| Author | Message | ||
     Brineusaf |
Ok, This isn't going to be done anytime soon, but I just wanted to get a jump on planning winter projects. In the KV Eagle-1 Metal Polish seems to be the best, but does anyone have before/after pics? And a timeframe for having this complete? Worst Case Scenerio I'll just purchase another set of headers.. jet hot silver. Thanks for any input in advance. Kyle Brine United States Air Force | ||
| Bads1 |
Kyle I've been using it on my headers for 6 years now and its the best hands down...I've tried them all.  And you don't need to wait for winter. I did mine while on the bike. | ||
| Brineusaf |
I'm not to familiar with Buells, so I'm assuming you pipes were that brownish before the polish? How long did it take? Kyle Brine United States Air Force | ||
| Brineusaf |
Do you have a far away pic? Kyle Brine United States Air Force | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
 Before  After I just did mine this afternoon. I must admit I was a bit skeptical of the claims I had heard, but this only took me about 15 minutes and it was the first time I tried it. I used very fine steel wool to apply it. I was just amazed to see the shine when I buffed it with an old towel. Of course I don't know how long this will last, but it is by FAR the best way of doing it that I know of, and I have tried everything:-) | ||
| Stealthxb |
Gentleman_jon... Who's headers are you polishing? The bike pictured is not the bike I remember! | ||
| Lonexb |
jon the gig is up. you better post up some pics of that thing soon. brian (lonexb) | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
uh -oh..................  Stay tuned................. Maybe some news this weekend.............. (Message edited by gentleman_jon on May 23, 2006) | ||
| Deuceman |
I polished mine first with just eagle one, and it was ok, but they returned to the old finish fairly quickly. I then polished them with sandpaper starting with 600 grit progressing to 1000 grit alternating directions each time. They are now much shinier, and the finish stays for about four to six months before having to polish it again. When I polish them now, I do it with a drill attachment and it takes about 3 minutes. I will post pics. Oh yeah, I did this with the headers on the bike with no problem. | ||
| Duff24 |
We got the same results using sandpaper/steel wool rather than polishing, steel wool would have worked just as good without using the polish...minus the burning smell from the spots missed being wiped off... | ||
| Bads1 |
Dueceman you must of not done it right or something. Like I've said in the past,you need to use paper towel. Steel wool,to much of it burys into the steel wool. Paper towel is abrasive enough to take fine scratches out and all oxidation. I only need to do mine 3 times a year to maintain. In the beginning though I may have applied it a 1/2 dozen times before I got them exactly how I wanted them. The paper towel trick I learned from the company Flitz. Oh yeah polish it off with a soft terry cloth after you have rubbed it in real good.  | ||
| Deuceman |
BadS1, I used paper towels then polished with a terry cloth towel. I actually tried it after reading your posts. It did look good, but I think the sandpaper did a much better job in taking out the grooves and making it much shinier and smoother. | ||
| Brineusaf |
Awesome, you guys have been a great help, like usual. I'm going to order me 2 containers of Eagle-1 today. Thanks. Kyle Brine United States Air Force | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Deuceman, What do you have on your drill when you polish the headers? A buffing wheel with Eagle one? An abrasive disc? Something else? Thanks. | ||
| Brineusaf |
Ok, so before I order it I figured I'd cruise the local bike/car shops for it. Ha, funny time that was. POLO Bike Shop Manager - "You shouldn't polish those pipes, they will rust, look bad; plus I don't even think they are polishable." It was a great time, he told me that they wouldn't polish, then gave me a card to his "friends" polishing company. Maybe I'll just go jet hot, wouldn't that benefit the bike more anyways? Kyle Brine United States Air Force | ||
| Bads1 |
Well as you can see they do polish just nice and mine don't rust.  | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Kyle, Do you know where the Louis bike shop is located in K-Town? I'm forgetting my exits here so work with me :-) Not the Vogelweh exit but the next one headed towards Mannheim (or Rh.Neckar HD.) There's a McDonalds in the roundabout? Check it out for the little things :-) G2 | ||
| Brineusaf |
Thats where I bought my leathers,boots,gloves,leather neck thing-a-ma-bob, dust cover,emergency rain suit; so yeah. I looked there, as well as POLO, who by the way hassome fine naked ladies in their catalog; no to avail. Can't seem to find Eagle One. I was going to order online... but I am too impatient, I want it now. Kyle Brine United States Air Force | ||
| Bigdaddy |
I miss Louis,,still get their catalog but only because it freaking rocks. Did you park on the roof :-) I've been in that same POLO store but always ended up doing my shopping at Louis. G2 | ||
| Perry |
