TOPIC:

My '83 Godier Genoud A5 has chrome casings and rather unsurprisingly the chrome is coming off. Would the chrome have been original? She was a French bike originally.

If it is original I would like to get it re-done, but frankly, thanks to the tree huggers and the nanny state in the Britain, we really can't get decent chrome done. I understand the US has still got good chrome available. I'm wondering if it would make sense to buy a new set of covers in the US and have them sent to a platers before sending them yo the UK?

Any thoughts on this? Anyone know of a good reliable US company who would help?

Thanx

Ralph

Peeling chrome seems to be a chronic problem on the 13's. I sent my covers to a plating company to be stripped so I can just polish the bare aluminum. Place is called JR Custom Plating they are in Minnesota. Their prices seem reasonable, some of my friends have used them for some car restoration projects and have had good results. There are quite a few places in the states the do chrome plating, just search around.

I dont know if shipping is easier to Canada for you or not, lots of people in my area have sent stuff up to Winnipeg for chrome work too.

Covers for the 13's are not exactly cheap, even in bad shape, I don't know if it would pay to buy covers stateside vs shipping yours.

good luck.

Ralph, hi
I had this same discussion with a chromer, and he said he could re-chrome my Z13 Alterntor cover, but guaranteed that it would (in time) peel and crack. He advised me to have it stripped and mirror polished - which is what I am having done over Winter.

He's based in Coventry and done loads of work for me: and I have been really impressed with his work end product. If you want his details let me know and I'll PM them to you.

He usually has a stand at the Stafford Show - if you were heading that way.

Cheers Tim

PS I recognise your bike from the Z1OC

I have used Browns Plating in the past, very high end quality, you get what you pay for. They plate everything from Nickel to Gold.

One thing to remember when comparing plating, it's all in the prep and how the surface is prepared for a long lasting (Non Peeling) chrome surface.

To hold the cost of the bike down, The factory chrome of our KZ's would have never gotten the attention to detail the OEM chrome covers needed to last 30 years. The Browns plating process goes the distance, but it is expensive.

I had Browns plate an entire turbo, and exhaust manifold on a KZ 1000, and it went many years without a mark on it. A much more demanding application than our side covers, which operate at a much lower temperature.

It looks like they are solely on F.B. now.

www.facebook.com/pages/Browns-Plating-Se...-Inc/106508902733233