Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,645
Likes: 1,109
From: Mans of NC & SW UT Desert
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Take a magnet to the handlebars. If they are steel, then stripper should work. If they are alloy, then they are probably anodized as others have mentioned. No need to speculate whether the bars are aluminum or steel.