Well Ive just gone through this myself. I went on the interweb to look at home ways to strip chrome. ( I really dont like chrome) No good. It was all bollocks.I tried various methods and had bits soaking in pots of household chemicals for a few weeks. Nothing worked.
What I did in the end with my bits,I started with a degreasing,then went over everythingl with a wire brush on a drill then a fine sandpaper.The idea being to get the shine off it. I took it to my local,friendly bike shop (they just got a powder coat set up). Washed it,degreased again,sandblasted it(they only have a small sand blaster,not strong enough to strip the chrome but enough to key it for PC.).
Powder coated it,stuck it in the oven and said 'Wow' when it was done. It came out great,Im very happy with it.Though,The bits arent on the road yet so I cant speak for the durability of it all(maybe it all flakes off in 6 months!) But it looks great.
I sarted out with a chrome headlight shell with a chrome rim
Powdercoated the shell with a matt black with some kind of bits in it and the rim is with a clean satin black
I also did the starter motor cover but I didnt get a photo of it.
Saying all of that,my stuff was very second hand with rust sprouting through the chrome so,I had nothing to lose but I have to agree with what 650ed says.
Good luck