Can this be welded?

[Jessezm]

Looking at this potential replacement for my rusty rear grab rail on my '72 XS2 restoration. It's $85 on Ebay which I'd gladly pay if it didn't have this crack in the essential mounting location... Do you all think this is something that any decent bozo with a welder could mend effectively? The way that the rear fender and grab rail mount to the frame on the early models seems really silly/flimsy to me (and the metal doesn't look like the best quality there)!

 

[cycleranger]

Imho it could be welded or brazed. Either of which will screw up the plating and the piece likely would not be as strong as before.

 

[angus67]

Bozo the welder would be wise to recognize that welding chrome is a bad idea. Take it to a shop and have it professionally tig welded

 

[Jessezm]

I wonder it if would be not that much more expensive to just have my rusty original re-chromed, rather than paying $100 ($85 +$15 shipping) for the part, then however much else for the tig welding? Plus the chrome on this part isn't perfect, either...

Or maybe I should just chill out and wait for the right piece to show up on Ebay some day...