As part of my northeast overhaul of my bike (06 midnite star)I'm getting close to the point of scrubbing the rust off all the chrome on the bike. I've read around and it seems to me that with 0000 steel wool and wd-40 i'm going to get the best effect for "real" chrome. however I'm concerned before I got scraping around what is fake chrome on the bike.

I'm reasonably certain my V+H longshots are real chrome, I think the top of the cylinders are real chrome. The plate cover for my baron big air kit I'm pretty sure is fake, the speedo cluster assembly is fake, and I'm pretty sure the forks are fake too. I'm undecided about the handlebars.

Does anyone have experience with cleaning these areas and can confirm or deny which of these parts are real or fake. Also what is best to clean fake plastic chrome? (most concerned about forks and speedo cluster)

Thanks!

-Soma

Forks and Speedo dash are real chrome. The dash is cast metal the forks are billet I think. I would advise not using steel wool on anything. Her is a product that will make the chrome shine like new and get rid of rust if you use the Oxygone and the Metal Polish together and not harm anything. Show car buffs use it on their cars and I use it when I show my bike. The Dry Wash n Guard for all surfaces is awesome it make things shine like new.

http://www.driwashsolutions.com/

i use never dull comes in a silver can at any auto parts store, walmart, fleat farm, ect. tear off a small piece of wadding rub it all over the chrome and then buff in with either a micro fiber towel or Blue/Red shop towels (the thick paper towel rolls you get at the aout parts store. i have been using the same can for 3 years about 1/2 gone. use it on real chrome and chrome ABS doesent matter and it will remove light rust and bugs as well.

Before I go scrubbing on rust, I spay a little naval jelly on it. Comes off a lot easier after that.

Curt wrote:
Forks and Speedo dash are real chrome. The dash is cast metal the forks are billet I think. I would advise not using steel wool on anything. Her is a product that will make the chrome shine like new and get rid of rust if you use the Oxygone and the Metal Polish together and not harm anything. Show car buffs use it on their cars and I use it when I show my bike. The Dry Wash n Guard for all surfaces is awesome it make things shine like new.

http://www.driwashsolutions.com/

i used their stuff on my leather car seats and plastic. good stuff too.

The PO of my bike used either steel wool or green Scotchbrite pads on the most visible chrome...headlight, speedo dash, etc. Left terrible swirling that is highly visible and will not polish out. Some of the worst has now evolved into slight rust pitting. It got me a grand knocked off my purchase price. I love the bike, and don't really even think about it, as they are just character marks. But it would drive a purist nuts to see those swirls every day. Be gentle. Avoid anything that will scratch the chrome, however slight....
John Scribner

john, you are right.. that would drive me nuts..never thought myself a purist though.. a little crazy maybe..i keep my bike screaming clean..thats why i put the chrome on it..i use turtle wax ice synthetic polish on it and the crap does not stick..with rust however i agree with the neverdull.. i used it on small rust spots when i got the bike and with the ice polish the rust does not come back..

Curt,
I'm planning on purchasing both of those products as my project is moving along and nearing the cleaning up stage. what do you recommend I purchase to apply and remove both the oxygone and metal polish? And the metal polish is intended to bring chrome back to original finish yes?
-soma

Yes all those the oxygone and the metal polish mixed togeather cleans the rust and polishes at the same time then use the drywash after you have used the other two too keep it sealed and prevent more rust forming. I have all three and have the pump applicator but when I ran out of the drywash I bought a whole half gallon.

Gently rubbing in hand cleaner with lanolin (Not the hand cleaner that has grit in it) in a couple of treatments on rust spots will do the trick and not damage the chrome unless the rust is real bad.

You probably have hand cleaner from an automotive supply sitting in your shop/garage.

You rub it in then let it set, then take some on a wash cloth and rub.