plastic bag on headers.. gutted!!

Funny actually just looked at mine, brand new bike just had its first service, and pipes are Blue and rain marked, cool vintage now.
 
Thats a strange one.. as I don't have heated grips, but do have chrome pipes?... My bike was a special order to the guy's exact spec..

It would be more cost effective to chrome the Stainless one for people who want to pay for it.. so guess thats what they have done??.
 
yes.. LC

Do we know if the chrome pipes are Stainless ones plated?.. I will try a magnet tonight, but just wondered if anyone knows the answer...

Yes, I’ve just nipped out and tried a magnet, no pull at all, which suggest 316 stainless (marine grade) and not the crappy 304 which does rust.


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so looks like they plate the SS ones... wondered why chrome was more expensive?.. So even it you rub everything off, it does not realy mater.

But sure I've seen some rusty ones out there?... will try mine tonight ;)
 
so looks like they plate the SS ones... wondered why chrome was more expensive?.. So even it you rub everything off, it does not realy mater.

But sure I've seen some rusty ones out there?... will try mine tonight ;)

Could be 304 stainless, but from experience it seems to be 316.

Cannot say I’ve seen rusty ones, I’ve seen water stained non chrome ones.


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These look like rust?
 

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These look like rust?

I’d say staining. Hard to tell without seeing first hand. I’ve had normal stainless pipes on other bikes that has looked similar to that in your pic, but not as dark, but that could be the photo.


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some interesting points on this thread - some (beaver) mentioning the optional "chrome" exhaust which is std on the 'TE' model - i always thought the headers were the same on each model - and that the "chrome exhaust" option referred to the silencer can being chromed - is this not the case?

are marked differences in chrome headers vs non-chrome headers?

My GSA XE model doesnt have the "chrome exhaust" option - and i much prefer the silencer finish on it compared to the chrome ones, but i thought the headers were all the same?
 
right.. so magnet does kind of stick, but not as much as mild steel.. so lower grade SS I'd guess.. so looks like the SS ones are plated for Chrome units...

Where it has blued up on mine now, I've clearly removed the chrome by polishing... I've done the other side, but not as much so I can see where the chrome still is here... so I need to do it a bit more.

I'd say SS ones blue up quite easy, where as chrome ones should keep their chrome look.... ?..
 
My experience has been that the chrome ones still blue up, just not so fast. Faster you go, for longer, the more they will blue up. That's why they tend to blue from the exhaust clamp down, where as the straight pipe along the frame tends to stay chrome. It would also seem, however, that the more you clean them up to get rid of the blueing the more you are removing the plating and so accelerating the condition. Catch 22, even with mild abrasive?

I had a similar misfortune to you. Couldn't get it off no how, other than using wire wool, followed by a fine DA polish. The RHS now has a copper nickel sort of colour in the shade but looks more chrome in the light?

Its a bummer. Earlier I had thought about fitting header protectors but thought (a) it would look over the top (the bike's farkled up enough as it is) and (b) it would be a rust trap.

You just have to accept that your shiny toy cant stay that way forever if it's used, and just move on. The first cut is always the deepest :-)
 
I know.. realise that.. to the point where I went out last night, ABS off.. and pulled a few wheelies... something I've not dared to do on this one just in case LOL :)

Just got my buffing wheel out and some SS polish.. it takes about 30 seconds to remove the chrome.. so will take them off (next winter) and do the full job... than I have nice SS ones :)
 
Just cover them in bloody mud.....actually not a mix of blood and mud.....you know what I mean :D
 
right.. so magnet does kind of stick, but not as much as mild steel.. so lower grade SS I'd guess.. so looks like the SS ones are plated for Chrome units...

Where it has blued up on mine now, I've clearly removed the chrome by polishing... I've done the other side, but not as much so I can see where the chrome still is here... so I need to do it a bit more.

I'd say SS ones blue up quite easy, where as chrome ones should keep their chrome look.... ?..

Interesting as absolutely no magnetic pull on mine, and I was using a fairly strong magnet.


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