79 Bonneville

Hi and welcome..... Sounds like you have a gem there. I would post some pictures and I'm sure you will get the advice your are looking for. On the chrome I would start with autosol cream, which is really good on the shiny bits of your bike.
Wessa

 

Hi mate and welcome
But you can't leave us hanging like that
We need the story behind the bike otherwise we won't be able to sleep

 

Hi Tim,
Doesn't sound like it has any history at 10.7 miles. lol
Sounds like you've found yourself a real gem.
As Wessa says just polish the chrome and see how it comes up for starters.
The bike value in my opinion could be anywhere between £10k - £20k

 

Welcome, Tim.
T140Vs of that era seem to have asking prices between £4500 and £7500 - an Executive model and a Silver Jubilee ltd edition at the top end - as far as I could see from a quick look at the ads in the latest edition of Classic Bike Guide. They will, no doubt, all have been used in the past and may well have had some restoration work done on them. Yours is something of a one off and will be worth more than most others, but how much more is anyone's guess.
As others have said, give the chromework a good polish to see how it comes up before skipping off down to the chrome platers with shiny bits in hand. May just be surface rust.
Then give it a good polish all over. It's surprising how many imperfections can be seen during the course of a good cleaning session.
I'd be inclined to give it an oil change before trying to start it. A drop of oil down the bores won't go amiss either, before you do. And do check that the oil is returning/circulating properly before start up.
I'll bet that you will need a new battery as well - probably!

 

You can use just kitchen foil and water on chrome with surface rust with good results!

 

Well Tim, that is one beautiful bike.
Don't do a thing with it other than sensible cleaning with no aggressive chemicals.
It's worth what someone will pay for it, I reckon with it being so unique and in such good condition, you are into serious money.
Sad story, but at least the owner of your bike never got injured.

 

I'd heard of the kitchen foil method and had my doubts. Now I feel that I should have a go myself as it appears to work pretty well - and it has to be cheaper that Solvol (tight arsed Yorkshireman? Moi? Oh yes!).