Where is the best place to go for some stainless downpipes fto fit an 02 1150. 
Stainless downpipes
- Thread starter Keith Chapman
- Start date
northengit
Registered user
Their's a set on e-bay at the momentKeith Chapman said:Where is the best place to go for some stainless downpipes fto fit an 02 1150.
.
The only ones I could find on ebay are standard downpipes.
As far as I can see no one makes Stainless downpipies for the 1150.
I have spent too many work hours on google today
Keihan dont list any
TT dont
Wonderlich dont
Remus dont.
the list goes on
Somebody must do them surely, you can get a stainless Y piece and end can but not downpipes, it just does not make sense.
As far as I can see no one makes Stainless downpipies for the 1150.
I have spent too many work hours on google today
Keihan dont list any
TT dont
Wonderlich dont
Remus dont.
the list goes on
Somebody must do them surely, you can get a stainless Y piece and end can but not downpipes, it just does not make sense.
Probably leaving myself wide open here but the downpipes on my 1999 1150 gs are stainless steel. That's why they go brown but don't rust and clean up with solvol and fine wire wool.
northengit
Registered user
Keith Chapman said:The only ones I could find on ebay are standard downpipes.
As far as I can see no one makes Stainless downpipies for the 1150.
I have spent too many work hours on google today
Keihan dont list any
TT dont
Wonderlich dont
Remus dont.
the list goes on
Somebody must do them surely, you can get a stainless Y piece and end can but not downpipes, it just does not make sense.
Your std fit are stainless... I just assumed you were looking for a replacement set' your only other option is to find a one off builder for a special set. might be worth trying Gazelle who are based down in Wales, was a guy called mike the pipe who used to be down in Wallington Surrey for one off's .
phil adams
Registered user
Mine are also stainless. bmw put a very thin coat of chrome on so they dont have to spend time polishing them. This was explained to me when mine started to deteriorate and I took them to a metal finisher!!
Stainless Steel is steel with a percentage of nickel added.
It's wrong to think that it is non-ferrous and won't corrode. It just doesn't corrode in the same way that 'pure' steel does.
If it's left to its own devices it will become tarnished, especially if it's exposed to the sort of temperatures of the header pipes.
Further away from the intense heat you get that 'gold' effect (easily removed with Ali wheel cleaner like Wonder Wheels).
I've posted this photo before but it does show how badly Stainless Steel down pipes can tarnish and look rusty.
Both headers are from a '79 R80/7, the same age and both were in the same condition after many years of not being polished.
Phil,
I don't think the 1150 ever had the option of chromed stainless headers unlike the 1200. The original finish would have been polished.
The problem with polishing is that they will dull again in time. Left to their own devices BMW headers will 'blue' to start with but in time patches will turn an unsightly brown particularly where the hot gases hit the outside of the curved sections.
About every six thousand miles I spend an hour with fine grit wet and dry, followed by steel-wool with Solvol and it's enough to get rid of the dull bits and the brown patches.
It's wrong to think that it is non-ferrous and won't corrode. It just doesn't corrode in the same way that 'pure' steel does.
If it's left to its own devices it will become tarnished, especially if it's exposed to the sort of temperatures of the header pipes.
Further away from the intense heat you get that 'gold' effect (easily removed with Ali wheel cleaner like Wonder Wheels).
I've posted this photo before but it does show how badly Stainless Steel down pipes can tarnish and look rusty.
Both headers are from a '79 R80/7, the same age and both were in the same condition after many years of not being polished.
Phil,
I don't think the 1150 ever had the option of chromed stainless headers unlike the 1200. The original finish would have been polished.
The problem with polishing is that they will dull again in time. Left to their own devices BMW headers will 'blue' to start with but in time patches will turn an unsightly brown particularly where the hot gases hit the outside of the curved sections.
About every six thousand miles I spend an hour with fine grit wet and dry, followed by steel-wool with Solvol and it's enough to get rid of the dull bits and the brown patches.
interesting. they corrode so easily i'd always assumed they were mild steel.
must be a very different grade of stainless to this then.
(never polished. ever)
must be a very different grade of stainless to this then.
(never polished. ever)
OK so they are chromed (ever so slightly) stainless. You live and learn.
But I was thinking along the same lines as cookie.
My old stainless kit on my Guzzi never needed anything doing to them, the BM ones are shite.
i
But I was thinking along the same lines as cookie.
My old stainless kit on my Guzzi never needed anything doing to them, the BM ones are shite.
i
Very likely.cookie said:must be a very different grade of stainless to this then.
(never polished. ever)
So what's your point?
Motto Guzzi use a higher grade of Stainless?
Keith,
It doesn't bother me what you think of the BMW quality, all I and others who responded wanted to do was to save you buying another pair of "stainless" downpipes only to find that they will tarnish in the same way.
Mike.
Mike,
If you read my post you will see that I was admitting that I made a mistake in thinking that the down pipes were not stainless.
I have not had a dig at anyone who responded either, infact I found the replies useful.
I am sorry if you took offence at me daring to slag off BMW quality.
Oh and there is only one T in Moto
If you read my post you will see that I was admitting that I made a mistake in thinking that the down pipes were not stainless.
I have not had a dig at anyone who responded either, infact I found the replies useful.
I am sorry if you took offence at me daring to slag off BMW quality.
Oh and there is only one T in Moto
MikeP said:Very likely.
So what's your point?
Motto Guzzi use a higher grade of Stainless?
