Rear brake torque arm finish

[Laverda Dave]

The rear brake torque arm on the rat 400 has been chromed and it's peeling. I have looked at a couple of period photos of 400/4 torque arms and some are finished with BZP whilst others are painted black to match the frame. Did Honda change the finish on the torque arm during the production run?
Confused of Ruislip 

[Nurse Julie]

I believe they did Dave, not only on the 400 either. To make it more confusing, I believe both finishes are the same part number 🙄🙄🙄

[Laverda Dave]

Thanks Julie. I've just arrived at the platers and going to ask him to strip the chrome off and I'll get it painted along with the frame. I think the BZP finish always looks a bit rough after a couple of years on the road.
The sidestand, mainstand, engine plates, springs, sprocket and rear sprocket guard have all been chromed and all are going to be stripped.

[Laverda Dave]

And to prove every day is a learning day, I thought the carb lifting arms are BZP, turns out they are hard chrome plated! Gary my plater went through all the bags I took in and checked everything over with me and as he's used to plating bike bits he took the lifting arms out of the tray, gave them back and told me they are hard chrome and they will clean up with a gentle pass on a wire wheel. What a shame they no longer chrome plate, he was the best I've ever used.