Exhaust wrapping
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 7
From: Chicago Area
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.
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.
Thanks hhkiwi ... I totally over-looked that some folks might need to park outside regularly (since the day I brought it home, my car moved to the driveway and the bike got the garage) ... in that case, yeah, the wrap might retain rain and/or condensation and might contribute to corrosion; but I doubt it would be enough to cause premature pipe failure.
As for the uniformity, I agree .... needs to overlapped correctly to look good and most importantly prevent the creation of super hot-spots. In mine, I took the pipes off and wrapped from the flanges down. I must have unravled the stuff 8-10 times after finishing and finding a few rows not smooth enough. But with each attempt, I got better and even noticed I had pulled the wrap tighter every time. So my **** persistence paid off.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 533
Likes: 2
From: Virginia
Here's a tip - if you're going to do this, dry-fit the pieces first (cut 'em long!), then, soak the fitted pieces in water before your final installation. The one-use band clamps that come w/the wrap work great, but, they only work once, and they're a bit pricier than hose clamps. If you use hose clamps, make sure that the screw is hidden behind the pipes.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,782
Likes: 1,202
From: river
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.
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.
Too hot??? Pphhhhift. Burning holes in your jeans everyday before? What?? I think it adds %27.87 hp for wrapping pipes.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 7
From: Chicago Area
Sittting at lights with my right foot on the ground, my jeans contact the lower portion of the front header. Before the light would change, my leg would start to get a burning feeling. By the end of the day,I would have a 1/2" hole on my jean leg. Yes, this happened regularly and since I could not get shield for the headers, I decided to wrap them. They still give off heat, but nowhere near what it was before and like I said before, I can actually lay my palm against the header without injury.
As for the increase, I'll take your word .. as I mentioned I had heard/read it might improve performance, but had nothing to base its validity on.
why? you scared into submission? pvssy...lol jus messin.
Last edited by bmxatv; Feb 14, 2013 at 11:42 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,782
Likes: 1,202
From: river
My definition of performance for my sporty is just making it run harder than stock, wheelie and stomp big twins and run with bullet bikes in the 1/8th and around down. I don't give two chits about your rice gixxer. Beer, wrenching, *****, trying to make a slow prehistoric dyno bike go quicker. Wana race my non performance sporty? Lol
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