Wrapping exhaust

MikeM · Nov 7, 2014

As I am working through the bike, the pipes are pretty nasty looking. Anyone ever do a wrap on the head pipes, or heat paint?
I am looking for economical for the time being. Photos?
How long does it last?
I will eventually replace the pipes but for now.......

concours · Nov 7, 2014

Scuff what chrome remains, degrease and rattle can heat paint 'em. It'll last as long as you want.

For
the
love
of
all
that's
holy
don't
put
the
header
wrap
on
a
Norton
:shock:

74ok · Nov 7, 2014

for that reason alone folks do the opposite

Diver3284 · Nov 9, 2014

I suppose you could use wrap for a purely cosmetic effect, or to hide a damaged header, but the principle purpose of the wrap is to contain the heat from the exhaust within the piping in confined engine spaces and thus reduce temperatures in the engine compartment. Very common on wet exhausts in marine applications, and turbo boosted systems. I doubt how long it would last if exposed to the elements on a bikes exhaust, and I don't think you would want to increase temperatures within the whole exhaust system on a Commando.

Just my $00.02 worth.

judah · Nov 9, 2014

i wrapped mine. for a couple reasons.

1. cosmetic (the pipes were fine but had turned blue/gold/brown near the head, like they all do with heat and time) and i just didn't love how it looked. and i like the look of the wrap.

2. safety. mainly my kids. i have 2 small ones who LOVE to play on the bike and if I've just been riding and its super hot…

[album]465[/album]

judah · Nov 9, 2014

btw, if you do wrap, i have one suggestion... don't use those crappy stainless slip-bands they advertise for securing the wrap at the ends. my experience was that they're crap, never get fully tight and will fall off. use stainless steel hose clamps.

auldblue · Nov 9, 2014

judah · Nov 9, 2014

[album]466[/album]

heres an example of a good wrapped exhaust. love this bike. like the black exhaust and the aggressive tires too. think i may try the same tires. a lot of dirt and gravel roads where i live. but waaaaaay too "weird shit" for the old farts who can't stand mods to nortons. I'm having a very similar custom leather seat made for mine as we speak.

tomspro · Nov 9, 2014

judah said:
i wrapped mine. for a couple reasons.

1. cosmetic (the pipes were fine but had turned blue/gold/brown near the head, like they all do with heat and time) and i just didn't love how it looked. and i like the look of the wrap.

2. safety. mainly my kids. i have 2 small ones who LOVE to play on the bike and if I've just been riding and its super hot…

[album]465[/album]

I LIKE IT!

Purists are (by definition) very closed-minded. Who cares what others 'like' when it is YOUR bike.

Hobot · Nov 9, 2014

Peel 2-1 was wrapped and loved it as took the exhaust blast clang/bang out the front of bike so nicer softer head ringing sounds heard and way nicer to work around when hot like unplanned road events. I've the dark grey wrap on hand now gotten at bargain at Ohio flat track swap meet. Good point about hose clamp the ends though ss zips can hold on outer armor/shields.

judah · Nov 9, 2014

yeah I've noticed it does damp the sound just a tiny bit. a little smoother and the pops are still there but just muted a little bit. less clang/bang. i've loved it. mine is actually double wrapped. i kicked the stand and didn't notice it bounced back. let it fall a bit before i caught it and the exhaust/wrap hit the pavement and eventually started to shred. wrapped over the top. i really like the fatter look of the pipes.

Hobot · Nov 9, 2014

judah, sadly refreshing to know how easy someone else can mar a recent nice finishing touch. May offend some men but there's nothing weird about bigger longer tubage on cycles. i have to view wraps like tires or in your case a re-tread : )

Biscuit · Nov 9, 2014

For what it's worth (0), I don't care what one does to their bike modification wise. For my 2 cents worth though I don't care for header wrap, no real purpose as far as I can see and I don't add stuff to my own bike just for shits & giggles. Also I rather like the purple/blue/bronzy look of a well running Commando's chrome pipes up by the bend.

Hobot · Nov 9, 2014

Aw man shouldn't say such things in front of me as now inspired to put colored fur around my chopper pipes and call it a Commando when the magazine photographers arrive.

concours · Nov 10, 2014

hobot said:
Aw man shouldn't say such things in front of me as now inspired to put colored fur around my chopper pipes and call it a Commando when the magazine photographers arrive.

:shock:

worntorn · Nov 10, 2014

The original intended use of header wrap was to hold the exhaust heat in, thereby improving breathing and increasing top end horsepower. Ceramic coating of headers is done for the same reason, but also adds longevity.
Stainless steel has much lower thermal conductivity than mild steel, so stainless pipes are excellent for keeping the exhaust hot and flowing without the need for header wrap.

Glen

Hobot · Nov 10, 2014

ah shoot Glen I refrained from mentioning the performance reasons which may be hard to detect in Nortons but every little bit helps. There is a downside wrapping mild steel pipes as accelerates the rusting out as well as keeping more energy flowing out the end instead of the middle. Review scope of pro's/con's here.
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=he ... ower+gains

Peter R · Nov 10, 2014

The original use of exhaust wrap comes from the world of fast cars, intended to keep the under bonnet temperature down.
On a motorcycle completely useless, poseurs value only.

worntorn · Nov 10, 2014

Peter, see my post above. Wrap does serve a purpose, tho it is ugly stuff IMHO.

Glen

elefantrider · Nov 11, 2014

Especially for high pipes unless you have heat shields (yuk).

Wrapping exhaust

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