Hello all

Still rather new to biking and this forum, so my profuse apologies if this has been covered every week for the last few years.

My bike's got a fair bit of chrome on it, some of which is now beginning to show the effects of age and road salt.

Can you guys recommend some good products and tips to clean the chrome, remove tarnishing, treat tiny rust pits and also protect the chrome from corrosion in the future.

(and if any smarty pansts says use a bike cover... ..... )

thanks

Gav

I use AUTOSOL, it's supposed to do all the things you mention

I use autosol too...brilliant on the chrome, but I have noticed it not so brilliant on the rust that had already formed on the chrome that was there when I bought the bike I have been wondering how to get those pitted bits of rust off, other than sitting there scraping it off with me nails

Cheers guys.

It's clearly a good omen that you both recommend the product too... When I bought the bike it was very snowy out and on Saturday I nearly picked up a pheasant as I went down the country lanes.... just missed out on a nice roast there

thanks for the awesome guide-

WD40

Was talking to the Mr Man that owns the local bike shop the other day. This is NOT for chrome but for the other metal bits like the engine! 'im indoors has got a kind of whitish spot thingy (bet he knows what it is coz he knows that kind of thing , I just look up and see fluffy bunnies when he starts talking like that though) on his engine and Mr Man said use vinegar on it, that'll get it off!
Havent tried it yet, but will let you know if his bike disintigrates from the acid

After Autosol, I also give mine a liberal slosh of Mer wax.

well, after a good wash ..

I use Autosol too on the pipes and can......makes it all nice ans shinny...


to keep it shinning a cloth with a bit of wd40 or Silicon spray,, not too much though,, otherwise you smoke a lot....

but to protect the pipes, over the winter I use Protect'n Ride,, some form of wax that sticks to the pipes..
yes it smells a bit first time out, but once dry it is ok...


Keep it shinning...............

Autosol is more for for polished metal, rather than chrome, it has very fine (but abrasive) metal particles in it.
Dedicated smooth cream cleaners are best, often general household solutions or creams and a soft cloth, are a cheap alternative.

the best thing to maintain chrome i find is to rub it down lightly then autosol...eg for spokes i would rub them with wire wool for abit thenmake sure they are clean then autosol...if i was stripping paint of a engine or soemthign and want to keep chrome i would use a wire brush then autosol.

the best little tool I have can be found on teh market for about a pound are little wire brush heads whichgo on a end of a drill, with enough practice using them you cna do what i do and thawt is to quickly whiz over teh with the power wire brush with out taking any paint off then autosol them...takes off any rust no doubt...

oh another little trick...if the chrome is peeling off a nut the best thing i usally do is to clean the rest of the chrome then twist the nut so the exposed metal of the nut is below outa of view...a cheap way without getting nuts rechromed

Yeah, I got that tip from a bloke at work who has a jet ski and he reckons it's the dog's nads for protection and keeping a shine. Does it survive on your hot engine parts or does it burn off?

autosol is too abrasive. it'll ruin the chrome in the end if you use it all the time. i always cover my chrome with WD40 and lightly wipe it over. it leaves it a little steaky but then when i want the chrome to really shine i polish it up. after ive been to the bike meet i spray it again. you'll keep your chrome mint in this way for years.

No it's absolutely fine on the hot bits - even the exhaust. I very rarely use Autosol as the Mer keeps the rust at bay.