best place to get red valve covers & matte grey frame plates?

[Scud]

18 hours ago, activpop said:

I've always noticed that the RM's valve covers turn a little more orange over time. Is it the heat that affects the paint, UV rays or both? I don’t think that happens with powder coating, but the sheen might be different.

If you look at the original Moto Guzzi sales literature you will see that the valve covers on RM, Rosso Corsa, and Nero Corsa are a lighter shade of red (approaching orange) then the most common red on the frame plates.

When I got my Nero, they had both been painted to match the Nero Corsa script on the tail. But I replaced them with a candy-apple red powder coat set, which is close to the original metallic red but give it a bit more depth and character. And to my eye, is a nicer fit with the Nero. Also note, the angle/lighting makes the parts look different colors, but they are the same (so is the alternator cover).

[FreyZI]

@fastaussie I'm a little late to this game but a few ideas:

1) If you're swapping plates (I like "pork chops", but others either don't like that or prefer "stilettos"), be aware that there seem to be two different versions of the plates with different size swingarm pins (20 vs. 22mm, by my measurement).  If you get new-to-you plates, either confirm the correct size for your setup or get the pins with the plates.  See 

2) I got a set of plates powder coated.  They are beautiful, though not presently installed.  I wanted to get a visual sense of depth in the finish, so the powder coater shot them with silver first, then cherry red, followed by clear.  As pretty as they are, I don't like them as much as the original Tenni anodized chops, as I discovered that I like the comfortable patina of the originals.  I also haven't put them back on Bubbles (the champagne Lemans), feeling that's a little like putting lipstick on a pig (Bubbles is cosmetically-challenged).  So Bubbles is wearing a pair of darker silver stilettos of unknown provenience.

3) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Personally, I like the "pop" of red chops and valve covers.  If we agree that the stilettos and the valve covers are roughly equal in exposed-to-view surface area, then what you're proposing to do is essentially just moving the red spot around on the canvas; no new pop, just the same pop somewhere else.  Seems like a lot of effort.  But, hey: you do you, as my daughter says.

[Scud]

I also like the original anodized red on the Tenni, same as on the Scura and I think all the variations from 2002 onwards that had "red stillettos."  I'm not sure if anyone has figured how to duplicate that finish. 

[fastaussie]

On 9/24/2025 at 2:33 PM, FreyZI said:

1) If you're swapping plates (I like "pork chops", but others either don't like that or prefer "stilettos"), be aware that there seem to be two different versions of the plates with different size swingarm pins (20 vs. 22mm, by my measurement).  If you get new-to-you plates, either confirm the correct size for your setup or get the pins with the plates. 

i have not heard this before, good tip.  thank you...