Sooo I'm my long search for 14 greatness, I somehow decided it would be good to wrap the exhaust! I would like to have one thread that stresses the pros and cons of exhaust wrapping so those interested can either proceed or digress with the project....

The semester is over so i would like to at least start the project within the 1st week of January so that way I can be done before classes start again!!

Thoughts??? OK GO ------

look forward to some pics and some hot tips there mre14, hope it works out well for you

* Last updated by: ethin14 on 12/19/2011 @ 1:55 AM *

Never done it but heard it will peal and promotes rust. The header rusts anyway. Personally i would leave it until you can ceramic coat it. That is at least dursble.

I agree. Good wrap works, have used it on cars but never a bike. Ceramic better.

The ceramic job Classic Coatings did on my CT-Duals is first class. They even did the inside with race coat and the outside with high-temp gunmetal gray. It of course changes color slightly over the years, but so far the only blemish on it is where I nicked it putting a spring on. Even the nick has not expanded or degraded.

Privateer did you send it yours out to get coated or was it a local place? Do I just google ceramic coating in my area?

Oh how much was it?

Thank you

mre14, google Classic Coatings there is only one. I posted about it 2 years ago and gave a link, but have no idea the topic or anything. Heh.

I disassembled my exhaust, wrapped each section in bubblewrap (used 6" wide roll bubblewrap, but good strong heavy wrapping paper would work) and boxed it up. UPSed it to Classic Coatings, and about 2 weeks later they were back.

I recommend you speak with them on the phone first, and understand how to mark the sections which will not get coated (the slip joints for example, will only get ceramic on the visible portions). Though they have done this for decades, and could probably figure it out.

I missmarked one of the slip joints (didn't mark the tube end that slid into the joint) and had to sand it a little to get it to slide in. No problem, but you sure don't want to do that more than once or it will add days to your assembly. If you end up having to sand, just put masking tape to demark where you don't want to sand, so you don't marr the visible portions.

Classic Coatings will do the inside in race coat (THLB or TLHB whatever) if you ask. It is a super slick super high temperature coating used on Indy cars and the like, to help the acceleration of the exhaust gases down the header and out the exhaust. I.E., to reduce exhaust back pressure.

It cost a "few hundred bucks". I'm thinking something like $289 or something (was in my original post - maybe if you search "classic coatings" and look at the result not in "products and providers" you can find it).

Whatever it cost, its worth it. It knocked a lot of felt heat down a notch, and the water temperature went down some too. Of course, the Brock's exhaust also would have contributed the same way, just not as much, had I not ceramic coated it.

After all this time, the coating is still perfect. Worth every penny! But I wouldn't do this to just any old junk exhaust system. The cost was a little over 10% to coat it of the purchase cost. If you get up above about 25% percent of the cost of your exhaust, you got to start wondering if it is worth it.

Because coating is just an incremental improvement.

* Last updated by: privateer on 12/21/2011 @ 4:18 AM *

It's also worth something for appearance. Ceramic is the only reliable way to color your exhaust. Paint, I thought about it but heard it was such a mess that it seemed impractical even for a temporary cosmetic coat. The head pipes are the hottest part so even if that is the only part I was doing, I'd go with ceramic. $300 is a nice deal.

I have my system coated but it was not done with proper materials. I could tell the guy was not too enthused about it. He was right. High time to clean it up and have it redone. Thanks Piv.

DAMN!! CC is right in my back yard. Hell, I'll throw the pipes in the trunk and drive them up. Thanks again Priv.

$200. Halfway down the page. Bottom page they also do powdercoating for wheels and such.

Classic Coatings <<<CLICK

* Last updated by: Rook on 12/21/2011 @ 10:18 AM *

Privateer

Thanks for all the info!! Cheers to you!! I will definitely be calling them the first week of the new year...

Rook

Thanks for the link, wish i was close enough to just drop it off..

Happy Holidays all, be safe, have fun. and have a happy new year!

I wrapped mine from first service. no regrets, much cooler on my legs and temp gauge. I'd do ceramic, but I'm thinking of trading up to the 14R. If that is as hot as the 14 then I may ceramic the headers

cheers and Merry Christmas from down under!