the first set of pipes on my chopper had heat wrap , looked cool , don't think it did much in the way of preventing heat from transfering through the pipes and the worst part is that if your bike is lowered as my chopper is , if you go over speed bumps and the like you are forever replacing it because it tears off fairly easily.

Now thats an atractive weld RT!

Best to wrap only the parts of the exhaust that you legs touch. Best of both worlds: Cheap heat protection & the pipe doesn't get too hot.

I wrapped mine last night.

Found I had ground the bolts off of the covers so time to replace them, gives the bike a more drag race/rat feel.

Question, where did you find the Waterproof Silicone?? Hardware? Auto Shop?

the idea is to keep the exhaust temp more constant all the way out to keep it hot n less dense to flow faster, the down side is the extra heat will make the pipes brittle and eventually they will crack, like the header studs on an older car, but cos the pipes r thin wall it happens quicker than old header studs. another theory is that the extra heat in the header will transfer back into the head n actually sap performance and raise the chance of pinging.

Just about to wrap my headers when the wrap arrives. Just want to make sure I'm doing it right from the start if anyone can confirm this method will be okay from their experience. Also bought 50mm as opposed to 25mm, hopefully that will be okay.

Headers are off the bike and heat shields have been removed. Have been told to soak the wrap in a bucket of room temp water for about 5 minutes then starting from the muffler end do a couple of tight overlapping wraps then tie the end off with a clamp or worm drive. Next is to start wrapping the headers and overlap 1/3rd each turn and to make sure it's very tightly wrapped ensuring no wrinkles in the bends. Once both pipes are wrapped hang them up to dry for the night.

Is that about the correct method? Also is there a specific way of wrapping the cross over pipe?

 

EDIT: these aren't the pipes currently shown on my bike. I have bought a set ot standard 2 in to 2 headers and some after market mufflers.

Thanks uglyfish. Got some g clamps etc I can use to hold the wrap.

Another question, would you wrap with the mufflers already attached?

I've been hearing to start at the muffler end as the wind won't catch or loosen because the edges aren't facing forward?

 

I wrapped mine in-situ... no major dramas and took around an hour. Passed the wrap through a bucket of water as I wrapped. Been on there for a year now. Wrapped from the header down. Only issue was where the boot heal touched the pipe as it wore the wrapping. Easily fixed by installing forwards.. lol

I have the black wrap and its now faded due to water from washing the bike and riding in rain but at $100 a role its not expensive to replace every year or two. Not checked to see if there is a spray I can use to keep it black.

 

You could probably spray it with Pot Belly Stove Black.

I just ordered 15m of 50mm wrap off fleabay for about $45.

Yep, did it this arvo, from the header down. 10m was plenty. Might swap out the stainless steel cable ties for worm drive clamps, they seem a bit dodgy. Couldn't take it for a test but I will the morning. Hopefully the lowered shocks mean I won't be tearing it any time soon.

Thanks for the help guys, come in handy.

One more question, is the bracket thats screwed on between the 2 mufflers necessary? Anyone know what it exact funtion is as it's not bolted to the frame so it to just make sure the 2 mufflers are aligned?

Where in Oz can I buy black wrap?

sweet. black wrap would have been cool to !

We Sell White Wrap at VPW, Black has a Die in it that runs after it gets wet. I recomend using White and then Painting it Black with Heat Prof Paint, that way the colour will stay

I would use fade proof timber stain from bunnings.Stain it before you wrap let dry, then wet and wrap.