Keith,
It doesn't bother me what you think of the BMW quality, all I and others who responded wanted to do was to save you buying another pair of "stainless" downpipes only to find that they will tarnish in the same way.
Mike.
So what's your point?
just expressing interest & surprise that the OEM pipes are indeed stainless. i like others here would never have known as the originals look bad so quickly.
i wonder why they don't use a grade that is actually "stainless" to look at?
ps. those pipes were not made by guzzi, they're keihins. no one would ever describe the originals a stainless that's for sure
all I and others who responded wanted to do was to save you buying another pair of "stainless" downpipes only to find that they will tarnish in the same way.
maybe a pair made of a different grade of steel would not tarnish?
Keith, I appreciated that from your post.Keith Chapman said:
I'm sorry. It didn't read that way (to me). My mistake.
As I said, I don't care really what anyone thinks of BMW 'quality', it's completely subjective anyway.
Oops!Oh and there is only one T in Moto
cookie said:just expressing interest & surprise that the OEM pipes are indeed stainless. i like others here would never have known as the originals look bad so quickly.
i wonder why they don't use a grade that is actually "stainless" to look at?
Well I'm certainly no metallurgist but as as far as I can ascertain, the name Stainless isn't accurate. To make it truely 'stainless' they'd have to add so much nickle that it would be more nickle than steel.
Two things AFAIK limit the amount of nickle content: The higher the nickle content the more the strength is compromised and the process of manufacturing Stainless Steel is 'dirty' ecologically speaking (the EU is putting pressure on motor manufacturers to use more ecologically sound materials in their vehicles. It's one of the reasons why the over-hyped BMW 'quality' seems to be going downhill in some peoples eyes. Personally I don't believe BMW was that good to start with, it's just that in the 70's and 80's the others were so bad!).
ps. those pipes were not made by guzzi, they're keihins. no one would ever describe the originals a stainless that's for sure
Then I have to ask: Why show a picture of them as a comparison? The implied suggestion was that Moto Guzzi can do it so why can't BMW!
For a long time, Stainless headers were only an option on BMW Air-cooled twins, most mild steel headers were replaced with after-market items by owners in due course too.
After-market suppliers are not under the same pressure as vehicle manufacturers to meet the ecological requirements of the EU, so it's possible to buy better grade.
all I and others who responded wanted to do was to save you buying another pair of "stainless" downpipes only to find that they will tarnish in the same way.
maybe a pair made of a different grade of steel would not tarnish?
My concern was that Keith might have bought a pair of OE headers advertised as Stainless (which strictly speaking the seller would be able to claim) only to find that they would tarnish in the same way as those he has fitted now.
Sure there are specialists out there who will make whatever you want.
My other point was that the OE pipes can be kept in a reasonable condition with a little effort if that's what Keith wants. So the balance is between a couple of hours work a year against the price of a bespoke pair of headers or after-market items (if they can be found). I didn't suggest that polishing was the only option, merely that it is an option.
It's down to the owner to choose in each case.
MikeP said:
pipes shown on my le mans are very much more stainless than bmw & i've never heard of a failure. of course 4 valve boxers may run hotter
MikeP said:
sorry. i was trying to imply that there are examples of stainless headers that remain in good condition despite no maintainance. in fact, i'd say that was very much the norm IME.
oops I seem to have caused a bit of a rumpus
I thought that my downpipes were chrome ( an easy mistake to make) and was after some aftermarket Stainless ones to replace the OE.
I would still like to find some replacements if anyone knows of any.
keep up the healthy discussion though.
Sorry to have caused any trouble
I thought that my downpipes were chrome ( an easy mistake to make) and was after some aftermarket Stainless ones to replace the OE.
I would still like to find some replacements if anyone knows of any.
keep up the healthy discussion though.
Sorry to have caused any trouble
Andy Hird
Registered user
I spent three days over last August bank holiday polishing my pipes. I used wet and dry going down the grades to the finest, then used wire wool and solvol then used a buffing wheel on a bench grinder.
I got really anal about it, people on here said don't bother as they'll only go blue and brown again...but I couldn't help myself....anyway after three days they looked nrand new and had a mirror finish. I was very pleased with myself
, so showed the wife, and she was very impressed also . Then with the wife still there I statred the bike up.......after about 2 minutes, they went gold again .....I could have cried, the wife just laughed. What a waste of a bank holiday 
They clean up again like new with wire wool and solvol, which takes about half an hour, but they just go gold again after about 2 minutes.....I don't bother anymore, I just enjoy riding it instead.
Cheers,
Andy
I got really anal about it, people on here said don't bother as they'll only go blue and brown again...but I couldn't help myself....anyway after three days they looked nrand new and had a mirror finish. I was very pleased with myself
, so showed the wife, and she was very impressed also . Then with the wife still there I statred the bike up.......after about 2 minutes, they went gold again .....I could have cried, the wife just laughed. What a waste of a bank holiday They clean up again like new with wire wool and solvol, which takes about half an hour, but they just go gold again after about 2 minutes.....I don't bother anymore, I just enjoy riding it instead.
Cheers,
Andy
I dont mind stainless going gold/straw colour. What I dont like is the pitted starting to rust chrome. 
Looks kike I will have to spend some time with the wet and dry, wire wool ans solvol, I could be
when i am finished
Looks kike I will have to spend some time with the wet and dry, wire wool ans solvol, I could be
when i am finished 
Similar threads
