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| Domino | | Set |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 29/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 230 | | Location | : | Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 11 Sep 2010 - 17:14 Post title : Chrome Quality | | | As I was cleaning the bike yesterday I was horrified to see matt blooming spots (dunno if that's the correct term?) at the top of the exhaust headers...
This was more noticeable on the RH pipe than the left but no amount of rubbing with a soft cloth (don't want to use anything abrasive) made any difference. That is until I realised that the cloth, I was rubbing the Motorex 645 on with, had picked up some moisture.
As soon as I wiped the region with a dry cloth the chrome came up shiny again. BUT the fact that this feature was only noticeable at the top of the header pipes makes me wonder if this an early indicator of poor quality chrome in that area. 
Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon? am I just being paranoid? 
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Best money I ever spent.
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| Thatch | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/06/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,655 | | Location | : | Savannah, GA, United States |
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| | Posted : 11 Sep 2010 - 17:36 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: Domino) | | | only chrome issue I've experienced is some of the engine casing chrome is a bit cloudy and on the original pipes the heat shields took a hit (deep lean hit the road) and the resulting dent caused a good sized crack in the chrome which would of then resulted in a major corrosion problem had I not swapped out the exhaust shortly after that.
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| EnGage | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 14/07/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,155 | | Location | : | Grand Rapids, MI, United States |
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| | Posted : 11 Sep 2010 - 17:44 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: Domino) | | | Sometimes its hard to get water spots off of chrome. I usually use a quick detailer (spray on and wipe off) to clean my bike, but when its dirty enough that I have to use a hose, I have to work a bit to get the chrome looking nice if the water dries in an area before I get it wiped down.
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| daz | | Zeus | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2009 | | Posts | : | 7,705 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 11 Sep 2010 - 19:52 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: Domino) | | | IMO triumph chrome isn't very good. Like thatch my sidecover on the clutch side is cloudy. Unacceptable on a bike in this price range. But what are ya gonna do.....buy a harley? I'll stick with cloudy chrome. 
| 2010 Blue/White Thunderbird, "Brutus". 1700 kit, short tors, gutted cat, UNI filter, filter seal off, custom tune. Brutus in his native habitat: Link
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| BlueNose | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 29/09/2009 | | Posts | : | 2,478 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 11 Sep 2010 - 20:23 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: Domino) | | | Side covers are not perfect on any bike I have seen (some worse/better than others).
Those spots should polish out.
But as Daz said the alternative purchase option doesn't bare thinking about!
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| Domino | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 29/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 230 | | Location | : | Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 11 Sep 2010 - 21:15 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: BlueNose) | | | Okay, cheers guys. I'll keep an eye on it and get them replaced under guarantee if it starts to get noticeable. The total package is too good to let this spoil it. 
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Best money I ever spent.
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| FTL40 | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 13/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,122 | | Location | : | massachusetts, United States |
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| | Posted : 11 Sep 2010 - 21:25 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: Domino) | | | chrome on this bike seems much better then my america was, still not hd quality chrome but it seems to have gotton better
| 2010 tbird 1700 silver (fastest color) BC exhaust, BC airbox removal
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| Keets | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/02/2009 | | Posts | : | 453 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 11 Sep 2010 - 23:20 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: FTL40) | | | FTL40 wrote:
chrome on this bike seems much better then my america was, still not hd quality chrome but it seems to have gotton better |
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Agreed, way better than my Speedy but not exactly parade float quality, I have chrome rims and controls...no problems with the finish.
| Cruisin' on thru the junction i'm flyin' 'bout the speed of sound
Noticin' peculiar function i ain't no roller coaster show me down.
I turned away to see her woa! she caught my eye
But i was rollin' down movin' too fast;
...Doh!
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| daz | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2009 | | Posts | : | 7,705 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 12 Sep 2010 - 21:31 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: Keets) | | | If you notice, some of the chrome on the bike looks different because some of it is not triumph chrome. They obviously chrome thier own side covers, so thats obviously triumph. But the wheels are sourced elsewhere i believe as are the accessory chrome fork legs. The fork are made by showa. The better chrome on the bike is general 3rd party sourced. It's the one area triumph has yet to stomp all over harley on, but it's also probably a big reason harleys are more expensive. My biggest disappointment is the clutch cover. In certain light it looks like it belongs on a $500 chinese scooter.
| 2010 Blue/White Thunderbird, "Brutus". 1700 kit, short tors, gutted cat, UNI filter, filter seal off, custom tune. Brutus in his native habitat: Link
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| Domino | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 29/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 230 | | Location | : | Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 12 Sep 2010 - 21:47 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: daz) | | | So far I'm pretty happy with all the other chrome on the bike. It's just the zorsts that strike me as a bit iffy. Even the short TORS I had fitted yesterday have a couple of dull patches. They do sound great though. 
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Best money I ever spent.
