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Heres my set up
2017 Road Glide Ultra with Supertrapp unfiltered headpipe into Supertrapp Fatshots. Screaming Eagle air filter. FP3. V&H sent me a new map for my FP because the previous map was causing some accel popping. Since uploading the new map, I noticed my slip ons are starting to turn brown. When I contacted V&H about it, they told me its perfectly normal and nothing to worry about other than the discoloration which Im not happy about. A brown pipe would tell me that Im running too hot/lean? Not sure how I feel about that advice so I wanted to check here. Now before everyone says ditch the FP3, unfortunately I dont have the extra bread to switch to another tuner so I have to live with what Ive got for now. Just wondering if I SHOULD be concerned about this. And from what I understand, once a pipe turns brown, theres really no way to turn it back? Correct?
Thanks in advance!
SuperTrapps are stainless steel. I've had quite a few sets of them over the years. Stainless is famous for turning what most folks call a "Wheat" color which is brown.
SuperTrapps are stainless steel. I've had quite a few sets of them over the years. Stainless is famous for turning what most folks call a "Wheat" color which is brown.
Thanks for the reply Gunny.... So do you think that this is okay then? I've always thought that when a pipe turns brown it means you're running too hot or too lean. For the record, the bike runs amazing. I just want to make sure this isn't gonna burn anything out or damage anything.
SS will "turn" but can be polished back to their original appearance, only to "turn" again, personally I think it adds character to the bike, most of the time if you are running lean the pipes will "blue" up around the exhaust ports, however; cheap chrome will also blue (again character), if you are concerned about running lean pull the plugs and do a reading.
Thanks for the reply Gunny.... So do you think that this is okay then? I've always thought that when a pipe turns brown it means you're running too hot or too lean. For the record, the bike runs amazing. I just want to make sure this isn't gonna burn anything out or damage anything.
You should be fine. The wheat brown is normal on Stainless after some heat cycles. Most guys are used to regular steel exhaust and may think this is a problem but it is NOT. If it gets blue etc then there may be a heat issue but if the bike is running fine do not worry at all. SuperTrapp has been around since about 1971, that's over 50 years, how many exhaust manufacturers can say that??? The technology was ground breaking at the time since it was a tunable exhaust by adding or subtracting baffles. Nice sound and not overly loud. Too many riders think a louder bike is a faster bike but that is total BS in general. You hear the term "back pressure" used for torque but actually exhaust "velocity" is what effects performance. That engine is just a big air pump and the faster in can get air in and out, the faster the bike.
Last edited by Gunnysgt; Oct 18, 2023 at 07:44 AM.
As said, completely normal. Even my black chrome has turned a little blue, and that's with a proper Fuel Moto tune. It's common in general, and more so with certain engine configurations.
SuperTrapp has been around since about 1971, that's over 50 years, how many exhaust manufacturers can say that??? The technology was ground breaking at the time since it was a tunable exhaust by adding or subtracting baffles. Nice sound and not overly loud. Too many riders think a louder bike is a faster bike but that is total BS in general. You hear the term "back pressure" used for torque but actually exhaust "velocity" is what effects performance. That engine is just a big air pump and the faster in can get air in and out, the faster the bike.
I've had SuperTrapps on my last three bikes as well. Can't say enough about them. Not to mention, Gerry there is a wealth of great information.
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Slip Ons Turning Brown?
