New pipes

MikeM · Aug 3, 2016

Got some damn fine used pipes from a member today.
I am moving forward and making improvements. Wish I could do a total restore but I am working on a nice rider. Huge step forward. I also started it with only one quart showing on the stick. No issues. I always cringe after its been sitting a couple of weeks.

motorson · Aug 3, 2016

Those are good looking pipes. What will you be doing with the old ones? They look pretty straight.

grandpaul · Aug 3, 2016

I'll take those old pipes, if they're cheap...

JimNH · Aug 5, 2016

This is a bit of a hijack but has anyone ever simply nickle plated pipes without the chrome? Nickle on its own doesn't blue but does have to be polished.

Craig · Aug 5, 2016

I got to say Mike`s newer pipes really look good compared to the ones he took off .... the old pipes may be candidates for a flat black treatment or a wrap job , maybe one of these new biker folks will make an offer for them , for me I guess I`m a bit of a crow as I like the shiny bits best ....
Craig

dave M · Aug 6, 2016

JimNH, I nickel pated a whole commando exhaust system and all the brightwork on a Commando I was building as a homage to the cafe racers of the 1950s. I liked the instant warm straw coloured patina of nickel and the bike looked great with a polshed alloy Manx spront tank and a manx solo seat. The downpipes discoloured a bit but the finish lasted well, although it is quite a bit softer than chrome but I kept the bike indoors.

I keep an old pair of downpipes for any new build I am doing and only put a new pair on once I have the bike tuned and running well. I also spray the inside of new pipes with heat proof paint to try to prevent blueing.

JimNH · Aug 8, 2016

dave M said:
JimNH, I nickel pated a whole commando exhaust system and all the brightwork on a Commando I was building as a homage to the cafe racers of the 1950s. I liked the instant warm straw coloured patina of nickel and the bike looked great with a polshed alloy Manx spront tank and a manx solo seat. The downpipes discoloured a bit but the finish lasted well, although it is quite a bit softer than chrome but I kept the bike indoors.

I keep an old pair of downpipes for any new build I am doing and only put a new pair on once I have the bike tuned and running well. I also spray the inside of new pipes with heat proof paint to try to prevent blueing.

Thanks Dave,

Does the straw color polish right off? I noticed the nickle work on my stove never changes but does need the occasional polish. Of course the stove is nowhere near as hot as an exhaust pipe.

dave M · Aug 8, 2016

Jim, I meant that the pipes and all of the other brightwork had a slight straw colour when newly plated. They did discolour the same as the chrome ones and I was able to polish this out with metal polish.

grandpaul · Aug 9, 2016

I got Mike's used pipes for the budget Combat refurb project I'm on, I hadn't thought about the spray paint solution (used to do that in the 70s). To me, a Commando needs chrome pipes, and that's that.

motorson · Aug 9, 2016

I wonder how Cerekote (That new gun coloring ceramic coating) would hold up? I found a guy in Houston who said he would do my aluminum rims in black for just over $100 each.

Madnorton · Aug 10, 2016

Surely at $100 each it make sense and go for the proper ceramic coating for the little extra cost. Currently testing Zircotec endurance coating to see how it holds up against stone damage - so far it is excellent.

There must be some good ceramic coating companies in the US that do the race car parts, turbos etc, try them and see what they have as the cost varies on colour, thickness etc.

New pipes

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