Triumphrat

REVOLT · 01-05-2008

So I'd like to Thank everyone for your compliments about the headlight bucket and the Bonnie in general...and I'd also like to get your opinion on something else? I plan to heat the mirror stalks with a rose bud at work this week to lower them (obviously, it will ruin the chrome finish)...and I'm debating how I am going to finish the stalks afterwards? I was thinking either powder coating the stalks the same black as the headlight bucket? Adding to the mono-chromatic Black with Chrome accents going on with the Bonnie...So I had an old damaged mirror and stalk...painted the stalk with some gloss black and attached the mirror (still chrome)...the pictures are not that great but one can imagine the look?

The other choice would be to have them re-chromed...shouldn't cost a whole lot...but the black is kind of cool? Or is it...?

Thanks EVERYONE!! COME ON SPRING TIME!!
Cheers!

Hedge · 01-05-2008

I vote for powder coating. But if you powder coat anything else on your bike from here on in I would recommend you doing it the same color as the bucket so as to keep everything uniform. I think the stalks will look great! Go for it!

NewOldSkool · 01-05-2008

Are you going to keep the mirrors chrome or paint them black as well? If you are thinking of blacking them out too, I would just paint both with some industrial rattle can. It seems to be good stuff, and is holding up pretty nicely on my headlight. But if you are not thinking of blacking out the mirrors too, them go for the powdercoating, but just my opinion. Either way though, it should come out great!
Mondo

SCbonneville · 01-05-2008

On my mirrors and stems I sanded the chrome, hit them with an automotive metal primer and then a few coats of a satin black paint baked off in a warm oven for twenty to thirty minutes..

I think the black looks great on the mirrors and stems... I wish someone would offer them in powdercoated black...

rodburner · 01-05-2008

Rev,I just bent them down cold,in a vice.Main shaft in the vice,and the cheater over the mounting stem.Slow and easy.

REVOLT · 01-05-2008

Thanks Rod...I think I'll take a cheater the test stalk...In fact...I'm gonna give it a shot right now.

REVOLT · 01-07-2008

So I took a rose bud to the mirror stalks...tacked a 1/2" bolt to the table...heated up the stalk and pulled it in about 1 1/4"...WHAT A DIFFERENCE!! I can actually see out the **** things...I had Napoleons on my Superbars and LOVED them, but they didn't work with the Flat Tracks (looked goofy and pointed in too much). So I had to modify the stock mirrors...

Afterwards I pulled out the medium Scotch Brite to clean up the discoloration from the heat...when after about 2 minutes...I realized what finish I was going to use...Powder Coat? Re-Chrome? Rattle Can? Natural? YES!!! Natural brushed steel!!! That's the stuff!! So I took some WD40 (works great when "brushing") and the Scotch Brite...and went to town...cleaned off the residue, put the mirrors (Chrome) back on the stems...WOILA!! Unique...Original...Home Grown!!

What do you folks think? The Combo of the brushed stem and chrome mirror are an awesome accent to the chrome handle bars and brushed handlebar clamp...

I'm really please with the change...Just need to put a coat of Clear Coat on the raw finish. Again, I pulled the stalks about down about 1 1/4" from the stock bend, now the mirrors aren't sticking up and in the wind, now they are nice and low near the grips...and the finish...I am dig'n the finish...

Cheers!

BBR · 01-07-2008

Looks good Revolt. I like the brushed look. The stock mirrors look good lowered down.

Loxpump · 01-07-2008

I used the Rodburner method, cold and slow in a vise. Worked great no damage to the chrome. I also replaced the round heads with some Yamaha VStar oval cruiser heads. They screwed right onto the stems. Either way getting them out more helps on visibility. I've been thinking I like the look of the black, but the brushed look is good too.

REVOLT · 01-07-2008

I was going to bend it cold but I couldn't find a cheater in my stash with a small enough I.D.

Thanks for the comments...