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Chrome on My Tail

  • Thread starter Thread starter crazyrnus
  • Start date Start date
C

crazyrnus

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Anyone have a suggestion, idea or something that has worked to replace the plastic chrome around the tail on a GS? I am NOT going to pay what Suzuki wants for that piece, but I am looking for any thing that has been done instead of buying a new piece.:dancing:
 
Sand and spray?

Some more info on the bike, or a pic of the part would be helpful
 
It is the tail section, behind the seat that covers the rear fender. It originally had a plastic chrome piece around the back of it where it bordered the tail light. That had cracked and gave up the ghost. The paint under it is fine, I am just trying to find out if there is any kind of replacement, other than Suzuki's $150 piece.
 
Ok, so the tail light bezel (my best guess as to the proper term)

Any reason you couldn't repair the old one and paint it black?

Hopefully another member will have the info you are looking for
 
Now that we have tossed out all the L and T bikes that didn't have tail pieces, he's still looking for some information on what bike we are discussing. :o

.
 
I apologize for being a dumb s--t! It is a 1980 GS 1000 G. Thanks for the help.
 
What part exactly?

The U-shaped chrome trim that clips onto the plastic tail section?

If so, this is the cost/part number I've found...

45522-45100 MOULDING, SEAT TAIL COVER $251.94

$150 for this part would be a bargain! (not)
 
Why is that part so expensive for what it is??? Have you even seen those gas tank trim protector pieces? They are universal and come in many colors including chrome. I'm sure it will work on your tail piece, unless you want an original OEM part.
 
Suzuki calls it the seat tail cover and seat tail cover molding. That is what I found as the listing in the parts catalog. I don't know any other way to describe it. Sorry to confuse everyone and that I brought it up. Thanks for your replies.
 
The molding from an old 3/4 helmet would also work, I think. Some are chrome and some are black rubber. I'm just throwing some ideas at you.
 
If the bends are too sharp for the trim material you buy a propane torch should allow you to make a sharper bend.
 
I didn't realize those cheap pieces of plastic that dry out and shatter were so expensive! I personally don't like them, unless their brand new they usually look tacky, cheapen the appearance of the bike. Plus they tend to scratch your finish, at least the part it covers.
I know there's got to be some chome door trim out there that would fit, maybe even find something that would work out better than the original.
Trust me, the original part isn't all that great, it fades and gets brittle.

Here's a pic of my tailpiece and I think it looks better without it, plus why take a chance on scratching my brand new paint?

100_0996.jpg


Or..... should I try to put this sun bleached dry rotted chrome piece back on without shattering or breaking it?

100_0741-1.jpg
 
Agreed, unless you post a better pic of it looking worse I think it lookes better without
 
Mine are aluminum, not plastic. Mine look fine without it, except for the red one, where the PO goobed it up with some kind of pud and ruined the finish under it. My brother gave me his though, so it looks decent now. I was unable to remove and reinstall it without slightly bending it.
 
Unless you are going for a concourse resto, run without it... Even if I had one, I'd paint it black. ;)
 
IMO chrome trims like this look like a tacked-on after thought, sort of reminds me of the flexible chrome door edge guard that you can buy in a roll and apply to everything, yes, even the bottom edge of a motorcycle fuel tank. Looks cleaner without, so I agree, if you're going for concourse restoration get it, but otherwise I prolly wouldn't bother. Besides, you have such nice paintwork it's a shame to cover it up.
 
You could probabaly negotiate that bend with regular door edge trim if you cut a notch out of the side that goes on the underside of the tail section.
 
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