Hold on sportsfans! The 2006 headers are DIFFERENT. My 2005 is stainless steel, polish works. I look closely at the 2006 models in the showroom and they have a very different texture. They almost look like they were BB blasted or something. Not smooth, very rough like a sandstone or something. Not sure if that's the metal, or some kind of coating. My guess is the polishing experience on the 06 headers will be a different experience than prior years. | ||
| Brineusaf |
Same here... yeah love that parking!!!If you have the 2006 Catalog? If so go to page 617, and look at the mid right side of the right page, imagine those on a lightning... in black maybe. If you don't have the 06 I can try to find it online. Kyle Brine United States Air Force | ||
| Nd_xb |
Can't seem to find Eagle One. I was going to order online... but I am too impatient, I want it now. Kyle, I used to go through 2 cans of Eagle one a year on my rims. The Auto parts store on Vogelweh is where I always got mine! That was from 2001-Dec 2005 when PCS'd to minot. Unless they stopped carrying it, it should be there. Good luck. | ||
| Deuceman |
Gentleman_Jon, I use the buffing wheels from Sears. There are some that come with four different sticks of polishing compounds and three different size wheels. I use the white stick with the smallest wheel. Works wonderfully! | ||
| Brineusaf |
NDXB, Thats the first place I tried, the ladies at the counter don't know much. And I looked throughout the entire store, vigorously I might add. The ladies said that if it wasn't on the shelf that I had to wait for the next shipment, but they didn't even take the time for me to finish saying the product. I will try their again tomorrow, and clarify that they carry it anymore, and if so when the next shipment is going to be. I sure hope the truck came if they still carry it. How much do you think I will need for the initial polish? There is a best bike contest on the 3rd, i have a feeling it is going to be mostly harley's so I am hoping to have everything done I want to have done by then so I can maybe win something. Oh.. and represent Buell. (Message edited by brineusaf on May 24, 2006) Kyle Brine United States Air Force | ||
| Bads1 |
One jar Kyle. I only go through one every year and a half and I have two XB's to take care of. | ||
| Brineusaf |
Awesome, thanks. Will give it another shot. Kyle Brine United States Air Force | ||
| Brineusaf |
 You can see the difference... took pic to compare the 2 after I finished the first pipe. But they didn't have eagle one still. So i got impatient and bought the recommended stuff.   I only spent 6 dollars on everything needed. Some polishing cloths and the tube of polish. Best 6$ in a long time. For what it's worth I applied with a papertowel. Tried applying with steelwool, but didn't see an improvement over the papertowel, so I stuck to the towel. Plus as he said, the wool required constant applications, unlike the papertowel. I bet they would look real sharp though is someone actually took the time to sand it down properly and then polish them up. Kyle Brine United States Air Force | ||
| Bads1 |
Kyle thats your battle though being that you have a 2006 bike. Being its peen blasted. In order to get that off you'd have to sand it with different grades of paper. Although if you apply this polish you are using more then once your pipe will begin to keep its color longer and longer. | ||
| Typeone |
good tips. i gotta do this over the weekend. my header looks like a**. i'll shoot before/afters and post too. all the damn rain riding i do gets them pretty messed up. how does the Eagle One treatment hold up after a few rain rides? | ||
| Nd_xb |
Kyle, You bought the "Nigrin"! (sp?) Thats the Euro equivalent to Wal-mart branded stuff in the states. At least it works. Looks good I did alot of fiberglass work when I was at Ramstein, and the only body filler or glass epoxy that was available was the Nigrin stuff from Praktiker @ the Opel Traffic Circle. Praktiker also had 2 other kinds of metal polish too. Check them out for next time you shine those headers up. | ||
| Pipefittermike |
After reading through this I got the itch to do it as well, so I picked up some Mother's and got going (no eagle one at the store). My problem is I accidentaly got some on the motor where the black wrinkle is and can't get it off. Any ideas?  | ||
| Bads1 |
Just a little paint thinner on a rag or even mineral spirits or brake cleaner on a rag. | ||
| Hammeroid |
Wow! Those pipes look sweet. Not to get off topic, but what do you guys recommend to clean and polish the rims?? | ||
| Bads1 |
Same | ||
| Brineusaf |
Real funny making fun of my euro-walmart polish!!! But in all seriousness thats what the parts guy recommended above the others at the auto-shop. I went to Praktiker's looking for good metal polish but didnt come up with anything mentionable. What I did come up with though, and am thinking of buying is some chrome paint type stuff. Chrome'ish spray can paint... anyone have any experience. I'm thinking maybe sanding down the plastic belt gaurds and giving it a shot. Until I get the cash for the Buell polished Gaurds. Anyone done this? Also, I went to the bicycle shop and bought some bar ends. So far so good. 8Euro a piece, sure beats those RIZOMA prices...IMO. To end on an original note: Not sure if I was just busy and time passed more quickly or not, but it seemed as if the pipes cooled quicker yesterday. I came back out to the garage to put the cover on, and they were stone cold, as compared to the mild warmth I feel when I usually return to cover the beast. Kyle Brine United States Air Force |
