Detailing Discuss keeping your bike looking brand new here.

Chrome clear coat question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 12, 2010 | 06:17 PM
  #1  
Grumpy74's Avatar
Grumpy74
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Default Chrome clear coat question

I have chrome on a 1996 fatboy ( rims & front forks )that looks like it may have a clear coat of some kind on it. I was told this bike was all stock when I bought it. Did the fat boys come with that?
 
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2010 | 06:35 PM
  #2  
xxxflhrci's Avatar
xxxflhrci
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
Default

If your bike is all stock, you should not have chrome front forks. It would have coated aluminum forks. If the forks are either aftermarket or HD chrome forks, I doubt if they are cleared. Never seen cleared chrome. There should be no need for clear on chrome.
 
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2010 | 07:03 PM
  #3  
Grumpy74's Avatar
Grumpy74
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Default

Well actually your correct. Aluminum rims also I beleive. Silver things always make me say chrome. So they probably have a clear coat? probably no way to fix it with out having them stripped and recoated?
 
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2010 | 07:05 PM
  #4  
xxxflhrci's Avatar
xxxflhrci
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
Default

You can strip them with Aircraft stripper, polish out the aluminum, and leave off the clear. They will look nearly as good as chrome.
 
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2010 | 06:22 PM
  #5  
DannyZ71's Avatar
DannyZ71
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Default

Originally Posted by xxxflhrci
You can strip them with Aircraft stripper, polish out the aluminum, and leave off the clear. They will look nearly as good as chrome.

This is very true.

But then you'll spend every weekend cleaning and polishing them to keep them looking that way.
 
Reply
Old Jan 14, 2010 | 08:12 AM
  #6  
xxxflhrci's Avatar
xxxflhrci
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
Default

Originally Posted by DannyZ71
This is very true.

But then you'll spend every weekend cleaning and polishing them to keep them looking that way.
You know better than that...LOL Don't steer the guy away from a good look for nearly free........I polished nearly everything on my Ironhead years ago. I hit it with a little Mother's once or twice a year to keep it looking good.
 
Attached Thumbnails Chrome clear coat question-ironhead-pics-043.jpg  

Last edited by xxxflhrci; Jan 14, 2010 at 08:16 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2010 | 09:30 AM
  #7  
Grumpy74's Avatar
Grumpy74
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Default

It would be a bummer to strip the rims and then have to clean them all the time. I'm trying Wizards Metal Polish. It seems to be doing a pretty good job minimizing the blemishes but damn thats a LOT of elbow grease, Better then 4 hours a rim so far!
 
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2011 | 01:47 PM
  #8  
Lyfer's Avatar
Lyfer
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Default

Originally Posted by Grumpy74
It would be a bummer to strip the rims and then have to clean them all the time. I'm trying Wizards Metal Polish. It seems to be doing a pretty good job minimizing the blemishes but damn thats a LOT of elbow grease, Better then 4 hours a rim so far!
For future reference, the metal polish IS stripping the clear. Looks better though!
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
nathanw
Dyna Glide Models
11
Feb 10, 2014 08:59 PM
TylerBoehm
General Harley Davidson Chat
10
Sep 22, 2013 10:34 AM
Aylor70
Dyna Glide Models
16
Jul 19, 2012 08:27 PM
Greg755
Softail Models
3
Apr 8, 2011 03:08 PM
RoadKingKohn
Touring Models
13
Feb 18, 2008 03:00 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:11 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE