It looks pretty good.

I am assuming the extra bits are stuck on plastic? There is quite a collection of detailing products designed to blacken plastic. An assortment here as an example

https://www.chemicalguysuk.co.uk/pro...ners-exterior/

 

Looks good, those numbers do not looks easy to cut out!

 

I should have been more specific, the pictures on HD's website made the cut back part appear to be a grayish black compared to the steel part. There is a difference, I just expected more contrast between the two as that was what I was wanting. As I said, I was wanting to break up the large black space on the side of the bike. Hopefully the sun will stay out this afternoon and I can see it better in the sunlight.

The cut back part is plastic but it is mounted on the back side of the cover. It appears to just be a standard side cover that has been stamped/cut to create the cut back part.

 

thx.correct.pain in the ***....and this has to be the hardest pc of aluminum i have ever had to polish.idk what it is about it but it simply will not get to a mirror finish like chrome.maybe because its cast ? no matter,i will continue on until i get tired of polishing.i already have about 8 hrs of polishing alone on this thing..it will still bling when the sun hits it though so its all good.ill be breaking down the exhaust again,( lol ), this weekend to install it....and BTW,thx for sharing what u did on yours.looks so good i had to do something to mine.

 

What steps are you using to try and polish?

 

from 220 up to 3m polishing compound.i polished the backs of my mirrors last weekend.took me 1 1/2 hrs on each to get a mirror finish no problem...there is like something in the cast like the metal was contaminated during the cast in the cover.plus its porous.

 

Are you doing higher sanding stages 400, 600, 1000, 1500, 2000? Wet sanding should get you very close to what youre after. *0000* Steel wool can also help

 

i will try the 0000 steel wool thx.and yes i did the other stages.

 

I polished up the front forks on my partner's Sportster.


Before


After

 

Good stuff, Andy. I need to do something similar on my own horrifically pitted front forks.