chrome downpipes?

[ianmac]

Hi all, who (if anybody) does chrome down pipes for the 12GS?

2 ;What best cleaning product for standard downpipes?Autosol?


3; Been out today 300 miles, and must say 12GS is best bike I,ve owned in 20 years of biking!

 

[Mr K]

Can't claim this as my own: Buy "Shiny Sinks" stainless steel sink cleaner followed by Solvlol or Kleen.........

How clean are your sump fins?

:drackula

 

[ianmac]

thanx, will check out those sump fins now!

 

[plasmatron]

I've got the Chrome pipes option on my '05 12GS...

The headers go a nice midnight blue and the rest of the pipes stay a nice shiny chrome without any need for polishing... Although a once over with TurtleWax chrome polish puts some serious 'bling' on them...

 

[oddball]

Wow Plasmatron, I like those chrome pipes they look great - much better than my dog poo brown ones.

Did they come as standard are are they retro fit?

 

[Tim Cullis]

They are a factory fit option which is shown on the German BMW site, but not mentioned in UK literature.

Tim

 

[Martin]

I paid £70 for the "Chrome Exhaust" option on my 05 1200GS. Imagine my surprise when I took delivery of the bike and found that the only chromed bit is the silencer. The pipes are bog standard. Chrome downpipes are NOT available as as UK option

 

[motozen]

I paid extra for the chromed "headers". Obviously by the looks of the post above, my dealer was misinformed. I specifically asked about the headers and he told me they are like the headers on the R1200C, they do not blue, he thought they were double walled and chromed.. I guess not... I will take this issue up on delivery.

 

[Alphason]

I know stainless goes blue or brown, depending on temperature, but I thought one of the reasons for the chrome was to maintain the original look, without colour change

I might be wrong but i think chrome is a variable part of the make up of steel . The more chrome is present the more stainless and reflective the steel is.

If the headers are advertised as 'chrome' you'd expect a chrome plated finish rather than just steel with a high content of chrome.

 

[birdseye]

I know stainless goes blue or brown, depending on temperature, but I thought one of the reasons for the chrome was to maintain the original look, without colour change

I might be wrong but i think chrome is a variable part of the make up of steel . The more chrome is present the more stainless and reflective the steel is.

If the headers are advertised as 'chrome' you'd expect a chrome plated finish rather than just steel with a high content of chrome.

Chrome plated steel goes blue with heat. Stainless steel goes brown. Titanium goes a fetching mixture of pastel pink and blue. The only way you will stop discolouration is to reduce the heat by (for example) double walling.

And yes, 18 % chrome is a constituent of stailess steel but there are endless varieties. Most have 8% nickel in there as well - and most will still oxidise (ie rust) in damp salty conditions.

 

[Alphason]

Stainless goes blue at around 800 degrees, brown at around 1100.

I may be wrong but hey, who cares?

 

[Gonzo]

I use "Wonder Wheels" alloy wheel cleaner as advised by Dutchman. It takes a few applications the first time you do it, and the pipes soon speckle again once warmed up, but the look is good for the first few minutes! Finish off with Autosol or Autoglym polish and it's well smart.

Just make sure the stuff doesn't splash onto any of the painted engine bits, as I'm sure it wouldn't be a happy union!

 

[plasmatron]

sorry, got back to this a bit late...

yes, the chrome plated pipes were a factory optional extra that I got thrown into the deal on my 12GS... They are the exact same part as the standard stainless pipes, just chrome plated...

The chrome doesn't change colour to brown or anything else except at the headers where it goes midnight blue... strange that chromed pipes aren't an option in the UK, it would make sense considering the weather / salted roads etc...

 

[Mouse]

Originally posted by plasmatron strange that chromed pipes aren't an option in the UK, it would make sense considering the weather / salted roads etc...

I would expect stainless steel to resist the weather better than chrome. Have had bikes with chromed exhausts before, they never lasted.

 

[Marco]

Agreed Mouse ! this is exactly what my dealer said when ordering the bike; I wanted these chromed pipes and was therefore prepared to pay the extra cost but he told me to save money as on the basis of his experience chromed pipes are more fragiles than the stainless ones;

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

I would expect stainless steel to resist the weather better than chrome. Have had bikes with chromed exhausts before, they never lasted.

It does seem ironic that after years of bemoaning quick rot chrome exhaust systems on bikes, that people would now want to fit chrome pipes when, at last, most manufacturers fit s/s systems

Andres

 

[BBB61]

Does anyone know if the pipes are the stainless ones which are then chrome plated?

Bob

 

[motozen]

Does anyone know if the pipes are the stainless ones which are then chrome plated?

Bob

Yes, they are stainless then chromed.
I was lead to believe that the chrome headers are like the ones on the R1200C, they will not discolor.. Now that we know this is incorrect, the dealer has waived the CAD$200 he charged me on the order for the chromed pipes.