finish on rear (aluminum) shock mount plates

[G-Man]

Pretty sure that those parts are rough polished then lacquered. Same finish as the rear shock tops.
The picture is a genuine NOS C71 part which shows the lacquer. It may have darkened a bit but it's definitely lacquered.

My C72 shock mounts show signs of lacquer but corrosion has taken hold pretty severely.

G

[nc_rider]

I took a pic of a shock support plate from my '64. Notice how rough it is? It hasn't been polished. My guess is it was just painted silver.

Also check out the other image where I put it next to the one on my parts bike.. there are some slight differences in the shape of the pieces.

[e3steve]

Pretty sure that those parts are rough polished then lacquered. Same finish as the rear shock tops.
The picture is a genuine NOS C71 part which shows the lacquer. It may have darkened a bit but it's definitely lacquered.

My C72 shock mounts show signs of lacquer but corrosion has taken hold pretty severely.

G

Well, I'll stand up & be kicked in the goolies if I'm wrong, but neither of my (CB)77s, my CA95 or my pal's C72 showed any signs of their alu parts being lacquered.

Where's my cricket box.......?

[G-Man]

Steve

Never seen any lacquer on early levers or switchgear but I thought that these parts were treated similarly to the shiny parts of hubs. Not sure what the decision making process was at Honda.....

G

[Hippykid]

I know the last two bikes I restored (both Hondas) had a clearcoat that was not so clear anymore
and alot of fun to scrub off of every alum polished part...the aluminum jelly helps soften it up and
after 5 minutes i then hit it with a dry SOS pad while the jelly is still on it.Safety glasses are a must.
then rinse with warm or hot water and repeat as nessesary. I love old motorcycles....

[e3steve]

Some interesting opinions, observations & knowledge bubbling up here.

My first CB77 -- that I owned when it was 7 years old and was a '64 -- apart from the side casings, had bare, unlacquered alu everywhere: top yoke, perches/levers, switch assy's, hubs, brakeplates, alt/oil filter/points' covers, taillight trim & rear shocks' upper eyes.

My current CB77 has been refreshed by a PO so can't be used as a guideline; the side casings he polished and they look very drab if not kept so.

My mate's C72, in '71 and at 8 years old (it carried the trademark "low-flying geese" rear suspension sound effect!) was, in its aluminium departments, as naked as Lady Godiva; as was my little (favourite) '65 CA95.

As has been stated: who knows what Honda did? But my (admittedly, limited)early experiences lead me to believe that certainly pre-'65 bikes were like this.

Interestingly, my '69 CB250K, in totally original state, also has no lacquer anywhere.

My GT380J did have lacquered alu -- smokey flavour on the engine casings -- and my GT380L was clear-lacquered. I bought the latter new, in '74, and by '77 all of the alu parts were looking pretty terrible as the British weather attacked and undermined the coating. So either Honda used much better quality (and invisible) coating than did 'Zook, or they used JakSchhidt?

[G-Man]

Some pics from my shelves...

Just looked through 10 sets of rear dampers I dismantled. All show signs of lacquer.

NOS CL72 brake plate. Lacquered over linishing. left unpolished where they couldn't reach. Time is money chaps....

NOS Dream front shocks - no lacquer on top or bottom alloy. Time is money - especially when you cannot see the result.......

My C72 will have lacquered shock fittings, shock mounts and wheel hubs.


Happy fettling......

G