This wasn't that easy as I thought it would be. The dismantling and putting it back together took more time than the wrapping :).
Wrap : Used the Titanium finish wrap. I ended up using about 25+ meters. Lucky I had ordered extra.
Getting ready : Of course, remove the lower fairing, Rear wheel, right foot rest, and then the exhaust. I doubt the exhaust was ever removed from the bike. The rear one was a real b*****. Took a lot of WD-40, tapping, turning to take them off. Had to use a lot of angled spanners to take them off. Cleaned the pipes, scrapped the rust off.
Wrap size : Basically wrapped them in 6 phases. 2 front & 4 rear. Wrap fro the front took about 6 meters each while the rear about 3 meters. Had to soak them in water for 5 min before applying
Wrapping : Take care the wraps have very fine carbon fibers - they really start scratching after sometime :). Started from the front side (exhaust end), wrapped about 5 inches and secured it with the plastic wire ties. Continue to wrap. Secure the ends with metal ties provided.
1) So, ensure the pipes are clean before you wrap.
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1284350916/gallery_16926_5592_1120780.jpg VFR800 - Exhaust - Wrap - 01 - Pipes.jpg
2) Used wire / plastic ties at intervals to secure the wrap. Less stress on the hand. Anyways this takes/needs two people to do it.
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1284350916/gallery_16926_5592_700900.jpg VFR800 - Exhaust - Wrap - 02 - Wrap with ties.jpg
3) Ensure you replace the gaskets, washers when assembling the exhaust. Getting all the holes aligned is really painful.
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1284350916/gallery_16926_5592_162103.jpg VFR800 - Exhaust - Wrap - 03 - Fitted - rear.jpg
4) The copper washers keep falling of. Apply some grease to hold it in place.
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1284350916/gallery_16926_5592_84281.jpg VFR800 - Exhaust - Wrap - 04 - Fitted - Front.jpg
5) Finally this is how it looks. Lot of fumes will come out the first time you fire the bike. That�s ok.
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1284350916/gallery_16926_5592_564787.jpg VFR800 - Exhaust - Wrap - 05 - Complete - rear.jpg
Well done. Why did you put on the exhaust wrap, was the heat coming off the exhaust getting uncomfortable? I thought about doing the rear headers to decrease heat buildup below the seat as that did get uncomfrotable at times. But as I also ride in less favourable weather I was told that the moisture trapped in the exhaust wrap would increase corrosion of the headers.
You are right about the corrosion. My logic is as long as you keep them dry its good. if they get wet - run them dry. Plus we also have upto three months of rain (monsoons) but i don't ride the bike during that time. So lets see.
There are two advantages of wraps...
1) Reduces the heat,
2) suppose to increase power ...(i have yet to optimize what i already have :) )
I thought a lot about doing this exact thing simply to keep heat down a bit. After talking to several Harley guys around town and reading online I decided against it in part due to corrosion and I was told that if you get the wrap thicker in spots than others it's likely to burn the headers through due to the heat holding in that particular spot more than others. Looks good and would be interested to know if it helps keep engine temps down as I haven't completely ruled it out.
Here's some wraps I did to my Vic, for the purpose of heat control.... I don't know if they would have hurt anything I only had it for a couple of years..... I did like the looks as well......
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1284350916/gallery_16535_4665_666928.jpg MY CAMERA SHOTS 066.jpg
- I did the down tubes front and rear on the stock header of my '98 5th gen. I didnt soak the stuff in water, just used a spray bottle and sprayed long sections of wrap on the floor before applying. Instructions also wanted you to paint it with the 2000 degree ceramic high heat paint too. I though it couldnt hurt doing the steel header first before the wrap, so I sprayed the crap outta that too. Smoked like crazy for a few (ok more than a few) cycles to get it baked in.
- My main motivation on this was to shield heat off the Penske shock on the rear and did the front to balance it out. If the sucker ends up with some corrosion somewhere and burns through, well that's just and excuse to grab a set of Motads.
Front pic...
http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/uu37/ohioriver/frontheaderwrap.jpg
[image: View Post]mello dude, on 13 September 2010 - 11:15 PM, said:
^^^ Sweet looking Vic, Monk
- I did the down tubes front and rear on the stock header of my '98 5th gen. I didnt soak the stuff in water, just used a spray bottle and sprayed long sections of wrap on the floor before applying. Instructions also wanted you to paint it with the 2000 degree ceramic high heat paint too. I though it couldnt hurt doing the steel header first before the wrap, so I sprayed the crap outta that too. Smoked like crazy for a few (ok more than a few) cycles to get it baked in.
- My main motivation on this was to shield heat off the Penske shock on the rear and did the front to balance it out. If the sucker ends up with some corrosion somewhere and burns through, well that's just and excuse to grab a set of Motads.
Front pic...
http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/uu37/ohioriver/frontheaderwrap.jpg
Well good to know there are other crazy people like me out there who want to do this....(and i thought i was the only one). :)
Wraps are looking good. Did you find it to be less hot (mean the heat) ?
[image: View Post]AnikMankar, on 13 September 2010 - 11:54 PM, said:
[image: View Post]mello dude, on 13 September 2010 - 11:15 PM, said:
^^^ Sweet looking Vic, Monk
- I did the down tubes front and rear on the stock header of my '98 5th gen. I didnt soak the stuff in water, just used a spray bottle and sprayed long sections of wrap on the floor before applying. Instructions also wanted you to paint it with the 2000 degree ceramic high heat paint too. I though it couldnt hurt doing the steel header first before the wrap, so I sprayed the crap outta that too. Smoked like crazy for a few (ok more than a few) cycles to get it baked in.
- My main motivation on this was to shield heat off the Penske shock on the rear and did the front to balance it out. If the sucker ends up with some corrosion somewhere and burns through, well that's just and excuse to grab a set of Motads.
Well good to know there are other crazy people like me out there who want to do this....(and i thought i was the only one). :)
Wraps are looking good. Did you find it to be less hot (mean the heat) ?
It's hard to tell if externally around the bike that it makes a difference of less heat. The right side of the bike on the frame gets pretty hot. It could be that the cylinder head is close to the frame. The crazy thing is I did the heat wrap, BMC airfilter, and PC2 all at once and the bike seems to run much better. Before, the bike seemed to crap out with a flat spot at about 10,500 rpms, and after, that flat spot is gone, and the revs just slam to redline. (I really havent spent any time on the tuning side of it.)
I guess the question would be - would I do it again? Well, corrosion risk or not, yes - absolutely I would do it again. :fing02:
I wound not worry too much about the moisture being trapped in between the fibers and the headers, a replacement set are like $250. If the corrode, just buy another used set.
[image: View Post]AnikMankar, on 13 September 2010 - 11:54 PM, said:
(and i thought i was the only one). :)
No, you are not the only one. BLS has the headers on his RC45 wrapped for years and I don't think he has found any negative effects. He did advise me not to wrap the headers on my VFR as I ride in all sorts of weather.
End of thread · 13 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 15 Sep 2010