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 xhaust-pipe
discoloration is a big issue. Riders want their bikes to look good, and
a blued-out, discolored set of pipes doesn’t fit that picture.
It doesn’t matter whether that rider just cruises around town or
if he’s a regular long-distance road warrior; everyone wants their
bike to be a show stopper when they pull into their favorite hang out
or that coffee shop three states away. Clean, shiny pipes are a must.What causes bluing and discoloration, and what can be done to minimize it? Basically, pipe-bluing is the result of excess heat actually changing the chemical structure of the chrome on the pipe. That excess heat can have a number of sources, too: an engine running too lean, air leaks, even hard running. There’s really no preventing discoloration of motorcycle pipes, it’s a fact of two-wheeled life. The smart answer is to cover the head pipe, where that bluing and discoloration most often occurs, with a good-looking and good-fitting heatshield. A few years back when Samson introduced their then-new Shogun Warlord Series of custom pipes for metric cruisers they took a hard look at the whole question of discoloration. They answered it with specially designed 220-degree heatshields that cover the entire head pipe. Not only do those heatshields keep the exhausts looking bright, shiny and just-out-of-the-box new by masking any discoloration that might occur, the Shogun heatshields–with an impressive 2 1/4-inch diameter–make the pipes look even bigger than they are. And they’re replaceable. If a heatshield gets scratched or dented a readily available replacement can restore that just-mounted look. That’s sure simpler, and easier on the wallet, than having to replace the entire pipe. Those heat-shielded Shogun metric pipes are built just like the Samson Big Gun 2 H-D pipes, too. They come with the same great look and the same great sound. And the same great heatshields. While the Shogun heatshields can effectively cover any bluing and discoloration that might be happening on the pipes under them, there are still a few things you can and should do to minimize that bluing and discoloration from taking place at all. You can start by carefully tuning a bike before a new set of pipes are installed. Make sure the fuel mixture and timing is right, and make sure there are no air leaks. Check the intake seals and exhaust gaskets. Some techs go so far as to use high temperature RTV where the head pipes and mufflers meet. And always carefully wipe down a new set of pipes immediately after they’re installed and before the engine is started. Paper towels and Windex work great. Don’t miss a spot anywhere from the port to the pipe tip, either, because any grease or fingerprints left on the new pipes will be there forever once those pipes heat up. Do all that and you’ve done all you can to keep a new set of Shogun pipes looking new for years to come. Those heatshields will take care of the rest. Contact your Parts Unlimited rep for more information.  |
 Samson
has solved the problem of exhaust pipe discoloration with their Shogun
Warlord Series and specially designed 220-degree heatshields. The Shogun
heatshields cover the entire headpipe, masking discoloration, and, with
a 2 1/4-inch diameter, they make the pipes look even bigger than they actually
are. |
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For more information see:
www.samsonusa.com
