Screws and bolts.
When the bolts look clean, the whole bike really does look sharp.
If only the larger or pricier parts are clean, it shows, though…
Now then,
Honda’s amazing lineup.
The variety of compatible parts is definitely top-tier!
Dedicated parts sell out instantly, but…
Surface finish, head shape, underhead length—you can pick and choose to your heart’s content…
Who knew this option existed? It’s a bit late to the party, but it’s really quite good.
Back in the day, both the world and I were thrilled to file down SUS304 bolt heads and polish them to a shine before installing them.
But
as the years go by, I find myself drawn to the “looks stock at first glance? (bolts and all)” aesthetic.
I’ve come to think lately that a finish that looks like nobody knows who touched it might actually be the most hardcore approach.
You glance at a bike and there’s no shop sticker, it looks pretty much stock at first sight, but you notice a subtle difference in the finish… yet when you look closer, there’s clearly some work put into it, and it runs great.
Isn’t that Italian-made pants vibe pretty cool?
Good and bad are subjective, so like what you like and dislike what you dislike (*’ω’*)
Now then,
I absolutely love iron for bolt material.
Because it rusts. When it rusts or gets dirty, that’s your chance to replace it.
SUS and titanium start out clean, but they do dull a bit over time.
You could keep them nice with wet blasting when they degrade, but over the long haul they end up looking pretty worn anyway, and honestly, you don’t often get around to polishing the bolt heads.
Depending on mileage and age, titanium is so expensive that some people plan to use it for life—pretty surprising, really. It actually makes things harder…
Personally, I really dislike the tightening feel of titanium—it gives off this vibe like it’s about to seize up at any moment.
I find that iron’s “I’m stretching here” sensation syncs my body and mind with “Oh, I’m actually tightening a bolt right now!”—it feels very human-friendly (and wallet-friendly too?). (Subjective opinion)
Now, Honda’s lineup is honestly insane…
And they’re all priced in double-digit yen.
You can work backward from where they’re used to figure out the strength grade and whether they’re suitable.
I’ll share more details soon.
