Exhaust wrapping?
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Exhaust wrapping?
I've been seeing bikes with the exhaust pipes wrapped in an asbestos type stuff. What is this stuff? where do I buy it? How do I use it? Do they have different colors of the stuff? Does water soak up in it? Does it last? Is it expensive? Guess thats all the questions I can think of Thanks GMH
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
it is fiberglass heat wrap there are several companies that sell it D.E.I. is the one that comes to mind. Naturally it is a tan color but there are several different colors of the silicon based spray that you spray on after to help with water/oil resistance.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 373
Likes: 2
From: Virginia Beach
easy as pie to put on. Just make sure you soak it in water before wrapping it. Makes a tighter wrap once dry and less fiberglass gets everywhere. Let it dry and then spray it with the silicon spray. Most of the time Autozone and Pepboys other auto shops carry it for around $50. You have to order the colored stuff.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
That wrap is designed for heat but a lot of riders like the look. Drag bikes use them to retain heat in the pipes. This overheats the exhaust and forces the expanding gasses to scavenge out quicker. The upside is that it lowers the outside temps. The down side is that the heat is retained in the pipes. Most if not all header companies (cars and bikes) will void the warranty if you wrap the pipes. The retained heat will destroy the metal over time. In fact I was told by the company that did the headers on my truck NOT to wrap them, Same with Hooker Headers, the company that did the pipes on my bike. I did NOT wrap my truck, I did wrap the bike to cut down on the heat on my leg. It worked great! It smelled when wet, and steamed when I got caught in the rain, but it was very comfortable. One year later I was working on the bike and had to remove the exhaust. The wrap broke off in chunks and large flakes of metal came off with it. The wrapped areas had deteriorated. I no longer wrap my pipes now. I have them ceramic coated for heat. A drag bike has the benefit of being torn down and rebuilt after a couple of runs. My touring bike does not have that option. Some folks swear by heat wrap. I'm not one of them. I saw what it did to my pipes. But it's up to you. Some folks like the looks, I liked the comfort. I guess it's not bad if you intend to replace your exhaust system every couple of years. Then it's not an issue. Here's what some of my wrap job looked like.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 11
From: Palm Harbor fl.
buy this wrap: http://www.thermalsound.com/proddeta...special&cat=39
Best price I have seen. 100 feet for only 50 bucks!
Best price I have seen. 100 feet for only 50 bucks!
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,303
Likes: 2
From: Texas City, TX
Meh. Makes an expensive bike look cheap and F's up your pipes. Only logical use I've seen it for is to cover shoddy welds on custom pipes.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,454
Likes: 58
From: Graysville, AL
I personally love the look of wrapped pipes. My only reservation is rusting. It seems that the wrap would hold water against the pipe and take a long time to dry. I don't want to F up my 600 dollar thunderheaders.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
It does not take long to dry at all. It will steam for a couple of minutes, then the heat will dry it out and do the rest. If I spent $600 on a Thunderheader, I'd be concerned about ruining it too.