SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550

Rear brake actuator arm

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AshimotoK0:
It's all a matter of taste Ken but I personally hate it when chromers polish out the original casting marks on Honda parts and make them resemble something that  came out of bathroom fitting shop. The guy in Hull did that to my CB750K0 rear brake arm and I voted with my feet after that. But, as I say, it's all a matter of taste. Allenchrome were good in that respect as they would either do show 'blingy' chrome or 'Japanese bike' finish where they did a less blingy finish and left the casting marks alone.... depending on what you asked for.

Sadly the b*ggers won't do stuff like that now...well they won't do small batch BZP so I doubt they will chrome old motorbike parts.

Nurse Julie:
I never have casting marks, original poor finishes, rough finishes etc polished out when I have parts re chromed. I cannot stand chrome parts that look so unnaturally perfect that they actually look like plastic chrome. It reminds me of all the show bikes,  that were shown at custom bike shows in the 80's, cheap, tacky and nasty. As long as the bike goes well and is fit for purpose and the parts do their job, I'm a happy bunny 😊😊😊

deltarider:
I agree with Julie. Bling bling bikes came later, when they stopped fitting those useful harmonica boots over the front legs. I believe the F2 was the first with shaved, shiny legs and IIRC even a crome cover over the drive chain. Every now and then one sees these Honda's with parts polished to a degree they never ever had before, not even in the showrooms, nor in the ads. Personally I prefer the original 'satin' look.

Oddjob:
I remove all casting marks, unless they are interesting, like Japanese symbols I found on fork sliders recently. They are unsightly, allow dirt to grab a hold onto, allow corrosion a foothold. Plus to me they show a lack of attention to detail, of course we are all different. I dislike the patina look that some seem to like, to me that makes the bike look untidy and unloved, I much prefer mine to be good looking but rideable unlike show bikes, although I did win a few shows with the L reg 500 when I restored it the first time, which is odd as I never entered the shows in the first place, I got persuaded to enter by the organisers when all I wanted to do was look at the other bikes.

Don't know what you mean by shaved legs DR, yes the 550F2 was the first to lose the fork bellows but it looked miles better for it IMO, of course it also allowed the fork stanchions to be hit by stones etc but it also allowed a better view to spot leaking fork seals, it's more streamlined and modern. You can't really mean you prefer the old horrible 500 chainguard to the 550 chrome one, to me that made the bike look OLD even when it was new, they might as well have fitted a bottom guard so the chain was fully enclosed like a C50. Couldn't wait to bin that. Nothing wrong with a bit of bling, just not OTT.

deltarider:
I love my rubber harmonica boots. How many here can say they never had to replace a front leg seal? Mine after 46 years and over 138.000 still don't leak... and yes, the legs underneath look a bit rusty. Who cares?
It's a matter of taste ofcourse but a chrome cover over the no doubt dirtiest part of the bike, the drive chain. I find it ironic. Chrome is for H.D lovers. In the 70s and 80s no owners of CB Fours polished their bikes to a degree, you see now. Even in the ads they weren't.

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