Header looks ugly. What can I do?

[jet6]

I think i like the bluing look, so i ask how can i clean the pipes to remove the patches where ppl have touched the pipes and there blue at thise points more than anywhere else

Matt

PS not keen on shiny pipes or wrapped pipes

 

[black_xb12r]

find someone with a buffing wheel and rouge and polish them the right way... just make sure you clean all the rouge off before ou start the bike and get them hot or it will bake on and looks like crap... and if you leave finger prints on the noce polished headders then will stay when they heat up... otherwise they come out perfectly silver whn your done poilishing and once you get head to the the stainless stell turns a nice perfectly gold color all the way down... mine had a touch of purple on them for about the first quarter to half inch but that was it...

 

[vitor_br]

Here guys, I saw this product a while ago.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/blue-away/
But I think the abrasive mats do a better and cheaper job.

I want to wrap mine anyway, just can't find the heat tape here in Brazil.

 

[wiznut]

Has anyone noticed rusting after polishing?

Hey dave,
I haven't noticed any rust problems. It has been over a month now since I polished the headers and they have turned a shiny gold without any bluing. Still look super good.

 

[boreas]

ya they still look shiny....[up]Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.

 

[EVLXB]

The pipes will never rust - they are titanium arn't they?

 

[EVLXB]

or non-ferrous stainless anyway. A magnet don't stick to em.

 

[Macbuell]

Anyone know how much riding it takes from the silver just polished look to turn gold? I really like the gold color, mine are bright silver since I just got done with them

 

[wiznut]

Anyone know how much riding it takes from the silver just polished look to turn gold? I really like the gold color, mine are bright silver since I just got done with them

A couple hours and they will start changing.

 

[Pockets]

Any feedback on high temp engine paint? I've got time to mask off the engine area but not to wrap the headers.

 

[nkaperry]

 

[upthemaiden]

I've always loved seeing Buells with blue headers, even if the bike isn't blue.

 

[redbolt04]

I've always loved seeing Buells with blue headers, even if the bike isn't blue.

when your done polishing away, just pull out the torch and re blue your pipes if you like. I too personally like the blued look right near the engine. Ive been told by many people thats the best way, ive done it on cars but not my bike yet. I will be over spring break tho!

 

[Buell_Magic]

We have two matching '07 XB12r's. This is my wife's bike after 30 minutes of scotch brite & WD40.

Before

After

Kevin

 

[7Mary3]

Took about an hour and a half of wet sanding and polishing. Almost wish that they don't turn the golden color - the high polished look's growing on me now.[smirk]

 

[Buell_Magic]

Very well done. They look great.

Kevin

 

[funnythebunny]

NICE!![up]

 

[Raisingicarus]

I have an '07 xb12scg with headers that have a sizable blemish from an accident ( riding gloves got a bit too close to the header while trying to warm up my hands on a cold Michigan day). I've heard that the '07s headers don't take to well to the scotch brite and wd40 polishing method. Any ideas on how to clean them up, or will the scotch brite method work for me?

 

[7Mary3]

My 09 shined right up with no problem and looks like chrome (see above pic). I used 1000 grit wet sandpaper and WD40. Hit the pipes with metal polish afterwards. Easy breezy.

 

[delta one]

I guess I will be the long term polish report.

mine was polished about a year (2,000 miles) before I even got it now a year later and another 6,000 miles in half a season with me they are gold

no rust no problems. I think I will touch them up with some mag polish this summer and let them gold out again after some heat cycles.