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 12 Sep 2010 - 23:40 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: daz) | | |
daz wrote:
. In certain light it looks like it belongs on a $500 chinese scooter. |
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Daz - please ------- Chinese -- no ... it realy is not that bad. Just don't mension that word.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| daz | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2009 | | Posts | : | 7,705 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 13 Sep 2010 - 00:43 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: mat1600) | | | Yes it does ! Maybe not all of them do, who knows. But mine sure does, and in a certain light you can see it and it's as crappy as chrome gets when you can see it. I'd be re-chroming it if not for the fact it only looks like that in certain light.
| 2010 Blue/White Thunderbird, "Brutus". 1700 kit, short tors, gutted cat, UNI filter, filter seal off, custom tune. Brutus in his native habitat: Link
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| Domino | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 29/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 230 | | Location | : | Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 13 Sep 2010 - 07:41 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: daz) | | | Has it always looked like that daz, or did it degrade over time?
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Best money I ever spent.
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| zolti | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 23/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,127 | | Location | : | newcastle , United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 13 Sep 2010 - 12:57 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: Domino) | | | so far my chrome is ok, keep a layer of mer on it.
whether that helps with water marks i dunno.
it not as good though as expected as its very easily scratched, have leather soled boots and these are marking the casings
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| daz | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2009 | | Posts | : | 7,705 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 13 Sep 2010 - 14:22 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: Domino) | | |
Domino wrote:
Has it always looked like that daz, or did it degrade over time? |
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been like that since new.
it not as good though as expected as its very easily scratched |
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Yes, thats a good point. I have several deep scratches from debris in the microfiber towel i used to chean them. Never had that happen on any chrome on any vehicle. before. One really obvious one right on the instrument panel and a few like that on the right rear fender brace and some other random ones. My advice, and i wish i had realized this B4, but i would suggest not using microfiber on the chrome, but a Tshirt. Microfiber can hold small grains of sand unlike a Tshirt and they will act like a cutter on your chrome. On paint it's not a big deal because you can easily polish scratches out. Chrome cannot polish out.
| 2010 Blue/White Thunderbird, "Brutus". 1700 kit, short tors, gutted cat, UNI filter, filter seal off, custom tune. Brutus in his native habitat: Link
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| Domino | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 29/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 230 | | Location | : | Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 13 Sep 2010 - 14:39 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: daz) | | |
daz wrote:
... One really obvious one right on the instrument panel... |
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Aargh, noooo! I think I'd weep. 
Really sorry to hear that Daz but thanks for the heads-up. I'll be paranoid careful from now on.
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Best money I ever spent.
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| daz | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2009 | | Posts | : | 7,705 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 13 Sep 2010 - 14:47 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: Domino) | | | Damn near did at first, but i'm used to it and don't notice it as much now that i'm not always looking for it. Plus like all scratches it's not real visible in all light. If i were able to justify spending stupid money on the bike i'd be thinking about having all the chrome re done with much better chrome. What a job that would be tho.
| 2010 Blue/White Thunderbird, "Brutus". 1700 kit, short tors, gutted cat, UNI filter, filter seal off, custom tune. Brutus in his native habitat: Link
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| EnGage | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 14/07/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,155 | | Location | : | Grand Rapids, MI, United States |
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| | Posted : 14 Sep 2010 - 14:11 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: daz) | | |
daz wrote:
Yes, thats a good point. I have several deep scratches from debris in the microfiber towel i used to chean them. Never had that happen on any chrome on any vehicle. before. One really obvious one right on the instrument panel and a few like that on the right rear fender brace and some other random ones. My advice, and i wish i had realized this B4, but i would suggest not using microfiber on the chrome, but a Tshirt. Microfiber can hold small grains of sand unlike a Tshirt and they will act like a cutter on your chrome. On paint it's not a big deal because you can easily polish scratches out. Chrome cannot polish out. |
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I might be wrong here, but I thought one of the benefits of a microfiber or terrycloth towel was that grains of sand will be partially buried into the fiber instead of in direct contact with the surface.
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| daz | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2009 | | Posts | : | 7,705 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 14 Sep 2010 - 17:00 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: EnGage) | | | You are correct sir. However, while thats the idea, it doesn't always work. Tshirt material doesn't hold debris like that, tho the material itself is harsher which is why MF is the preferred material. It is normally for paint where if a grain of sand DOES get past the fiber it's fixable on paint. But not on chrome which is why i now use a old Tshirt on chrome.
| 2010 Blue/White Thunderbird, "Brutus". 1700 kit, short tors, gutted cat, UNI filter, filter seal off, custom tune. Brutus in his native habitat: Link
| | Post edited by daz on 14 Sep 2010 - 17:01 |
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| DizzE | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,141 | | Location | : | Sunnyvale, CA, United States |
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| | Posted : 14 Sep 2010 - 17:15 Post title : Re: Chrome Quality (Re: daz) | | | daz wrote:
Domino wrote:
Has it always looked like that daz, or did it degrade over time? |
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been like that since new.
it not as good though as expected as its very easily scratched |
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Yeah, my clutch cover is thin, blue looking chrome. Not like the pipes. Good heads up on the micro-fiber.
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