Can they be redone?

[Meriban]

I ordered new tank and side cover badges and found that they are all gold or (tan) colored...I wanted the original silver color...I have yet to find any...Does anyone know if there is a place I can send my old ones to, and they can restore them? I am not sure if it is possible or not...Any help would be appreciated.

 

[chuck hahn]

The originals were Gold according to many sources here. They go silver because years of wear simply rubs the gold tint off. Guess you could take the new ones and use some super fine rubbing compound and shine the letters up like you want. Its just sprayed on tinting far as I know.

 

[MAJikMARCer]

I wonder if it's a UV thing? Maybe you could but the badges under a tanning bed. Wouldn't that be funny. Go in golden, come out white.

 

[ozman]

The originals were Gold according to many sources here. They go silver because years of wear simply rubs the gold tint off. Guess you could take the new ones and use some super fine rubbing compound and shine the letters up like you want. Its just sprayed on tinting far as I know.

78 were silver here chuck and our tank badges were different to the usa models

 

[Meriban]

Thanks, that clears that up.

Thanks, that clears that up.

I will put the new gold emblems on, even though I like the silver better with my new paint scheme....Thanks for the help guys.

 

[rustybronco]

Look on the backside of your old emblems.

 

[Flyboy]

even though I like the silver better with my new paint scheme

And therein lies the answer, unless you are going for factory correct restoration with the original paint scheme, it does not matter what was original or not.
pointless having something that looks odd but is "original".
Better to use what works with the paint scheme and looks right and pleasing to the eye.
A few grades of water paper and a bowl of water with a piece of high density foam as a rubbing block will get the gold off and leave a nice smooth silver finish.

 

[Rover]

I will put the new gold emblems on, even though I like the silver better with my new paint scheme....Thanks for the help guys.

Silver ones are available on Ebay.

 

[Dogma]

Yeah, they seem to have been silver back in the day. I had to find some NOS badges for my 850 from eBay. If you order a new set, you'll get whatever they last looked like after a couple part number supercessions. I tried that and got side cover badges that were about 3 years wrong. Bike Bandit was no help with that, either. One more reason to shop elsewhere.

 

[tkent02]

Look on the backside of your old emblems.

The backside was gold, the front was silver.

 

[rustybronco]

Not on my 1978 GS1000 nor my 1980 GS850. I couldn't tell what they were originally on my '82 GS850

 

[JTGS850GL]

The backside was gold, the front was silver.

There you have it. They were originally gold and UV "bleached" them out over the years.

 

[Meriban]

Well, since I live in AZ it won't be long until the UV rays do the bleaching for me.

 

[Flyboy]

Sorry, I disagree, they were silver from the factory.
Just do a Google image search and find one with gold emblems.

 

[rustybronco]

Then will will have to agree to disagree!

Which reminds me. I can pull your fuel tank off the shelf and have a look at those.

 

[chuck hahn]

Look at period advertising poster images and see what color they are..just sayin.

 

[rustybronco]

Survey says!

Stan, on your '84 GS1100GK, ALL the emblems are silver.

Chances are so were his.

 

[Flyboy]

Weeelllll, I'm not the sort to say "I told you so", but.........

 

[rustybronco]

Don't go pulling your arm out of it's socket by patting yourself on the back!

 

[Arley]

Silver Leaf?

http://www.amazon.com/Speedball-Mona-Composition-Silver-Sheet/dp/B000XAKTM6