My lower fork legs have started to pit. I know I can go with chrome or black but is there anything else I can do with these? I remember years ago Itried polishing legs on another bike and found out the hard way that they are coated and once you start polishing you can't stop until you are done and what a PIA! Are there any other chemicals or choices in polishing? What about fine sandpaper and then sealing somehow? Has anybody tried something like that?

 

You need to strip the clear with aircraft stripper before polishing. I prefer to pull the legs to do the work. I buff them on a bench mounted buffer. No sealer is needed. Just maintain the shine with a little Mother's every now and then.

 

You can sand with fine sandpaper and then apply a new clearcoat (rattle can) or like the other poster said just hit them with mothers a couple times a year.

 

get a sisle wheel-spelling. It has fiber within the cotton to remove coatings/paint. Just maintain 7,200rpm at the end of the wheel-drill 3,000rpm+ 6inch wheel= 7,000 rpm at wheel. It cuts a lot of work out. I have ploished several lower legs and upper and it takes about 4 hours to get them right. I prefer to use a 8 inch wheel with a drill but if you have a free standing unit 6 inch will work. Love the look. If you have pitting you will need to sand these out before polishing.

 

Whew, I thought it was some strange diesease.[sm=yikesomg.gif]

 

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If I were to remove them to buff them properly, I'd suck it up and go ahead and toss on a chrome (or powdercoated)set. I'm putting it off until I do my first fork oil change. Whatever I end up putting on, I'm going to cuta 3M paint guard to cover leading edge.

 

Thirdup, I was thinking the same thing. But can you explain the 3m paint guard thing?

 

You can also have the powdercoated or painted any color you want. A local guy had his powdercoated orange when he did some engine covers - looked sick!

 

The 3M paint protection is basically clear plastic coating that you cut (or purchase cut) to cover various painted or chromed surfaces. It's applies like a decal. I figure with asmany nicks, bug dings, etc as the front lower forks take....that I'd stick a piece of 3M onthe front to help protect the finishafter Irefinish them.A small section of the3M stuff is cheap enough to replace once a year if it gets dinged up.

Here's a thread showing some of the 3M stuff:
https://www.hdforums.com/m_2639908/tm.htm