GSX750ES: Chrome/Nickel coating for Exhaust manifold

[GSX750ES junky]

All workshops I came across will only do 2 types of coatings:
1. Nickel only (cheap).
2. Chrome on top of Nickel (expensive).
I believe that the best coating is Copper + Nickel + Chrome but unfortunately nobody does it where I live.
The "Nickel only" coating is very cheap though. Would it be enough to coat the Exhaust manifold with Nickel or will it develop oxidation or peel off ?

[DrImodium]

How cheap is "cheap" for the nickel coating? Also, How would it hold up to the elements?

[GSX750ES junky]

Prices for coating the exhaust manifold:
1.Nickel coating : 60$
(I think he holds the Nickel with a sort of Electrical process in a bath)
2. Copper+Nickel+Chrome : 200$

[GSX750ES junky]

And here is a third option for 30$ (including shipment) ...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/POR-20-Brilliant-Aluminum-Heat-Resistant-Paint-P-2HA-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem53e1b56470QQitemZ360269046896QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

Results look good...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mopar_man/3823340052/

Anybody has experience with this ?

[TheCafeKid]

Nickel plating and chroming go hand in hand. From my understanding of the process,Chrome is actually clear. It's a protective coating over nickel/nickel copper plating. Without the chrome coating, or some kind of coating to protect the Nickel,it will tarnish, oxidize, whatever rather quickly. Not suitable by itself for parts that will be exposed to the elements.

[Adler]

Here's a pretty good read on chrome plating.

http://www.finishing.com/faqs/chrome.html

Contains pretty much all I know about chroming in a 10 minute read.

[DrImodium]

Nickel plating and chroming go hand in hand. From my understanding of the process,Chrome is actually clear. It's a protective coating over nickel/nickel copper plating. Without the chrome coating, or some kind of coating to protect the Nickel,it will tarnish, oxidize, whatever rather quickly. Not suitable by itself for parts that will be exposed to the elements.

Is there a polish, similar to Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish, that you can use over the nickel plating to protect it?

[Mysuzyq]

All workshops I came across will only do 2 types of coatings:
1. Nickel only (cheap).
2. Chrome on top of Nickel (expensive).
I believe that the best coating is Copper + Nickel + Chrome but unfortunately nobody does it where I live.
The "Nickel only" coating is very cheap though. Would it be enough to coat the Exhaust manifold with Nickel or will it develop oxidation or peel off ?

Two other popular coatings you might find, are powder coating & ceramic. For this particular application (extreme temperature) ceramic coating is far & away the best, in terms of cosmetics & durability. Several colours are available.... low/medium/high gloss black, as well as a finish that somewhat resembles chrome, (if a shiny header is what you're after), and a few colours in between. Unfortunately, professionally applied ceramic coating is not cheap (probably > $200 for an entire exhaust system) though several cost-effective DIY type options are now available, esp. if you have facilities to bake parts.

[GSX750ES junky]

Two other popular coatings you might find, are powder coating & ceramic. For this particular application (extreme temperature) ceramic coating is far & away the best, in terms of cosmetics & durability. Several colors are available.... low/medium/high gloss black, as well as a finish that somewhat resembles chrome, (if a shiny header is what you're after), and a few colors in between. Unfortunately, professionally applied ceramic coating is not cheap (probably > $200 for an entire exhaust system) though several cost-effective DIY type options are now available, esp. if you have facilities to bake parts.

I found somebody who does Copper + Nickel + Chrome for 200$ and I think I'll go for it. Having a shiny set of 2 muffles I want the header to have a shiny homogeneous look.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/roadrider.jp/SIAyG7dlTfI/AAAAAAAAAW8/qKDQrumR4eM/1982IFMA-suzGSX750ES.jpg

Thanks for the idea though. It's good to know that this possibility exists...

[gs scott]

Here's a pretty good read on chrome plating.

http://www.finishing.com/faqs/chrome.html

Contains pretty much all I know about chroming in a 10 minute read.

Great article - thanks for sharing!

[Mysuzyq]

I found somebody who does Copper + Nickel + Chrome for 200$ and I think I'll go for it. Having a shiny set of 2 muffles I want the header to have a shiny homogeneous look.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/roadrider.jp/SIAyG7dlTfI/AAAAAAAAAW8/qKDQrumR4eM/1982IFMA-suzGSX750ES.jpg

Thanks for the idea though. It's good to know that this possibility exists...

Wow, that's a great looking bike.....you absolutely should go for the best quality chrome, for that baby. I think the N. American models got the black chrome, unless I'm mistaken.

[Big T]

Nickel plating and chroming go hand in hand. From my understanding of the process,Chrome is actually clear. It's a protective coating over nickel/nickel copper plating. Without the chrome coating, or some kind of coating to protect the Nickel,it will tarnish, oxidize, whatever rather quickly. Not suitable by itself for parts that will be exposed to the elements.

My buddy's nickel plated Rickman frame looks pretty good after 35 years

[TheCafeKid]

My buddy's nickel plated Rickman frame looks pretty good after 35 years

Yeah my buddy Dave has an original Rickman. Getting ready to have his frame re plated but to be honest it didn't look that bad to me. Wasn't "shiny" like chrome but it didn't look like crap either. I dunno what they did to those to keep them nice for so long, but most stuff that I've seen that's been plated doesn't stand up well. A customer of mine also works for a plating company here in Dayton (Hohlman plating) and said that it wouldn't stay shiny without a lot of upkeep.

[GSX750ES junky]

Wow, that's a great looking bike.....you absolutely should go for the best quality chrome, for that baby. I think the N. American models got the black chrome, unless I'm mistaken.

Have another look at the picture and you'll see a big "Suzuki " sign and the people in the picture are dressed like people in the early eighties .
Although this is a picture I googled, it sets the standard for me and I hope my bike will look the same in a few months...

[Mysuzyq]

Have another look at the picture and you'll see a big "Suzuki " sign and the people in the picture are dressed like people in the early eighties .

I just figured they were present-day Australians, or something.*