Original Aluminum Swingarm Finish

[Flaming Chainsaws]

I polished the swingarm and footpeg brackets on my GS1100ED. Now I've decided that it just doesn't look right . What's the original finish on these parts? Was it paint or something?

[oldpara]

On my 81 1100e it's just raw, satin aluminun finish, nothin fancy.

[Tom R]

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.

[allojohn]

I polished the swingarm and footpeg brackets on my GS1100ED. Now I've decided that it just doesn't look right . What's the original finish on these parts? Was it paint or something?

I think it's anodized. It's on there too good to be anything else.

[1100E]

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

[7981GS]

Now that you have it polished, coat it with a clear matte finish paint.
Epoxy-type.


Daniel

[Nessism]

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.

[Hammered]

Do something different but subtle. Use some 220 and grain it length wise and then use an epoxy clear coat to seal it.

[Tom R]

Any epoxy I've worked with yellows in the sun.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

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.

[Tom MLC]

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!

[JEEPRUSTY]

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.

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.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

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.

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 .

[Tom MLC]

I'm gonna look up some pics of members bikes to help me decide .

Check out RenoBruce's work.

[jwhelan65]

Powder coat light gray