Front forks - black or natural?

[Freebird]

Not a terribly technical question for this section, but hey ho.

My '81 3CL has got black painted fork sliders which needs a refurb so I have the opportunity to strip it off. Most of the pictures I have seen of similar bikes have silver or natual coloured ones which I think I prefer the look of.

Anyone know what it would have come out of the factory like? Quite possibly depends on what was in the stores that day I guess.

 

[Freebird]

Closer piccie

 

[lavgert]

... keep them black, way better look then polished!
Ciao, Gert

 

[Paul LeClair]

I like them mirror polished, which is what I did on my 79 1200, matches my polished engine covers. Be aware that polishing them is a ton of work, once you get the paint off you will see why, takes a fair bit of sanding to get all the rough edges, castings marks, etc. to a point where you can actually start polishing.

alternatively, I recently did the lower fork legs on my 82 1200 project, which I know were black from new. I removed the lower legs, stripped them, soaked them in a solvent cleaning tank, then glass bead blasted them, then cleaned them with VHT high heat paint prep, then primed them with VHT high heat primer, then gave them two coats of VHT caliper paint, then baked them in the kitchen oven for about an hour and a half at 200 F. The finish is tough as nails, resistant to brake fluid, doesn't chip, etc. Available in satin or gloss.        http://www.vhtpaint.com/products/caliperpaint/

while I am not positive, I suspect that for an 81 they likely would have left the factory with the lower fork legs black.

Paul LeClair

 

[Harry Lime]

Black. Then add more black, with black highlights.

H.

 

[3patC]

That looks skanky Mr lime.

 

[Harry Lime]

That looks skanky Mr lime.

Had to Google that...........Not sure how to respond, really......

 

[Grant]

Looks German to me.

 

[Simonr501]

I used to spend hours polishing my RD 250 fork legs, only for the job needing re-doing a couple of weeks later.
Does look stunning polished, but black is so much more durable.

 

[mauricejota7604]

Freebird in fact your bike is quite a rare model well I suppose most Laverdas are :
I have seen a 1981 3CL once but it was a series 2 bike but no hydraulic clutch not like your series 1 engine she is beautiful leave the fork legs as they are.
But dont have black fork lowers on a 3C hey Mr freel????????????????