Wrapped the exhaust headers!!!

[3XW_LOGIC]

Quite proud of this simple but effective? Job.

Wrappers the headers in glass fibre bandage hoping to see some increase in performance and fuel economy, but more importantly oil temperature.

It's 35℃ and may go to 40℃ outside while riding, so a precautionary addition.

1. Wet the bandage
2. Tie the start with plastic zip tie
3. Tightly wrap, maybe add zip tie in between to get rest
4. Finish with metal zip tie
5. Remove plastic zip ties and put all on bike
6. Heat it up to remove moisture and to "set" it.

Is what was done.

How does it look?

[Billy Bananahead]

Looks alright mate. I wrapped the headers on my CX500, not for the reasons you describe but for covering up the pitted headers. I was told that if the bike gets left outside in the rain then water can collect in the wrapping and cause corrosion. I suppose the answer would be to fire the bike up to make any water evaporate. IDK.

[3XW_LOGIC]

Looks alright mate. I wrapped the headers on my CX500, not for the reasons you describe but for covering up the pitted headers. I was told that if the bike gets left outside in the rain then water can collect in the wrapping and cause corrosion. I suppose the answer would be to fire the bike up to make any water evaporate. IDK.

Yep, I'll drive often to prevent it being wet.

Lovely bike there, the CX500. I love the unique valve train on that one. Twisted cylinder with a pushrod and a dual valve rocket arm. Very ingenious design. Quite a torqy beast isn't it!

[Billy Bananahead]

It's my Winter bike really but i'm going to go for a ride on it this week when the weather clears up.
This one is my third, i bought it as a bit of a nostalgia trip as i had them back in the day when i was a London courier, everyone and his dog had the old CX, after that i had a couple of the CX replacements, the VT500. Both the CX and the VT were ideal for the job, cheap to run, good on fuel, lightweight, shaft driven, cheap to insure, ran and ran and clocked up some very high mileages. I think my present one has been round the clock.
Have to give it a handful two-up but when it's up there quite merrily keeps up with modern traffic.

[Waiex191]

So on my airplane I've wrapped the pipes to keep the heat out of the cowl.  I've never wet them.  What does wetting the wrap do?

[3XW_LOGIC]

So on my airplane I've wrapped the pipes to keep the heat out of the cowl.  I've never wet them.  What does wetting the wrap do?

I felt a few advantages myself while wetting the fibers =

the fibers dont fray that much if you wet them - the surface tension of the water kind of keeps them close.

Helps you understand if you've sufficiently pulled the bandage, as a tight bandage changes colour slightly as water is squeezed out of it.

One last thing I observed was that it's slightly easier to keep the bandage from unwinding immediately (when dry, it unwinds immediately and I need more hands to hold it while i zip it down)

These are cheap glass fibers bandages though, and your mileage may vary with other kinds.

[Millietant]

Sorry to be the odd one out, but I really don't like exhaust wrap on bikes - Sadly, from some historical experience, it makes me just think an owner couldn't be bothered to look after the bike properly, so put the wrap on to hide the poor condition.

I know I'm jumping to probably unfounded conclusions, but that's where my mind goes now, whenever I see exhaust wrap on a bike - and most of my buddies have the same concerns. It's one thing that really devalues a bike, in my mind.

But, that's only my opinion/experience and you're actually doing it for different reasons, so why not, if it puts your mind at ease, and you like it, that's all that matters 

[3XW_LOGIC]

Sorry to be the odd one out, but I really don't like exhaust wrap on bikes - Sadly, from some historical experience, it makes me just think an owner couldn't be bothered to look after the bike properly, so put the wrap on to hide the poor condition.

I know I'm jumping to probably unfounded conclusions, but that's where my mind goes now, whenever I see exhaust wrap on a bike - and most of my buddies have the same concerns. It's one thing that really devalues a bike, in my mind.

But, that's only my opinion/experience and you're actually doing it for different reasons, so why not, if it puts your mind at ease, and you like it, that's all that matters 

I did not know the possibile stigma associated with the exhaust wrap.

To give some ease to the image you may have of me - to save some face - let me state that i maintain all my bikes and cars with my own hands, and very regularly ride them, and with love and care, and when i find something that needs work, i don't continue riding but actually do it and make it better... 

Regarding the headers - I've got spare in hand so that in case these get rust inside the bandages, I'll swap them with the good shiny ones !

[Pat Conlon]

......Regarding the headers - I've got spare in hand so that in case these get rust inside the bandages, I'll swap them with the good shiny ones !

Those header tubes are stainless steel so you will never have to worry about rust.

However, keeping that fiberglass wrap clean after a long ride will be a challenge.

Let us know how it works out.

Cheers.  Pat

[Old Rider]

I would not wrap the headers i know the headers on the fj can get red from heat
i heard or read one time that when wrapped the material in the header may crack.
I guess it depends on what material and thickness the headers are made of .

[Waiex191]

I would not wrap the headers i know the headers on the fj can get red from heat
i heard or read one time that when wrapped the material in the header may crack.
I guess it depends on what material and thickness the headers are made of .

Though I have no desire to wrap my FJ exhaust, I doubt it would cause any damage. The headers on my airplane are stainless and I climb at full power to altitude, leaned out to nearly 1400F. There is little airflow under the cowl. The reason we wrap the exhaust on Sonex aircraft is to keep temperatures under the cowl down. Keep the heat in the pipe and blow it out the bottom.

Thanks for the feedback on wetting the roll!