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Original Aluminum Swingarm Finish

  • Thread starter Thread starter Flaming Chainsaws
  • Start date Start date
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Flaming Chainsaws

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I polished the swingarm and footpeg brackets on my GS1100ED. Now I've decided that it just doesn't look right :hand:. What's the original finish on these parts? Was it paint or something?
 
On my 81 1100e it's just raw, satin aluminun finish, nothin fancy.
 
If your looking for a factory type finish, wet sand with 600 grit and finish it off with fine steel wool or a brillo pad.

EDIT - unless it's anodized.
 
Last edited:
Flaming Chainsaws said:
I polished the swingarm and footpeg brackets on my GS1100ED. Now I've decided that it just doesn't look right :hand:. What's the original finish on these parts? Was it paint or something?
Click to expand...

I think it's anodized. It's on there too good to be anything else.
 
Have another look at the pics of my '80E, the swingarm and footpeg mounts are polished to a high lustre. You'll hardly see that when all the other bits (exhaust, side panels, engine) are reinstalled, my recommendation is to keep em that way. All that elbow grease shouldn't go to waste :rolleyes:
 
Now that you have it polished, coat it with a clear matte finish paint.
Epoxy-type.


Daniel
 
As mentioned, it's an anodized finish. A "brushed" finish with clear coat might be a reasonable alternative at this point since we assume the anodize is all removed. Using a gray scotchbrite pad, rubbing in one direction only, usually looks pretty nice.
 
Do something different but subtle. Use some 220 and grain it length wise and then use an epoxy clear coat to seal it.
 
So this thing is anodized? I was somehow able to polish it....

It looks like this. As you can see, on the left of the swingarm, there is still some of the original finish left on it.
DSCN3812.jpg
 
As someone said, all that polishing shouldn't go to waste. I recommend you trade with me for a clean, unpolished swing arm. Have several.

I'm such a great humanitarian!
 
Flaming Chainsaws said:
So this thing is anodized? I was somehow able to polish it....

It looks like this. As you can see, on the left of the swingarm, there is still some of the original finish left on it.
DSCN3812.jpg
Click to expand...

Did you do this by hand?
It looks nice and if you put this much effort into it then get some silicon carbide paper and finish the job. You can make that thing look like a mirror.
It would be far nicer than stock. They do the brushed finish to save time and money not for any aesthetic reasons.
It is nice to see your 450 work ethic spill over to the larger bike.
 
JEEPRUSTY said:
Did you do this by hand?
It looks nice and if you put this much effort into it then get some silicon carbide paper and finish the job. You can make that thing look like a mirror.
It would be far nicer than stock. They do the brushed finish to save time and money not for any aesthetic reasons.
It is nice to see your 450 work ethic spill over to the larger bike.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's done by hand. I use Mother's polish and an old t-shirt for all of my polishing (I'm cheap).

I polished the swingarm when it's still installed on the bike so ONLY the sides are polished. I'm gonna look up some pics of members bikes to help me decide :).
 
Flaming Chainsaws said:
Yeah, it's done by hand. I use Mother's polish and an old t-shirt for all of my polishing (I'm cheap).

I polished the swingarm when it's still installed on the bike so ONLY the sides are polished. I'm gonna look up some pics of members bikes to help me decide :).
Click to expand...


Dude you must have arms like an ape after that amount of work
Especially with a low cut polish like mothers.

Get a wheel and some wax based polish sticks and go nuts.

Go light to heavy abrasive to avoid unnessary maring of the finish.

Polishing metal is like sex without the guilt and shame and comes with a real and lasting gratification.

You could finagle the rig from a friend and just use your own wheels and polishes. Be ever so careful it can be quite dangerous. Look to Harbour freight as a chepa source of supplies.
 
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