[14]

I have a 1983 Honda and the aluminum shines like a mirror. It didn’t always. When I got it the metal looked dull and weather possible damaged. It is amazing what buffing it can do. From garbage to mirror finish. Very satisfying to watch aluminum being polished. The aluminum did loses some of the outer layer that had oxidizes but looks brand new once cleaned up. Looks new and has the structural integrity to be used in aircraft is not the same but for the purposes of a motorcycle cover it is just fine. There are many other applications for aluminum that structural integrity is not if concern like heat sinks. The LED light I am building uses aluminum extrusion as heat sink.

[quesera]

Old Airstream trailers (1950s-1990s at least) can be buffed to a mirror-like finish.

Oddly, new Airstreams seem to come pre-oxidized. Not sure if this is a design choice, or if they don't use aluminum any more.

[LeifCarrotson]

It's for manufacturability, not design... Airstreams are now a premium brand, and it's quite expensive to develop and maintain a mirror polish. Someone buying a $150k polished trailer expects it to be completely unblemished.

You can still polish it yourself, it only takes about 80 hours of manual labor...

[quesera]

That makes sense. Like a popcorn ceiling.

Also any road damage or wear will be much more visible on a polished surface, which is not a premium look.

I thought earlier-era Airstreams were buffed and clearcoated before initial sale. My only evidence is vintage photos, and the fact that some owners "restore" the mirror finish.

[verve_rat]

Mirror finished anything on the road seems like a really bad hazard.

[14]

Well you will see big rigs with the polished tanks on the road already. They are typically cylindrical and even the back end is bubbled out so you do get some shine it’s not like a direct beam of light hitting your eyes.

[quesera]

There are no flat or concave surfaces, so any reflections are diffused out. Ends up not being an issue at all.