Z1OwnersClub GB

Just had a quote for re-chroming my exhaust system downpipes from Central Engineering Design in Folkestone.
I'm looking at £300 +VAT for the two downpipes attached to the collector box and £125 + VAT for each of the single downpipes (£660 for the lot). A fair bit more than I expected and I don't want to fork that much out without being sure what I'm getting for my money! Anybody used the company before or have any recommendations/comments/alternative suggestions?

Cheers

Would have though you could get a good use set for that

If I remember correct - Castle chroming do exhausts.
www.castlechrome.co.uk

They have a reputation of not being fastest turn around though.

jonhunt wrote:Would have though you could get a good use set for that

Yep I know but mine's in pretty good nick apart from a bit of surface pitting - I'll have a shop around 👍

Hinckley wrote:If I remember correct - Castle chroming do exhausts.
www.castlechrome.co.uk

They have a reputation of not being fastest turn around though.

Thanks mate - I'll give 'em a shout for a quote

Have you thought about getting them professionally polished? If they are in reasonable condition, a good polisher will get them to about 99% of what rechroming will do.

A mate of mine restored an XS650 and the downpipes were in fairly shoddy condition but after polishing they were really nice. Saved him loads of dosh.

Fred

After getting some silly quotes & lack of interest from local places (Nottingham & Birmingham) last year I ended up taking my downpipes and collector box along with some other bits to AGBrigg at Leeds.
The person you speak to owns the business (Sean)
Excellent service very professional and not too pricey


I took the bits up in the car and collected them, but the end result was worth it.

pictures please and an idea of price

Sean at Agbrigg chrome in leeds said he would do my Z1000 4:2 exhausts for £200 per side (front to back)!

he has done most chrome work on my bike and he is pretty good... I've noticed a few expansion chambers there too when I've taken stuff in!

Simonh wrote:Sean at Agbrigg chrome in leeds said he would do my Z1000 4:2 exhausts for £200 per side (front to back)!

he has done most chrome work on my bike and he is pretty good... I've noticed a few expansion chambers there too when I've taken stuff in!

Simon....

Be very interested in the outcome if you get them done. I was quoted 3x this amount with no guarantee on the finish or even that the pipes wouldn't just disintegrate as soon as they were dipped.

Please post up some pic's if you get them done.

There's a guy in borough green in kent who mostly does restoration chroming for RR, Bentley and Astons. I went and saw him when i needed some bits done. He had lots of bikebits in there for various finishes. He only does triple chrome plating because thats what all the top end car boys want. He also does various other finishes like zinc etc.
I thought he was going to be expensive but I was pleasently surprised when he wanted £110 to do front mudguard, headlight ears and few small bits. I know he charges £150 per pipe (header and tailpipe = one pipe). I was very pleased with the finish and recommeeded him to mates who have been equally pleased with the result and price.
All in took approx 4 weeks start to finish.
I cant recall his co's name but have his name and tel number if anyone needs him.

warren3200gt wrote:There's a guy in borough green in kent who mostly does restoration chroming for RR, Bentley and Astons. I went and saw him when i needed some bits done. He had lots of bikebits in there for various finishes. He only does triple chrome plating because thats what all the top end car boys want. He also does various other finishes like zinc etc.
I thought he was going to be expensive but I was pleasently surprised when he wanted £110 to do front mudguard, headlight ears and few small bits. I know he charges £150 per pipe (header and tailpipe = one pipe). I was very pleased with the finish and recommeeded him to mates who have been equally pleased with the result and price.
All in took approx 4 weeks start to finish.
I cant recall his co's name but have his name and tel number if anyone needs him.

I'd be interested in giving him a call - please post or PM me his number - Cheers

Kev1R wrote:After getting some silly quotes & lack of interest from local places (Nottingham & Birmingham) last year I ended up taking my downpipes and collector box along with some other bits to AGBrigg at Leeds.
The person you speak to owns the business (Sean)
Excellent service very professional and not too pricey


I took the bits up in the car and collected them, but the end result was worth it.

Thanks for the info! I called him today - I'll mail him a few pics and see how it goes

sorry for late reply Garry, i ended up buying another set of OEM exhausts for my Z, they need a few repairs that will be hidden, rest of the exhausts are 99% so not rushing to chrome them (my other set i will save for another day).

As you know most people won't do them because of the contamination of tanks...BUT (and I'm no expert) a very reputable restorer told me if you braise up both ends of the exhausts (but fill with Fernox?? a radiator fluid?? and obviousley before you have braised both ends) this will both weigh them down in the tanks and stop contamination of said tanks..
AGAIN... i am no expert but this is what i told from a VERY well known Z restorer....makes sense to me