I am preparing to do some electroplating and powdercoating for my bike and I'm being asked a question I don't know the answer to. What types of metals are used?

I've done some internet research but don't want to guess and tell them wrong. By looking it's hard for me to tell chrome vs polish aluminum vs polished stainless steel; billet aluminum vs steel, etc. And then there is the questions of is the steel zinc plated or is the chrome plating on steel or something else?

Can anyone tell me what these parts are made of or plated with on a 2014+ Road King or point me in the right direction as to where I can find out:

• Rocker boxes
• Bolts and Nuts
• Timer cover
• Derby cover
• Jiffy Stand
• Crash bars
• Saddlebag guard bars
• Tank badges
• Fender script badges
• Fender trim
• Footboard pans
• Headlight surrounds
• Turn signal surrounds
• Taillight surrounds
• Pushrod coverings
• Fog light bar
• handlebar cover
• saddlebag latches
• vance and hines pipes

My bike is not blacked out or anything, it's standard issue. ( https://www.motorcycle.com/specs/har...-reg/base.html )

 

• Rocker boxes - chrome plated cast aluminum
• Bolts and Nuts - zinc plated steel
• Timer cover - chrome plated cast aluminum
• Derby cover - chrome plated cast aluminum
• Jiffy Stand - chrome plated steel
• Crash bars - chrome plated steel
• Saddlebag guard bars - chrome plated steel
• Tank badges - sheet aluminum stamped out or plastic
• Fender script badges - sheet aluminum stamped out or plastic
• Fender trim
• Footboard pans - chrome plated steel
• Headlight surrounds - chrome plated steel
• Turn signal surrounds - chrome plated cast aluminum
• Taillight surrounds - chrome plated cast aluminum
• Pushrod coverings - chrome plated steel
• Fog light bar - chrome plated steel
• handlebar cover - chrome plated cast aluminum
• saddlebag latches - chrome plated steel
• vance and hines pipes - chrome plated steel

Does this look about right?

 

These are based on handling these parts and doing some powder-coating myself. Although I have been wrong before.

 

You can separate steel vs aluminum or zinc die cast with a magnet.

 

If your powder coating guy is not familiar already with motorcycle parts it's time to find another vendor! You need one who specializes in bike parts. Way too many surfaces, ports, passages that need to be protected from the coatings/platings.

 

You're absolutely right, but the electroplating process varies greatly from powder coating. But, something I'd not considered. Those really are questions one should not need to ask if they do this type of work.

 

These questions are from the powdercoat manufacturer itself. They are doing a color match to ensure I get the correct color no matter what type of metal it is applied to. They will let me know which powders and procedures will be able to match all metals to the same color, tint, shine, etc.