Other than cosmetics, does anyone know the value of chrome plating a frame? Does it deter corrosion, or simply add lustre to a painted finish?

They do it for the Bling!

(edit) seriously, there's no benefit to chroming a frame compared to a quality paint job. Chroming costs much more, and is heavier, especially if it's done correctly with base layers of copper and nickel.

Chrome frames look freaking sweet.

What Chris said...it's a visual thing. It deters rust...in theory...but it gets other issues that are more pricey to address (especially when it was a poorly done chroming job, and many are). It also makes the steel (slightly) weaker.

It's not just for looks. Parts are chrome plated for durability. Think about it; chrome is much more durable than paint.

I can see where this can become a real can of worms. aside from the fancy "show chrome" like you vaunted Paramounts, I was taught that the chroming was to make the frame more resistant to corrsion (as noted) but was also told and maybe improperly that the electrochenical process also strengthened the steel.

I guess it is just a matter of who tought you about bikes, but I am certain someone will reference Sheldon's take on the subject soon.

Chrome is much more durable than paint. It is very hard to chip it and it is rust-resistant. If you look at old BMX frames that were chromed and clean one up they might look like new. Find another old BMX frame that was painted and it's a chipped and rusted mess.

Imagine if steel handlebars back in the day were painted instead of chromed? You couldn't find one that didn't look like heck.

That's one source I did not consult.

My Performance Blue Ridge frame has chrome forks and a chrome rear triangle just for this purpose, besides that it looks sweet.

It also distorts the mind control rays that the shape shifting reptilian overlords are sending out. If you could make a hat out of chrome bicycle frames- that would be best. Of course, that would be a kind of heavy hat. Your neck muscles would get really strong, so then you'd be immune to the reptilian brain control rays AND have a really strong neck. That's a win/win if I ever heard one.


My "dream bike" is a lightweight, fillet brazed, fully chromed touring bike.

Shiny, durable finish. And in the days before we became concerned about the environment, only marginally more costly than paint.

Probably a combination of durability and looks, until it gets dinged, or corroded.

I've stripped 2 of the 4 chrome plated plated frames I have. Both had corrosion under the paint that was virtually impossible to see when painted. I'm not sure if the chrome plating helped or hurt in that regard.

I do know that my powder coater much prefers to work with bare steel vs. chrome plated frames.

I think it may have something to do with protection from alien radio waves, but I've got a helmet for that.

I disagree with its longevity compared to paint, though that usually has a lot to do with the quality of the chrome...it's trading off one set of issues for another. I have several bikes with great looking paint and pitted chrome. It does make the steel slightly weaker.

Chrome forks - you dont have to make different forks for each color
Chrome chain stay - doesnt get chipped up like a painted one.

High quality paint might be better than very low quality chrome, but high quality (or even medium quality) chrome is much more durable than even high quality paint. That is why so many chainstays are chromed.

+1 And, if the "making steel slightly weaker" issue had any signifigance in real world applications we would have stopped chrome plating parts of bike a long time ago. Get ye back with your interweb fairy stories, KonAaron!

Improperly done plating can lead to hydrogen embrittlement, but as long as you use a reputable plater it shouldn't be an issue.

I didn't say it had a notable effect, I said it does make steel weaker and there are builders who avoid it for that reason. I also said that well done chrome is fine...but much of it isn't. I've had an awful lot that was done poorly and comparatively little that has lasted as well as paint. When there is an issue with chrome, I think it's uglier and harder to deal with.

In my experience (mostly Italians...not known for the best paint OR chrome), I've had more chrome issues than paint.

Would that make you mini-me?

I don't get it.

Anyway, the answer to the question in the original post is "durability". That's it. Are there crappy chrome jobs? Certainly.

I didn't get yours...I think i saw 5 minutes of those movies.

I like chrome...obviously...but I haven't found it more durable on my bikes.

My reference was "zip it". As in, your argument is poor and you are wasting your breath, so zip it.

Then your bikes are anomalies or something. It's pretty easy to tell on bikes that get ridden that those with chromed fork ends and chainstays fair much better than those that are painted. It's not like you need a scientific test to come to this conclusion.

Cue next how do I restore chrome thread.

A: it's expensive and difficult.

Schwinn Paramounts should be chromed.
Or black with chrome lugs and "socks"

Chrome was a choice of many World Champion Pro and amateur sprinters in the 70's
Looks great under the velodrome lights.