Black pipes
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 149
Likes: 1
From: Somewhere in the US
Black pipes
I am ordering a set of Drago Dragula 2 pipes and was wanting black but have read that black doesnt hold up as good as chrome. Anyone have any bad experiences with the black finish on pipes? I have read that they turn grey and scratch easy which leads to rust. Thanks.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 701
Likes: 5
Black pipes will fade in color down by the collector as chrome pipes will turn a light gold down by the collector.Only way to prolong it is to have the proper tune in your bike for your build and if/when you dyno it keep a fan blowing on the collector/muffler area.Hope this helps.
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 149
Likes: 1
From: Somewhere in the US
How do the black tips hold up? Maybe I'll just go all chrome with black tips. Aren't the tips aluminum?
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 193
Likes: 1
From: MD
Tips appear they are aluminum and seem to hold up well. Far better than the heat shields, two riding seasons on them with no dings.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,478
Likes: 184
From: Mount Airy, MD
I have had my Black Dragula for 3-years. The heat shields have held up well. There is slight discoloration but not bad. The muffler has not held up as well. I just painted it with BBQ paint it was getting so bad. The worst of it was on the bottom where it gets nailed by every stone and pebble coming up off the pavement. The whole muffler was starting to look more light black to dark gray.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 159
Likes: 3
From: Upper Bucks County, PA
I have a set of black Cobras on my '89 the black lasted about a year before it started to get rusty spots in it. I rode it while the spots grew to the point it really bugged me then I did, as mentioned above, sanded them and used high heat flat black on them!!!! Couldn't be happier, should have done it right out of the box.
Jmiller5 I wouldn't do anything that gets warm with powder coating. My kid wanted black exhaust on his softail so he powder coated his chrome heat shields. They looked awesome for about 8 months then it started to flake off. I would suggest rattle can high heat black or find a local that will ceramic coat them for you in black.
Jmiller5 I wouldn't do anything that gets warm with powder coating. My kid wanted black exhaust on his softail so he powder coated his chrome heat shields. They looked awesome for about 8 months then it started to flake off. I would suggest rattle can high heat black or find a local that will ceramic coat them for you in black.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 149
Likes: 1
From: Somewhere in the US
I have had my Black Dragula for 3-years. The heat shields have held up well. There is slight discoloration but not bad. The muffler has not held up as well. I just painted it with BBQ paint it was getting so bad. The worst of it was on the bottom where it gets nailed by every stone and pebble coming up off the pavement. The whole muffler was starting to look more light black to dark gray.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,572
Likes: 5
From: Templeton California
It's a trade off, chrome will last longer but will eventually discolor and can still rust, it's expensive to have something re-chromed most would rather just buy new.Black won't last as long but can easily be re-sprayed with high heat paint available in any hardware store. Rustoleum is the best, I've seen PJ1 rust damn near overnight.Or you can split the difference get chrome when it gets old sand it and paint it black.