The fork legs on my 28 are looking dodgy. What is good to use to tart them up? Its the usual look like below.....

Thanks to Joeking who's photo I have stolen from another thread




Also if I take them out over the winter, can I get them re done? I have no idea what they are made of. Or paint them maybe?
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Lemon owner and lover

Thought I recognised that picture

You need to buy a selection of sandpapers, 220, 400, 600 and 1500 grit is what I used. After the final 1500 grit wash the forks down with soapy water, dry them well then coat with clear lacquer...I used 5 coats with a 15 minute drying period in between coats. They came out looking like new but it was bloody hard work, 3 hour per leg.

Make sure you do the sanding in one direction. I chose horizontally around the fork diameter. If you mix it up with vertical sanding it looks bad and makes it a lot longer process as you have to refinish the areas where you've gone against the grain so to speak.

The 220 grit will completely wipe out the pitting and you'll probably get a bit scared that you've done too much but don't worry as the finer grits clean it all up and you'll end up with a near mirror finish by the time you get to 1500 grit. It's important to lacquer afterwards as the weather can quickly fade the metal, enough coats will to a certain extent protect from stone chips also.

If you didn't see the other images below is how they looked after a few hours work.



Reminds me that I must get round to doing the MC28 forks...

Thanks Joe, it was easier using your picky than running out and taking one of my own!!

I will get the sandpaper you listed, is it wet and dry you used and did you wet the sandpaper or do it dry?

3 Hours per leg?

Jeez, that is a long job. Over a few days in the winter I think!!

Cheers for the info, I sort of knew it was going to involve hard work but thought someone might have a short cut. Bugger.
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Lemon owner and lover

I've used scotchbrite pads in a rotary drill to do some before, you still have to finish off by hand, but looked excellent when finished, just remember, to keep the finish looking factory by only going around the leg, and never up and down.

You probably have 3 choices, You can paint them silver, you can spend hours doing them by hand like Joeking (nice job though) or you can spend £20 and send the bottoms for vapour blasting, sit back and have a beer while someone else does the hardwork

I have just had a pair done, spent 5 minutes with a scotchbrite pad to get the grain and then laquered them. They look pretty close to the original finish to be honest.

Cheers Paul, not sure what to do. I don't think anyone vapour blasts here so sending them away isn't something I want to do. The spraying them silver may be an option though.
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Lemon owner and lover

you guys might not like mine but as my bodykit is from Tyga, i didnt mind a finish that wasnt as original as i would go for if i had original bodywork. My 28s frame, swingarm and forks i spent hours polishing them by hand with Autosole. looks amazing