Stainless pipes and mufflers - you thoughts and experiences?

I'm interested in buying a set of stainless pipes and mufflers for my Mk3, so Id be very interested in the thoughts and experiences of forum members.

Re: Stainless pipes and mufflers - you thoughts and experien

I've not had any experience with stainless steel pipes and mufflers, but my Norton does have a lot of other SS jewelry. With stainless, it's once and done. As someone else posted here, you are only renting chrome.

Re: Stainless pipes and mufflers - you thoughts and experien

They are not as strong as mild steel, i.e. brittle and have been known to fracture. The headers will most likely change colour with heat, not that its a bad thing but don't expect a pristine apperance.

Mick

Re: Stainless pipes and mufflers - you thoughts and experien

you can get around the color change if you want pristine pipes www.jet-hot.com/motorcycles.html
ceramic coating, I didn't do it because I don't have the money, but other people have with good results

Re: Stainless pipes and mufflers - you thoughts and experien

I decided to go the stainless route too & after looking around a bit I ordered a set from Epco. All I can say so far is don't be in a hurry. Been told the pipes " are being loaded on the shipping truck" twice a couple weeks ago. Now I find out the mufflers are made in nigaragua ? We were invoiced on the 10'th for the mufflers but still have not seen anything. I'm ok with this cuz I'm doing some other work anyway. When I get them I will post my thoughts.

Re: Stainless pipes and mufflers - you thoughts and experien

Oh man, still? I told you lol. You'll like them when they show up :wink:

Re: Stainless pipes and mufflers - you thoughts and experien

The stainless pipes turn a "straw yellow" which I have grown to like now. I have one (made by Armours) on my '61 350 Matchy and it doesn't take much heat to turn. Even my muffler (also SS) has turned yellow (pee weak yellow). The good thing is that it will polish out but it's a ton of work.

There is a Kreem product called Blue Shield that the Harley guys use to coat the insides of the pipes. I don't think it would do much to stop the coloring of the stainless pipes but it does work very well on my Commando regular steel headpipes.

Re: Stainless pipes and mufflers - you thoughts and experien

I think Viking and a few others make a stainless set. I also saw a add in the Nov/Dec issue of Motorcycle Classics magazine for a company called 7th Phase inc that make custom stainless sets. (4) differant sets for Commando's. The web site is 7thphaseinc.net

Re: Stainless pipes and mufflers - you thoughts and experien

Many thanks for your comments. I heard back from Tom at EPCO and asked him to send me a set of mufflers and pipes. They're apparently in stock so hopefully I'll have them soon.

Re: Stainless pipes and mufflers - you thoughts and experien

Hi

I have stainless pipes on my race bike. As stated they turn a gold/light yellow colour near the head. A bit like blueing on chrome. I actually like it. You can polish it out with plenty of elbow grease. I put them on the polishing mop. If you look up companys that do ceramic coating (car /race companys) you will find they do an internal coating of the pipe. This is to give more power but it will stop the discolouration. Beware of the guage of metal used, particularlly on your silencer as they dont bounce well & tend to crack. I live on the coast & use stainless pretty much on everything because of the salt. Ask on this site for advice, as earlier this year my rear sprocket allen heads fractured in the thread of the hub. The were all still lockwired together but two of the threads had started to be rubbed away & the lot would have pulled out. I have replaced with stock bolts & members here told me the spec of stainless to order for this application. (not fitted as my head wont allow it)

all the best Chris

Re: Stainless pipes and mufflers - you thoughts and experien

Ive got the Epco brand, and they are very nicely presented. The sound is better than from the steel ones I had on before, deeper tone. And if the pilions foot touches the muffler, easy to do, it is much easier to polish out with Staino, as chrome eventually permanently marks.

Cheers Richard

Re: Stainless pipes and mufflers - you thoughts and experien

I got a set of s/s header pipes made for my Triumph many moons ago but they were on the bike for 9 years before I sold it, s/s will make a diffrent note to the sound of your bike and they won't stay shinny but ofther than that they worked really good, I was very happy with them, but the mufflers were chrome so I can't coment on s/s mufflers, but I think they would be the same as the header pipes...

I also got a set of header pipes made for my Norton in 1980 they were plain steel exhaust pipe and chromed after they were bent up, they are still on the bike and have done well over 100,000 miles, so have had a good run out of them, they are showing there age now but if you get a good set of header pipes weather they are s/s or just plain steel they should both give you long service, it all depends how they were made and if the chromimg place did a good job on the steel ones, I was just lucky I had a good exhaust pipe bender that knew what he was doing he made up both sets of header pipes the steel ones and s/s, but the s/s will have a diffrent note to the plan steel headers, but I like both...

Ashley

Re: Stainless pipes and mufflers - you thoughts and experien

Some diehards of the Vincent Owners' Club get stainless exhausts chromed.