple clamps, battery tray, frame, swing arm, engine plates, rear brake plate and any other little bit I could think of all nickel plated. I didn't care about looks, I just wanted a durable finish that didn't cost an arm and leg. When I went to the chrome shop to get it they'd triple chromed AND buffered it all! I asked them what the heck and the guy just said "I know, I know... but the guys just didn't want a bike frame going out without the full treatment." It cost me $350.00 which is what the unbuffed nickel plate was quoted for. I didn't complain. That was back in the 70's. The nice thing about chrome is it cleans so easily. I definitely wouldn't chrome over aluminum.
In order of preference:
1 Keep all aluminum
2 Replace steel with stainless
3 Chrome plate (if you don't plan to powder coat or paint)

Blue noser said:

This forum, and the people on it is the greatest discovery I've ever made. Wish this was around 21 years ago when I bought my first Norton. Although being a lot younger, I probably would not have listened to much of the excellent advice offered on this forum.

Thanks guys.

Click to expand...

Welcome aboard Blue noser!

I've got chromed cradle, front iso mount and yokes, all holding up well except for one handlebar clamp.
The advantage of the chroming the cradle is avoids the paint free area issue for the swingarm (yes, its decorative not hardchrome but seems to hold up OK)

I'd steer well clear of chroming aluminium, it just looks tacky.

A chromed frame or any stressed part is an invitation to disaster. Chrome is very hard and will crack rather than bend. On a frame, the crack will affect the base metal and cause it to crack too, in other words, a stock frame can be fine for years, chromed it may not last very long.

Jean