Chrome Lower Fork Sliders
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 10,057
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Chrome Lower Fork Sliders
Those of you who have chrome lower fork sliders, do they show rock chips and dings as much as stock lower fork sliders do? I had to have new lower fork sliders installed after the front end was damaged from an accident. As much as I've tried to keep them new looking and to keep them from corroding like my stock fork sliders did, which I hated, I've gotten several chips and dings on them since they were installed in August. I know if you put miles on your bike, like I do, these things will happen. But, I don't want to install chrome fork sliders if they tend to show damage like the stock sliders show. I would think, if they do show damage, the damage would show more and look worse because they're chrome, more than they would if they are stock.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 17,684
Likes: 6,062
From: Niagara, Ontario, Canada
I've always switched my stock for Chrome, of course you will get the odd mark, but not as much as those coated stock ones. I think if they had more heavier coating on the stock, they would last a bit longer. But MOCO always wants you to upgrade, lol. I've got both mine from fella in California, and he does great rims also. I had a Indy install, he said they were better chrome than the Harley lowers. PM me for his info if you like.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 355
Likes: 85
From: Living 33yrs in Sunny Florida !!! Living the retirement dream....Love it!!!
Another idea that I did because the lowers looked so bad.. I striped my coating off the lowers and polished them to look almost like chrome..it took a lot of work to get it done but the results look better than chrome and to keep them looking good all it takes is light polish..plus it didnt cost much except Elbow grease and buffing pad and polish.
Last edited by roadpop; Nov 7, 2018 at 06:20 PM. Reason: .
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 263
From: Southern California
Another idea that I did because the lowers looked so bad.. I striped my coating off the lowers and polished them to look almost like chrome..it took a lot of work to get it done but the results look better than chrome and to keep them looking good all it takes is light polish..plus it didnt cost much except Elbow grease and buffing pad and polish.
My cost included new seal kits and new fork oil in addition to the forks I got on eBay.
Any damage is easily taken care of with some wet-or-dry sandpaper and a bit of polish.
Here are some pictures that I took before installation.
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,729
Likes: 22,820
From: North Carolina
I've added them to two bikes and they came of course stock on my CVO. Never had a problem. They look much better than stock and easy to care for.
On the two bikes that I added them to I also replaced the cheap cow bells with nice chrome billet units.
On the two bikes that I added them to I also replaced the cheap cow bells with nice chrome billet units.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
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That's pretty much what I did. I bought a set of take-off's from eBay (Cheap!). Sanding with finer and finer grit and then polishing.
My cost included new seal kits and new fork oil in addition to the forks I got on eBay.
Any damage is easily taken care of with some wet-or-dry sandpaper and a bit of polish.
Here are some pictures that I took before installation.
My cost included new seal kits and new fork oil in addition to the forks I got on eBay.
Any damage is easily taken care of with some wet-or-dry sandpaper and a bit of polish.
Here are some pictures that I took before installation.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,307
Likes: 926
From: Squamish, BC
It does look good. I am redoing my fork seals and springs this winter. I may take on doing this polishing as well. Do you find it easy to maintain?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,394
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From: Southern California
Mostly by hand. It took awhile. The hard parts are the tight curved areas around the fender bolt hole mounts and the brake caliper brackets. I did use a bench mounted buffing wheel (Harbor Freight -see below- $42 after using one of their 20% discount coupons) for the final polishing after the 2000 grit sand paper. From beginning to end in sandpaper grits: 120, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1,000, 1200, 1500 and 2000.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,471
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From: Charleston, SC
I used to polish mine but maintenance was a chore. They start frosting after a season it seemed like. Now I just use whoever is the cheapest ebay chrome exchange. Usually around 180 for the set and 30-50 for the cowbells.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,307
Likes: 926
From: Squamish, BC
Mostly by hand. It took awhile. The hard parts are the tight curved areas around the fender bolt hole mounts and the brake caliper brackets. I did use a bench mounted buffing wheel (Harbor Freight -see below- $42 after using one of their 20% discount coupons) for the final polishing after the 2000 grit sand paper. From beginning to end in sandpaper grits: 120, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1,000, 1200, 1500 and 2000.