coloring the pipes

Lorenzo · Jun 16, 2017

dear All,
I need to change the pipes to my Commando and I want them to take a nice colour
I know that there are ways to get a beter color in starting the bike in different ways at the first time
can you tell your experiences? Thank you!

CanukNortonNut · Jun 16, 2017

I want them to take a nice colour

What are you trying to accomplish with colour?
Chrome will discolour when heated, usually turning blue /velvet especially at the first bend out of the head. Discoluoration of the pipes means you ride your bike. If you go Stainless steel they will be like chrome until you start the bike and run it and the heat will turn them to a straw brown colour (the nature of the beast S/S)
If you want to keep it looking like chrome all the time then just trailer your bike to all your shindigz.
Ride your bike and give your bike the blues. :mrgreen:
Cheers,
Thomas

robs ss · Jun 16, 2017

Lorenzo
Colouring will be affected by a number of factors including state of tune (leanness) ignition advance and how has the bike is ridden
One point worth noting (in case you don't already know) is that chromed steel pipes will yellow then blue whereas stainless steel will only go straw coloured.
The straw colouring on ss can easily be cleaned of with metal polish but removing the colour from chrome is much more difficult and will reduce the thickness if the chrome.
Hope this helps
Cheers
Rob

manx850 · Jun 16, 2017

If you clean the inside well and keep spraying VHT enamel down there for a while to build up the layers it will stop the bluing to a certain extent and turn the color to more of a gold/ blue combo....... one good way would be interior ceramic coating, expensive I would think, don't know how long that might last!

htown16 · Jun 16, 2017

"Blue pipes save lives"

Torontonian · Jun 16, 2017

Well good luck on this one. I pour high temp. paint into the brand new pipes , swish it around , pour out back into the can. It's worked to delay the inevitable bluing or straw colour. Also running lean-side is a no-no , err on the rich side of mixture. Timing spot on another factor. Good luck.

Rohan · Jun 16, 2017

It sounds as though Lorenzo WANTS his pipes to color.

Just ride it !!!

tall951guy · Jun 16, 2017

Lorenzo:

There is a product called "Blue Job" that you can order online, which will take a lot of the "blue" off of your pipes. It isn't 100% effective, but it helps to keep the chrome looking like chrome. Or you can go titanium ($$$$$$$$$$$) and anodize them electrically or by heat. The first color is brown/gold and the last color is blue.

robs ss · Jun 16, 2017

Lorenzo
Looking at your original question of how to get a nice colour - it depends on what you call nice.
It appears you want something other than original silver/chrome.
If you want blue then buy chromed steel pipes. If you want yellow/gold then get stainless steel ones
You can see the stainless steel effect in the photo of my single below (it does get a bit darker with age - unless you clean it)
Cheers
Rob

Fast Eddie · Jun 17, 2017

I like to see nicely blued pipes myself.

It's a "badge of honour" for a bike that's used as intended. A bit like seeing tyres worn close to the edge.

When I see brand new looking chrome pipes, and tyres that are only worn in the middle, on a used machine like a Commando, I can't help but think "what a waste" !!

baz · Jun 17, 2017

Fast Eddie said:
I like to see nicely blued pipes myself.

It's a "badge of honour" for a bike that's used as intended. A bit like seeing tyres worn close to the edge.

When I see brand new looking chrome pipes, and tyres that are only worn in the middle, on a used machine like a Commando, I can't help but think "what a waste" !!

+1

B+Bogus · Jun 17, 2017

baz said:
Fast Eddie said:

I like to see nicely blued pipes myself.

It's a "badge of honour" for a bike that's used as intended. A bit like seeing tyres worn close to the edge.

When I see brand new looking chrome pipes, and tyres that are only worn in the middle, on a used machine like a Commando, I can't help but think "what a waste" !!

Click to expand...

+1

+1 +1

Lorenzo · Jun 17, 2017

thank you for all your answers..
I don't mean to keep the pipes out of colour, but how to get the nicest color
I guess if the mike is running lean or rich it can get on the blue or on the yellow
perhaps if you start few seconds and stop for the first time perhaps you may get a nice blue on the top
so I am looking to know the different options before starting the bike for the first time..

Bernhard · Jun 17, 2017

This is quite simple, remove all the carbon on the inside of the pipe if they are used, run it lean for a very short while, but I will quote a disclaimer on this as it may damage your engine, to keep the chrome shinny –it was common at one time to double chrome the headers of the exhaust pipe, run engine rich for a short while to build up carbon on the inside of the pipe the tune carbs as per normal.

baz · Jun 17, 2017

please don't take this the wrong way but just ride the bike and worry about something else, if you really want the pipes blue heat them up with a heating rose on an oxy acetylene torch or run the bike very lean,you may hole a piston or burn the valves but you will have really blue pipes hope this helps, cheers

RoadScholar · Jun 17, 2017

A properly running Norton (motorcycles in general) will discolor the pipes, no way around this; you can delay it (see some above), but you can't avoid it. When I look at motorcycle headers I look to see if the discoloration is EVEN, and on a Norton real near or slightly over the first joint; tells me that both carbs are synced and that the cylinders are drawing breath evenly.

Matt Spencer · Jun 17, 2017

I don't mean to keep the pipes out of colour, but how to get the nicest color

Gear it for 130 and run it flat in top , down the autostrada for an hour or two .

or theres always Monza . See the blue thru to the front section of the ' mufflers ' ,
Im thinking they're cunningly contrived triple outlet Mega's .

Matt Spencer · Jun 17, 2017

just in case anyones a trifle sour on that .

acotrel · Jun 19, 2017

If anyone knows how to set a bike's ignition timing, jetting and comp ratio and get good performance without blueing the chrome on the exhaust pipes, would they please tell me how to do it ? The pipes on two-strokes don't seem to go blue. Perhaps we need a layer of sticky tar inside the exhausts ?

Matt Spencer · Jun 19, 2017

I see people have CERAMIC COATED the INSIDE of the Headers , to try'n stop the blueing .

Dunno what results , probly dont ride em anyway ( half the magazine bikes . which would be one way . :wink:

coloring the pipes

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