Has anyone ever removed exhaust pipe wrap?

[Mailman]

I’m just curious if pipe wrap causes irreversible damage to the finish of exhaust pipes. Every time I see a bike for sale with a wrapped exhaust, I always think to myself, “ that’s the first thing I’d remove”. But I wonder if that wrap doesn’t stain or otherwise mar the finish.
Anyone ever done it?

 

[Niels B]

Yes I have, in most occasion it appear to me that it’s wrapped beachside it already looked like shit. So far never unwrapped one that could be cleaned off, if applied to a pipe with chrome or ceramic coat it may be possible to clean, providing that it was cleaned and dried proper before wrapping, wrapping tend to trap moisture and make irreversible damage to the coating.

 

[Mailman]

Yes I have, in most occasion it appear to me that it’s wrapped beachside it already looked like shit. So far never unwrapped one that could be cleaned off, if applied to a pipe with chrome or ceramic coat it may be possible to clean, providing that it was cleaned and dried proper before wrapping, wrapping tend to trap moisture and make irreversible damage to the coating.

Yeah, that kinda confirms my suspicions.

 

[Jim]

Still lookin' for a Guzzi, eh?

 

[Mailman]

Still lookin' for a Guzzi, eh?

Well…..you know how it is. Even married men still look!

 

[Its been a long time]

On single skin pipes you may well find the steel has cracks like crazy paving underneath the wrap. The wrap causes the pipe to run much hotter. That causes the steel to crack. The only use I can think of where wrap is justified on a motorcycle header is to hide damage.

Generally, I would only buy the motorcycle if the seller demonstrated the pipe unwrapped. Or if the price was reduced by the cost of new header pipes.

 

[bosco659]

Still lookin' for a Guzzi, eh?

Wait for this one to be released. Concept stage right now? It’s a beauty!

 

[gggGary]

Hey no porn in the garage!

 

[bosco659]

Re: exhaust wrap, I’ve seen some nastiness on the metal surfaces under the wrap. I think if it was SS, you may have a chance at restoring a decent finish. In many cases wraps have been installed to cover something you don’t want to see.

 

[Wingedwheel]

The only use I can think of where wrap is justified on a motorcycle header is to hide damage.

Exact reason I used it. Nobody knows the pipes were dinged and chrome challenged on my Bobber.

 

[gggGary]

Even for a guzzi take off factory pipes can be found on fleabay or some MG forum. No excuse to not buy the bike.

We're here to help!

 

[Raymond]

Just one corner of SOIR!

 

[Downeaster]

Too bad he (she?) doesn't have any Hondas...

 

[Kevin Werner]

My "Red Bike" came with wrapped Special headpipes with Sportster mufflers welded on. For shits 'n giggles I removed the wrap and found headpipes unstained or discolored but plenty of scuffs and scratches as expected.

 

[Signal]

Some people use wrap to hide the poor fit up and welding on custom exhausts.