Opinions...anyone?

[scobbie001]

I've read tons of mixed opinions about wrapping headers all over the net...what are you guys (and girls) opinions on this? Good idea...bad idea? If it makes any difference, I have an '03 XB9R...Jardine RT-1, and soon race ECM, K&N, and airbox delete mod. Anybody have any good or bad experiences they would like to share? Also, if any of you have done this on your XB, do I have to remove the header, or can I just drop the chin fairing and wrap from there?

 

[LeFox]

depends on why you are doing it.

wrap:
against heat it's the best solution.
looks...not my cup of tee, as the english would say, but that's personal prefferance.

when you are tired of the look and you remove them, you'll headers will really look like crap and i'm not assuring you that you will be able to remove all spots & staines by polishing the headers.
you'll also need to paint the wrap to keep them looking nice.
you can fit the wrap without removing the header, although it's easier when removed.

coating:
for about 150$ you can get your used headers ceramicly coated inside & out. New headers will be cheaper. (+ average of 2.5 hours of labor for fitting)
the look is awesome, it also helps against the heat on your right leg...but did i mention the looks?!?
you can get different colors, easy, maintenance friendly, etc...well worth the $$$ if you ask me!

painting:
this option will give you no heat protection and is pure looks.
you can paint you header with heat resistant paint.
the 1st time you'll have to drop you engine a bit, to get to the rear. after time discoloration will appear near the exits of the cylinder, which is easy to touch up protecting non painted parts and painting the headers again.

what i would do?

 

[scobbie001]

I was actually just interested in the wrap because of the looks...it is my cup of tea...I think it looks great. I understand that the humidity is kept in becuase of the insulation, but is it the finish or the metal itself that is eaten away? I'm also short on cash...and I hate to be cheap...but I'm only allowed a certain amount of fun money...and that amount is pretty low....

 

[LeFox]

I was actually just interested in the wrap...

just giving you all the details & facts

but is it the finish or the metal itself that is eaten away?

finish at first, that can be polished without problems. but in the long run, your headers will suffer.
maybe some wd40 before application of the wrap could be some added protection for you headers.

if you like the look, go for it...

 

[scobbie001]

I also read somewhere that if you wrap them overlapping evenly and only about 1/4 of an inch, it will help with the heat dispersion and help prevent wear to the header...is that true? And isn't there some kind of spray to help with heat damage? I do know that the wrap isn't great for the header, but if I can do it and cause the least amount of damage to the metal, I'll go for it...hell...if it takes 5 or 6 years for the header to deteriorate, I'm not too concerned with it....I'll probably be on an 1125R by then!

 

[mrdozer2you]

I'll probably be on an 1125R by then!

And i'll be on an 1125S [smirk] [up]

 

[LeFox]

it's not that much the heat you need to be worried about...

 

[scobbie001]

Moisture...yeah...duh...I knew that. Sorry. So, final point...wrapping is okay, as long as I'm cool with eventual header damage?

 

[LeFox]

yep...
and the painting to keep that nice black look

 

[mccluresm]

I think you should coat em. I approve your fun money for that *Yes I know I could have told you this at home but I figured you'd notice it here in case I forget later. Oh and I told you you could paint headers!

 

[LeFox]

i'm guessing you 2 know eachother

 

[scobbie001]

Yeah....she's my girlfriend. I've successfully converted her to our evil ways. Before I bought another bike, she was scared to death...but after riding with me a handful of times, she's determined she'll have her own machine by the end of summer.

 

[LeFox]

Yeah....she's my girlfriend.

she got you on the painting though

 

[scobbie001]

Correct, she may. But I don't believe our argument was about painting headers....I think it was on the subject of forks. She loves gold fork tubes, that's the only thing she says Buell lacks....but if you tried painting them, the paint would wear away where the forks compress, correct?

 

[LeFox]

yea...would chip with every stone hit and scratch with every cleaning.

to get a good quality result you need to anodize them.

 

[scobbie001]

I thought so.

 

[justice720]

"to get a good quality result you need to anodize them"

-agreed

 

[Old School One]

Hey LeFox, would you be so kind as to tell me the
make of the header/muffler in the photo posted 15
APR 2008 to scobbie001?
I want to start with some up-grades for my 07'ULY
and that assembly of flat black and crome looks very NICE..
Would I need to up-grade other systems/equipment to
make it work properly?
Thanks in advance..

May 'The Curve' be with you

 

[LeFox]

Hey LeFox, would you be so kind as to tell me the
make of the header/muffler in the photo posted 15
APR 2008 to scobbie001?

that's a ceramic coated micron system.
fits the uly, no problem!
i would recommend a custom remap of the ecm, cause the difference with a race is astonishing.



fitted:

 

[njsxb9]

How do you like the Micron Exhaust? You notice any difference?