"Hot Toppers" is a brand name, like Kleenex or Vaseline (Wow, that's weird. Why did I choose those two for the example??). They are a nice looking product, but very expensive for what they are. There are several cheaper versions that look exactly the same.

 

Its already been said, but my .02:

I tried them a decade ago, and yea they look good, but... 1) they are a pain to take back off without destroying them, 2) they are expensive.

Polished stainless steel bolts are THE best way to go long term, period. Frankly, probably cheaper in the short term if you look around. Chrome will peel and rust eventually if not sooner.

 

I agree with the polished stainless steel bolts, they are not as bright as good chrome but as you stated they will not rust. If you are the type that is ham fisted with wrenches and fasteners the chrome plating will flake off as well.

I did use the Hot Topper caliper kits for the caliper mounting bolts, all but the tiny pad pin bolt covers can be removed easily and reused after pad replacement...at least on the 2000-2005 style calipers. The pad pin covers will require a dab of silicone...or you can purchase the HD stainless caliper pins once you trash the Hot Toppers pad pin covers.

Tech23.

 

i've got a set on my bike.

yeah sure, you can't get at your bolts as easily as if they weren't on, but i've got a few things laying around in the toolbox that'll pop them off real easy without damaging them.

i also do a thorough check of all my nuts and bolts once every two months.

do the hot toppers make this a real long and tedious job? sure. but i've already dedicated my entire afternoon on that rainy saturday to working on my bike, so it's a price i don't mind paying.

 

Thanks for all the feedback. I had them on my 2002 Softail and luckily never lost a one. Just found it cheaper to cap em, vs replacing all the heads. Of course, there were some I replaced (the easy ones).

 

Exactly, when I wrench on a bike with them, the owner gets them back in a bag. IMO they are a pain in the *** to remove when you are focused on a specific project or repair.