Classic Bike Guide

Make it shiny!

ALUMINIUM PARTS, LIKE ENGINE casings or fork legs are generally polished and lacquered, painted or even just polished. But over time, stone chips, salt and ultraviolet light break down the coating, allowing the finish to get very second-hand.

Gradually the finish delaminates more of the protective coating to a point where the casting grows a furry grey overcoat. Painted cases can be cleaned back, filled where necessary and then repainted; all in all a fairly straightforward job.

Polished case rectification takes a little more effort. It’s a messy job but we can do it at home. There are several DIY polishing solutions out on the market and it pays to have a look at

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