Author Topic: Brake Caliper Black or Polished  (Read 2543 times)

Offline Eldrick

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Brake Caliper Black or Polished
« on: January 30, 2024, 05:17:19 PM »
Should my brake caliper be painted black or left shiney...?
I see in the worksop manual it is black then I see on 'car and classic' some are painted or even just the inside caliper is black.  This being a UK 1975 model if that makes a difference.
1975 Honda CB400f - Red

Offline Bryanj

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Re: Brake Caliper Black or Polished
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2024, 05:40:24 PM »
Black

Offline Eldrick

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Re: Brake Caliper Black or Polished
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2024, 05:56:30 PM »
thank you
 :D
1975 Honda CB400f - Red

Offline TrickyMicky

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Re: Brake Caliper Black or Polished
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2024, 12:32:37 PM »
If you use a good brand of aerosol Satin Black it gives a half decent finish.

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Re: Brake Caliper Black or Polished
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2024, 12:41:20 PM »
Probably not necessary but I bought the black caliper aerosol paint as it's heat resistant
« Last Edit: January 31, 2024, 11:57:09 PM by McCabe-Thiele (Ted) »
Honda CB400NA Superdream (current money puddle)
Honda CB500 K1 (second money pit)
https://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,28541.0.html
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html
This is a neat 500 restoration in the USA.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,151576.msg1731556.html#msg1731556

Offline Laverda Dave

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Re: Brake Caliper Black or Polished
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2024, 11:31:37 PM »
Probaly not necessary but I bought the black caliper aerosol paint as it's heat resistant

I second that Ted👍. I think I baked mine after painting to achieve the heat resistance. It dried a satin black colour. Finish was great and never chipped.
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'Rat' bike
1982 Laverda 120 Jota
2020 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

Offline Oddjob

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Re: Brake Caliper Black or Polished
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2024, 06:52:09 AM »
Or get it ceramic coated, resistant to heat and brake fluid. Not expensive either, possibly as cheap as buying a tin of aerosol and no stinking up the kitchen curing it.
Kids in a the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

Offline davidcumbria

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Re: Brake Caliper Black or Polished
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2024, 06:59:00 AM »
Had mind powder coated. Tough, shiny and resistant to brake fluid.
500/4 in 79. No bikes for 30 years. 750/4 in 2013, 550/4 in 2023. Also own  R1100GS, RD350LC YPVS , Yamaha fazer 600, Yamaha XT250, BmwR80 , HondaVT1300, Royal Alloy GT125.

Offline Oddjob

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Re: Brake Caliper Black or Polished
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2024, 08:36:12 AM »
The problem with powder coat is how thick it is, on some parts this is a bonus, on others it's a drawback. I've had powder coated calipers and they do last, given a choice in that location I'd go with ceramic, matches the original paintwork better, which TBH wasn't so much paint as an alloy stain. Like how the handlebar switchgear is done and the splitter under the headlight.

Frames, definitely powder.
Kids in a the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

Offline Matt_Harrington

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Re: Brake Caliper Black or Polished
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2024, 08:45:08 AM »
I've recently restored a few Brembo calipers for one of my other bikes. I was recommended some corrosion resistant epoxy primer (to quote the guy "...stick like etc etc.." after which some decent satin black was applied. Seems to be working well at the moment. The caliper on the 400 i'm working on was cerakoted. The advantage is that the paint has longevity.....(I hope!)
Matt
___________________________________
CB400F 1976 -  Almost finished
CB400F 1977 - On the road!
Moto Guzzi Le Mans 2 - 1981 (undergoing a spruce up)
CD175 - To be restored
Triumph Speed 400
BMW F800GT

 

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