hello from Italy everybody, my first post here, so be kind plz... smile.gif
I'm about to finalize the purchase of a 1999 model yellow VFR...
it has 34.000 km (21k miles) on, and looks sharp... fing02.gif besides the R/R issue, I'm a bit worried about the headers corrosion issue and the cost for a replacement... are the stainless steel (rust-free) headers ONLY from 2000 (kat) model on? is this header corrosion something that affects most if not all bikes, or only happens when used/kept in specific conditions?
is there a way to find out if the R/R on the bike is a newer/modded one or still the stock fail-prone one?
rstefdc, Oct 25 2005, 06:38 AMhello from Italy everybody, my first post here, so be kind plz... smile.gif
I'm about to finalize the purchase of a 1999 model yellow VFR...
it has 34.000 km (21k miles) on, and looks sharp... fing02.gif besides the R/R issue, I'm a bit worried about the headers corrosion issue and the cost for a replacement... are the stainless steel (rust-free) headers ONLY from 2000 (kat) model on? is this header corrosion something that affects most if not all bikes, or only happens when used/kept in specific conditions?
is there a way to find out if the R/R on the bike is a newer/modded one or still the stock fail-prone one?
tx! beer.gif
Hiya. I am not familiar with the exhaust header being a pervasive issue, but they will change color. Some folks have had some success preventing it or correcting it, but I believe that most don't. As far as the RR original part, if you don't have access to the previous owner(s), then an inspection would be likely and compare the part number with the original part number.
The factory exhaust is NOT stainless steel, but there is no corrosion issue. Those pipes should be okay for many, many years. I'm currently removing the cat from a set of 2001 factory exhaust and it is NOT stainless. But it's in perfect condition with plenty of miles on it. I assume you're asking about the 4-to-1 pipes, not the muffler canister.
If your RR has large cooling fins, it has probably been replaced for an improved unit. Otherwise, you need to compare part numbers. Also, search this site for the cooling fan addition. Very easy to do, takes 15 minutes.
Some people use jet hot coatings to ceramic coat their headers. The only stainless headers for the vfr are those from erion or from 2 brothers, both aftermarket. If they are rusted, it is no big deal, sand blast them and paint them with high temp grill paint or just go ahead and have them Jet Hot coated. If you opt for the grill paint, you will have to repeat at least every year. If the R/R has fins, you are good to go.
I should have added that when I finish my cat-gutting this weekend, I'm shipping my pipes to JetHot for their beautiful "Sterling" finish. Cost is $145, shipped back in protective packaging in a week or so.
I have used high-temp paint on headers for nearly 30 years. It doesn't work for long, and looks like all hell when it starts to flake and rust. Which is why I've choosen to go with JetHot. It really, really works. http://www.jet-hot.com/Pages/coatings.html
I'll be doing a "How To" with pics on my cat-gutting job in a few weeks, once the pipes are back from JetHot. I originally was going to completely remove the cat/collector and make a traditional 4-to-1 header collector, but that's a TON of work for small (if any) gains in power, with the risk of ruining the out-pipe alignment of the whole damn thing. The geometry of the stock headpipes just don't allow for conversion to a true "Erion" header, unfortunately. sad.gif
End of thread · 5 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 15 Feb 2006