New Valkyrie Today

[Red Diamond]

Purchased a 2K Tourer today, it is very tight and solid running mechanically, 18k miles. It was owned by an older gentleman who did not care a lot about cosmetics. He kept it covered under a carport, which is not saying much in this part of the country. The paint is perfect, but the chrome is in need of more than TLC.  The valve cover ends will be replace, some of the chrome has started to pimple up a little and rust on various chrome parts. I don't have any experience in having parts rechromed. What's the opinions on buying new parts, versus having them rechromed? Wheels don't look like they have been cleaned since day 1, are they coated on the 2k's or can they be polished out? TIA

[sandy]

Look at the front wheel behind the brake rotor. If the smooth surface goes all the way to the hub, it's not clearcoated. If you have a rough casting surface behind the rotor, it's clearcoated and can't be polished out without removing the coating.

[hubcapsc]

I bought all kinds of various chrome doodads and whatnot when I got my somewhat
tired looking Valkyrie a few years ago... it nickle and dimed me to death, but I can't imagine
getting all those little things rechromed...

How are your carb tops? I replaced my rusty ones with a good set I got cheap from eBay
and have since gotten some Cobra ones (cheap from eBay  )....

-Mike

[Red Diamond]

I think with a little rubbing compound I can bring the carb covers back. The slider valances are starting to pimple on the chrome, I may have to look for some of those on e-bay. The shocks are pitted with rust bits and so is the screws in some areas. I like the idea of the chrome covers, a friend has some and they look really good. The wheels are smooth all the way up to the axles. I know what you are talking about as I installed the others on my I/S, they look like they have been polished well or chrome anodized. Thanks for the input.

[D.Tater]

Congrats on the new bike. I too purchased a cosmetically challenged bike 3 weeks ago.
I spent many hours/days cleaning and polishing it.

I did a search on cleaning chrome and there are serveral products out there but I had good results using #0000 steel wool and WD-30, wipe of the WD-30, followed up with turtle wax chrome cleaner applied with the steel wool.

For the wheels I cleaned them with soap and water, then WD-30 and steel wool. The I used Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish. It takes a lot of time but the results are pretty amazing. The front wheel turned out alot better than the rear.

I figured I would clean it the best I could until the weather turns good and then I'm not spending this must time till cleaning till next winter.
 

[Dodis]

MAN,  That must be an antique batch! It's been WD-40 as long as I can remember!!!   

Mike "Dodis"

[Ratdog]

MAN,  That must be an antique batch! It's been WD-40 as long as I can remember!!!   

Mike "Dodis"

Yeah... that OLD WD-30 formula is what you need to getting burned on heel marks off your pipes.   

[Colin]

Some 5 months ago I bought a similar bike in the UK. I have been taking my time on it and have found it cheaper to replace parts than having them re-chromed. I have been buying bits at the right price from eBay and ignoring parts that were too expensive. I am now on the home straight and starting to re-assemble the bike. There are a couple of pieces that I have been unable to find at a reasonable price (the shipping charges are a killer to Europe) and so I am off to the chromers in a couple of hours with those pieces.

There are some photos and a write up in my link in my signature if you are interested.

Good luck with the re-build.

[alph]

Congrats on the new bike. I too purchased a cosmetically challenged bike 3 weeks ago.
I spent many hours/days cleaning and polishing it.

I did a search on cleaning chrome and there are serveral products out there but I had good results using #0000 steel wool and WD-30, wipe of the WD-30, followed up with turtle wax chrome cleaner applied with the steel wool.

For the wheels I cleaned them with soap and water, then WD-30 and steel wool. The I used Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish. It takes a lot of time but the results are pretty amazing. The front wheel turned out alot better than the rear.

I figured I would clean it the best I could until the weather turns good and then I'm not spending this must time till cleaning till next winter.
 

