Here's the solution to the problem.
http://www.nippynormans.com/product...2013-r1200gs-lc-adventure-2014-on-akp-e-b12r3
Love it
Nice and clean! but need some tips!
- Thread starter Titto
- Start date
having owned a harley before (the acknowledged experts in anything vaguely chromed) , we were told never to use autosol. Something to do with thinning down the chrome exposing the copper undercoat.
of course , most of us ignored that and used autosol anyways. It seems to work to remove the blueing on the headers, but needs a fair bit of elbow grease to work properly.
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of course , most of us ignored that and used autosol anyways. It seems to work to remove the blueing on the headers, but needs a fair bit of elbow grease to work properly.
.
Big Lee
Registered user
WD40 does for the tar as well 
Finishing on the exhaust pipe is normally by multi-layer of nickel plating, followed by a layer of decorative chrome (another type is called Hard Chrome but its used in engine parts only). The thickness of chrome varies from manufacturer (eg BMW, Audi, Toyota etc) and also changes with time. The spec is thicker last time (in general) as compared to now due to cost. Chrome is also 'colorless'. The silver color you see is from nickel, not chrome.
Chrome is susceptible to Chloride ion attack (exist in salt) and can be worn off as well. Chrome can worn off by abrasive polish and once worn off, will expose nickel underlayer. Nickel layer will then be susceptible to oxygen, water etc. and start another chain of corrosion (producing greenish deposit). Again, it can be polish off by abrasive polish until all the nickel is gone. In the market today, the similar process can be seen in, example, bath room fittings and car emblems.
I am a plating engineer in case you wonder. So personally, i will not use abrasive stuffs on the LC exhaust (if its not plain stainless steel), because it will wear down the coatings like one of guys mentioned. It will be a problem once all the chrome is gone. As you might understand by now that these products are not meant to last a lifetime. So the best way to keep the outlook is through diligent maintenance. I would just use car wash detergent to wash off the dirt and wipe off with a cloth to minimise any water residue (water also contain chloride) whenever i can.
Another way that is possible is through certain products that can produce a 'clear coat' on top of chrome. This layer will then prevent any substances from staying on and can be washed off before creating any problem. eg like some kind of 'wax' but able to withstand high temperature. But this will open up another topic of products available.
just my 2 cents.
Chrome is susceptible to Chloride ion attack (exist in salt) and can be worn off as well. Chrome can worn off by abrasive polish and once worn off, will expose nickel underlayer. Nickel layer will then be susceptible to oxygen, water etc. and start another chain of corrosion (producing greenish deposit). Again, it can be polish off by abrasive polish until all the nickel is gone. In the market today, the similar process can be seen in, example, bath room fittings and car emblems.
I am a plating engineer in case you wonder. So personally, i will not use abrasive stuffs on the LC exhaust (if its not plain stainless steel), because it will wear down the coatings like one of guys mentioned. It will be a problem once all the chrome is gone. As you might understand by now that these products are not meant to last a lifetime. So the best way to keep the outlook is through diligent maintenance. I would just use car wash detergent to wash off the dirt and wipe off with a cloth to minimise any water residue (water also contain chloride) whenever i can.
Another way that is possible is through certain products that can produce a 'clear coat' on top of chrome. This layer will then prevent any substances from staying on and can be washed off before creating any problem. eg like some kind of 'wax' but able to withstand high temperature. But this will open up another topic of products available.
just my 2 cents.
Reading this thread is like watching the old TV adverts where housewives compared the whiteness of their washing across the garden fences. How sad is that?
Have you had it remapped yet?
Not yet after the 1st service it will be done. Be interesting to see the outcome as it feels a lot more lively than my 13 model .
Titto
Registered user
Nutty - no photo on here?
Now edited
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