Luckyramu's Cafe 550f Build

[luckyramu]

Hello DTT. I thought I'd post my abused, dropped, titless, rusted, painted, leaded (gas tank) '75 Honda 550f project. I am going to apologize in advance because I am going to ask some seriously stupid question on this thread. You peeps are so pro and this is my first motorcycle rebuild. However, I learn a ton (pun intended) from your comments so all help is greatly appreciated.

This is the bike after my first restore action: I washed the dam bike. My priorities are this:
1: Get it legal
2: Get it running (oil leak and all).
3: Ride the fucking shit out of it until I can't stand the cold no more (might be November or later [CA])
4. Get to work on the dam thing.

 

[luckyramu]

What I find strange is someone dropped this in such a way that they scratched to top of the lights (both rights). I think they got the bike inverted to this. That's some stupid shit right there. My guess is whoever managed this got injured.

 

[luckyramu]

The chrome is rust speckled. So here is my first question: I have a buffer and compounds, but I'm afraid even if I do manage to buff this out, it will re-rust at the first hint of moisture. Can the chrome be buffed out or is it unsalvageable?

 

[SONICJK]

Pour some coke on it and rub it with a ball of aluminum foil.

 

[SeanGSUK]

Chrome is a coating just a few microns thick (or thin!) so the rust could have already penetrated the chrome if it is pitted. Buffing will help reduce the look of the pitting, but, in the long term, it will need re-chroming or painting at some point. It could still look shiny, but with 1000s of tiny specks. If you do get it buffed to a point where you are happy, you could spray some clear coat on it to stop future rusting or WD40 or similar rust inhibitor.