R1200RS + R1250RS Forum
»
RS Lounge Area
»
Off Topic
»
Headers and can (stainless steel) polishing product recommendations
Print view
|
BEAR started a separate post on bike washing topic I don't want to sidetrack, one of the things I keep putting off is polishing the headers and the OEM BMW stainless can. I wash it with the bike and regular shampoo but over 30k kms it does need some love.
Year-round riding enthusiast i.e. seasonal motorcycle popsicle.
|
|
reply
Tue Jul 01, 2025 9:30 pm
Tue Jul 01, 2025 10:02 pm
Tue Jul 01, 2025 11:38 pm
|
|
Zitat von BEARR im Beitrag #3 more pickled than patinated. Tonight, Cairanne Cru Côtes du Rhône, a mere 14.5% ABV Zitat von BEARR im Beitrag #3 if you want some bedtime reading, UKGSer has a gazillion threads recommending everything from your Simichrome (or Autosol) paste, Harpic toilet cleaner and Wonder Wheels brake dust remover. Use a brass brush, never steel. Strips of towel wrapped around the pipes and pulled from side to side. Google search link for the UKGSer forum - no login needed to view https://www.google.com/search?q=ukgser+r...r+discoloration What is evident is the large quantity of elbow grease needed for a short term fix. A patina is much easier to live with.
Spam goes here
|
Wed Jul 02, 2025 5:01 am
Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #4Zitat von BEARR im Beitrag #3 Sounds delightful. We had grilled salmon tonight, basted with a honey/mustard/lemon/wine baste, with grilled asparagus, and garnished with grilled lemon slivers, Bermuda onion slices and parsley, and a rosemary-thyme bread on the side. For libation, a Clos du Bois chardonnay. Just a typical Tuesday night repast...tomorrow, leftover salmon on a salad, with more chardonnay of course. As for chrome exhaust cleaning, I've decided benign neglect is sufficient. Someone once wrote that motorcycles are meant to be ridden, not looked at in the garage. There's a happy medium, but that's because she had a good love life. |
|
Wed Jul 02, 2025 8:53 am
|
|
Zitat von BEARR im Beitrag #5 You are learning well, grasshopper
Spam goes here
|
Wed Jul 02, 2025 4:00 pm
Wed Jul 02, 2025 6:54 pm
Wed Jul 02, 2025 7:08 pm
|
I used to wash the /5 everyday for a spell and then gradually tapered off .... I used to have the chrome polished out, with a soft clean cotton cloth, and a ton of elbow grease. The bike does have the toaster tank lol and I had that like a mirror .... Once you have the chrome polished out, then it is easy to get it back after a wash without chemicals, just a few strokes with the cotton cloth after it has dried ..... The bike still has all the chrome mostly, nothing polished thru ...
larry l langford
|
|
Wed Jul 02, 2025 8:06 pm
Zitat von Lee im Beitrag #7 Don't believe everything Lee says :) Information from Simichrome As a respected and proven product for decades, Simichrome Polish is the top choice of consumers restoring household, motorsport and industrial products. Truly the finest treatment for everything brass, gold, silver, aluminum, magnesium, CHROME, sterling, copper and stainless steel. Simichrome is specially-formulated using the finest micron particle size abrasive of any polish available combined with special cleaning agents. Because the abrasive particles are so fine, Simichrome will not harm uncoated metals surfaces. Unlike chemical polishes, Simichrome will not remove a layer of the metal surface being cleaned. This is especially important on gold and silver plated metal pieces and jewelry. *DUE TO CURRENT CALIFORNIA EPA RULES, THIS PRODUCT IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN CALIFORNIA: Size: 1.76 ounce tube. Will Simichrome scratch metal? When properly applied, Simichrome will not scratch or harm uncoated metal surfaces Can you eat with silverware after being cleaned and polished with Simichrome? We recommend that you first wash it with soap and water. What metals can Simichrome be used on? Simichrome is the perfect cleaner and polish for all ferrous and non-ferrous metals like brass, copper, CHROME, pewter, stainless steel, gold, silver, sterling, platinum…virtually all uncoated metals. Do not use on painted or lacquered surfaces. Will Simichrome prevent metals like silver or sterling from tarnishing? After you clean and polish with Simichrome, it leaves a thin, protective coating which will help slow down further tarnishing and oxidation, but it won’t prevent it completely. Can I use Simichrome on gold or silver plated items? Yes, but we suggest you be careful not to apply the polish with excessive pressure Can Simichrome be used on painted metal surfaces? Simichrome is not recommended for use on any coated metal surface including painted or lacquered surfaces. Can Simichrome be used on things like faucets? Simichrome can be used on any uncoated metal surface. Many products appear to be uncoated metal, but actually have a chrome-like finish which is actually a plastic product. Things like faucets, automobile grills and wheels may not actually be chrome metal. We highly suggest you make sure you are polishing uncoated metal.
Lee
2022 R1250RS White Sport Iowa, USA |
|
Wed Jul 02, 2025 8:48 pm
|
A cursory web search seems to point to Simichrome being source-able in the EU, I'll give it a 'rub' when the temps finally go below 30.
Year-round riding enthusiast i.e. seasonal motorcycle popsicle.
|
|
Wed Jul 02, 2025 9:04 pm
|
|
Zitat von Valks im Beitrag #11 I praise your assimilation to the ways of procrastination. To continue the space idiom, resistance is futile. I seem to have recruited two adherents in the last 24 hours.
Spam goes here
|
Wed Jul 02, 2025 10:55 pm
|
Wessie: As Han Solo said to Luke Skywalker, "Don't get cocky, kid!" One of your adherents is re-thinking after reading the detailed Simichrome write-up. I'm not saying I'm heading out to the garage this very minute, so I am - what would you call it? - "micro-procrastinating", but I am persuaded to give the stuff a try, as I have a tube in my closet. |
|
Wed Jul 02, 2025 11:20 pm
|
|
Zitat von BEARR im Beitrag #13 We have a euphemism for procrastination, "a serious case of looking at." I sense this is your mission for today.
Spam goes here
|
Thu Jul 03, 2025 8:05 pm
|
I just finished using Simichrome on my chrome muffler. Looks fantastic and took all of 5 minutes. Effort/benefit equation heavily in favor of the benefit. |
|
