Most exhaust failures I've seen are more relative to mount-induced stresses than to anything else. Simply - when the clamps are tightened, something isn't aligned properly, and the pipe gets stressed. This stress, coupled w/the inherent vibration of our engines, works the metal over time just like when you bend a coat hanger wire back and forth 'til it breaks.

So - not saying that header wrap can't contribute to this, but, I've never personally seen it, nor have I ever had it happen to me.

 

I don't know. I've been heat wrapping pipes forever now. All my modified cars, from hotrods to imports, hell even my Jeep headers are wrapped. I've seen both unwrapped and wrapped pipes break. I think it's more the "Made in USA from imported metals" thing. Cheap *** China steel not holding up to heat and stress. Or using too thin of material for cost savings. Think about heat wrapping has been going on since before I can remember.

 

Yeah bassani pipes are known to be solid, if you look closely it actually cracked right around the weld for the o2 bung. I suspect it suffered from too much heat from the welding process. Bassani is replacing it under waranty though.

 

Wrapping pipes are for drag bikes.

 

Yea and only hot chicks are supposed to wear spandex.

 

Lol....I'm just into performance....not what looks "cool" for fad of the year. And yes... all bikes with wrap should be fast haha

 

And all girls in spandex should be hot. Just saying....

 

Ive wrapped every set of pipes Ive owned except on my iron head. it just didnt look right. My dad has also wrapped every pipe he's owned since before he can remember and has not had any issues. One the other hand my buddy's stock pipes on his 2010 48 cracked 3 months after he wrapped them, luckily he has a welder lol. This probably didnt help you at all but hey you wanted our input.

 

I wrapped mine becasue they were just too damn hot bare and V&H did not make shields for them. This was two years ago at V&Hs recommendation. Their rep stated that they initially intended to make heat shields, but focus groups preferrered the wrapped look, so that is what they decided.

I would have preferred the shields; it was not the look I wanted for the bike. After about a year and loads of compliments, I started to like the way it looked and definitely like the way I was not burning holes in my jeans sitting at red light like I had every day before.

Some folks say that they hold moisture with rain. I can say 100% not true. I have ridden in hour long down pours and the only dry part of the bike when I pulled into the garage was the pipes. I had come to my bike parked once in the rain and yes, the wrap was soaked (as was the rest of the bike), I fired it up, the wrap smoked for a few minutes and then I hit the road, again, it was the only dry part when I arrived at my destination. Do not let that be your deciding factor.

Considering V&H advised me in writing wrap them and nowhere in any documentation that come from my bike did it indicate the wrap would void warrany .... I do not find this to be an issue. True, some manufactures that skimp on quality may throw in that restriction. Again, not giving it much credence since the pipes will not be destroyed before you get your use out of them. When/if they crack, replace them.

As I stated before, they have been wrapped now over two seasons and I have seen no problems.


As for pros:
I can touch the pipes bare handed at red lights (yes, they are hot but not enough to melt skin on contact)

I have been told that the wrap can increase performance by redirecting the heat and speeding the flow of exhaust (true? I dunno! never had it dyno'd so cannot compare pre/post wrap numbers)

Looks. Though it took a while for this to be something I liked, I do like the look now. If others don't? F'em, it's my bike.

Cons:
The wrap faded a bit after 2 years.

 

Never had a problem with wrapped pipes cracking. I tend to agree that cracking is primarily related to pipes being stressed after installation with the subsequent exposure to vibrations.

As for looks that's an individual thing - some love, some hate it. I like the look BUT only if the wrap is installed properly. Proper wrapping requires practice and skill.

I want a uniform overlap and, I know that opinions vary, I always start wrapping at the rear toward the exhaust ports. That way, the wind blows in the direction of the overlap (closing it), rather than against it (opening it).

As for corrosion, I agree with madchemist 24 - not an issue unless you park the bike outside and do not ride it regularly in which case the wrapping might retain water and speed up corrosion.

So if you like the look, don't worry too much about cracking or corrosion and go for it. The good thing about wrapping is that you can always start over if you make a mistake or are not happy with your work - no harm done.