I guess I am alone here ..mine is polished on my 14 SG. No issues or complaints.

 

Two schools of thought ... Chrome 'em and you're done ( 'til you get a rock chip " and then chrome them again ... Polish them ( and if done right they "glisten" ) but you've a "polishing *****"

 

Chrome...

 

Well, I had my FXR legs polished in 1990- in time I have come to marvel at the skill of the polisher- he really smoothed them ( which is polishing- smoothing the surface) and they look pretty darn good...still 24 years on.

the quality of chroming can vary widely- it can be yellow or blue- it can pit or peel off. aluminum is a little harder to plate than steel.
salt air can play havoc with chrome plate.

To a traditionalist- chrome was a cheap way to cover brightwork on a car or bike.
my '53 FLF has little chrome ( bars and guards) much of the brightwork is stainless ( such as the pan valve covers).
On my 60's Cadillacs about the only chrome is the steel bumpers ( which have to be steel to "bump")...all the side trim is stainless.

It just looks better- chrome is cheap and to some eyes- cheap looking.


BUT- the modern era Harley is gobbed with chrome, and chroming the legs will probably give a more cohesive look with the rest of the bike.


My own choice is to leave the legs as is and use that money towards something else, the expenses of a trip or another bike in the garage.

Mike

 

Looks-Polished is better looking than chrome, imo.

Durability-Chrome is far and away more durable than polished.

Did the polished fork legs thing before, they get pitted quick out here. I go chrome now.

 

I believe there is some kind of sealer for aluminum.

 

I have the chrome lowers also. Not much maintenance, wax or polish here and there. Polished will work as long as you don't mind the added maintenance. Which I would say will be continuous. JR

 

Pitted from stuff like dirt hitting the polished soft aluminum fork legs. Just seems to be bad where I frequently ride.

 

How do you swap it out?
Does it cap over the stock ones or you have to actually swap out lower legs?

 

You swap out the lower legs