Yeap, I do the same thing, but of course with WD-30’s competitor, WD-40.  I’ve got some bakers airwings that have the chrome pealing off, I’m thinking on just stripping it off with a wire wheel and painting them glossy black.  I’ll leave the “balls” on it chrome, should look pretty good, I think…..

[hubcapsc]

There are some photos and a write up in my link in my signature if you are interested.

I just browsed your rebuild page... awesome job on the triple trees... you need to come over to
my house in South Carolina!



-Mike

[Colin]

I just browsed your rebuild page... awesome job on the triple trees... you need to come over to
my house in South Carolina!

-Mike

Mike,

Thanks for the kind words, it was a fair bit of work but worth it.

I have just come back from the chromers. I am only having the kickstand done due to the price. To give you an idea to polish and then re-chrome the triple exhaust tips, the front mudguard basket thing, and the three screen mounts was 250€ or $340 so I didn't bother with those. The chrome on the cam belt cover on mine was heavily peeling. He checked it out and tells me that it is aluminium and not pot metal so to strip the chrome and polish it and to polish both front forks is 55€ or 75$ and he's doing the wheels for me too.

At the re-chroming prices I will make do with standard tips and forget about the windscreen and the front mudguard basket.

Good luck with yours it looks like you probably have a similar amount of work to do. It is well worth keeping a diary and some photos as you go along.

[D.Tater]

MAN,  That must be an antique batch! It's been WD-40 as long as I can remember!!!   

It was late, no other excuse...

[D.Tater]

Since we are talking about neglected machines, I have a question.
My engine case has areas where corrosion has starting to form under the silver paint.
I have a few small areas where the silver paint has lifted and came off.
Anyone ever repainted the case? Is is more work than it's worth?
I know this is only cosmetic but it still bugs me a little.
Could you touch up the small areas? How would you clean the aluminum and then treat it?
I know the make some aluminum primer which etch's and bonds really well, just can't remember the name.
Would you just paint the bad areas with a small brush?

[Red Diamond]

Thanks all for the response. It appears that hard work always trump a lot of spending, besides, there's nothing like the finish product when you have done the work yourself. I'll take heed of this information and see if I can find that good old WD-30 (LOL). I'll try to remember to post pics when I finsh the job. (CRS at times)
      By the way, it black/red, just like the 99 Red Diamond.

[hubcapsc]

Good luck with yours it looks like you probably have a similar amount of work to do. It is well worth keeping a diary and some photos as you go along.

My "pile of parts" picture is 3 years old... 

Here's what she looked like after that first iteration:



A year or so later:



Pretty recent:



I wish I had a couple of good pictures of how tired it looked when I brought it home
from Philadelphia, but anyhow, it is a Valkyrie, and I've been on a lot of good rides with
good people on it...

-Mike

[Mean Cat]

Check out pinwallcycle.com or there ebay store site. They have quite a few chrome parts. I use them alot.

[NITRO]

hubcapsc-

What kind of hand guards are those on your valk and where did you get them? Do they help with keeping your hands warm in the cold?

[hubcapsc]

hubcapsc-

What kind of hand guards are those on your valk and where did you get them? Do they help with keeping your hands warm in the cold?

They come from National Cycle, I think they still offer them, and I think they do cut the wind and help
a lot when it is cold...

-Mike

[andym]

my IS had some rust , etc and I found that Never Dull works well to knock off any heavy crud and then chrome poilsh ...Hope it helps

[Red Diamond]

my IS had some rust , etc and I found that Never Dull works well to knock off any heavy crud and then chrome poilsh ...Hope it helps

Thanks, I take all the help I can get. #0000 and WD-40 are working well on the wheels and other areas where rust is just starting to appear. Be sure that Never Dull is coming tomorrow.

[houstone]

Find some bronze wool at an auto parts place and give it a try on the chrome.  It is astounding.
Good luck!
Jeff

[Red Diamond]

A few Pics to start withhttp://vrcc.photostash.com/vrcc_18032/IMG_1190.JPG