My new V&H fishtail slip ons just arrived and I unbox them and they look great except I notice after making sure nothing is wrong that on the actual slip on pipes there are scratch marks on both slip ons. They will be covered with the heat shields so it's nothing I don't think I'll ever see. Just wondering if this is normal that they come with scratches? The hose clamps will be on them and might scratch them also so?.... The heat shields look GREAT with no blemishes.
Would you install or send back?

 

Install them.

 

If they're just surface scratches and the heat shields hide them, I'd just put them on.
If they're gouged through the chrome, the scratch will eventually rust and I'd return them.

 

Installing now

 

Pre-scratched is ok, you won't feel as bad when you nick them on the curves and curbs.

 

I would be upset at the lack of quality control but like you and others would probably go ahead and put them on. I would tell V&H or whoever you got them from. Depending on the scratches they could have been previously installed on another bike.

 

They shouldnt be scratched but if you will never run them without the shields and you cant see the issue, put them on.

 

They are going to color and turn blue anyhow, but you don't see that either under the best shields.

 

I've bought two sets of V&H mufflers over the years and the finish was flawless on both sets of slip ons, sign of times I guess, sounds as if maybe they were installed before, anyway I would contact V&H and give them a heads up.