Exhaust Coating/Polishing Questions

 

Right now I have a Cobra 6 into 6 straight pipe exhaust on my Valkyrie,
which sounds cool/powerful/neato when showing the bike off to my friends,
but is WAY too loud at 3:30 am when I go to work, as well as at 80 mph on
the freeway.  While I'm cool wearing earplugs, I'm sure my neighbors aren't
too keen on my early morning noise...also, I'd like to avoid wearing
earplugs if possible.

So that means a stock exhaust, which to me looks every bit as good as the
Cobras.

I've found a few on Ebay, mostly way WAY overpriced, but there are a few not
terribly priced systems which need "a little work."

Here's a couple:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Z149-Honda-GL1500C-Valkyrie-All-Years-OEM-Exhaust-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem53e3603855QQitemZ360297019477QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-GL1500C-Valkyrie-Original-Exhaust-System-USED-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem563f24dc65QQitemZ370426567781QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

So, just how much is "a little work" to get these looking like not-crap?

Also, just what can I expect to pay to have something like this coated with
some sort of ceramic stuff used on exhausts?

I don't mind small imperfections (that can't be seen at speed or 20 or so
feet) as this bike gets ridden daily, and won't be entered in any shows
(unless there's a daily commuter class), but I don't want them to look like
butt either.

Thank you,

CS

 


<snip url>

Top tip:

With eBay, all you need to do is type the initial eBay url and then the
item number. so:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-GL1500C-Valkyrie-Original-Exhaust-S
ystem-USED-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem563f24dc65QQitemZ370426567781QQpt
ZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

can be typed as http://cgi.ebay.com/370426567781  and the url still
works. Much easier for the user.


Lots, and it tends not to last. I've played around a lot with old
exhausts for classic Jap bikes.

If the metal's solid, you can polish it up again. In extreme cases, you
can re-chrome it, but only if the surface is still nice and smooth.
Otherwise you'll have a nice shiny surface but it'll still be rough.
It's the metal preparation that can really take the time and expense,
when it comes to chroming, not the chroming process itself.

Also, some chromers really don't like doing exhausts as it can
contaminate the chroming tanks, so you have to have the thing really
properly cleaned first. But this is more of a two-stroke issue, to be
fair.

Also, four-stroke exhaust systems tend to rot from the inside outwards,
and I've encountered innumerable exhausts that have looked fine but
which, in places, only have the chrome plate separating the inside from
the atmosphere.

It's not helped by the Japanese tendency to chrome the bits you *can*
see and leave the bits you *can't* see as mild unplated steel.

My feeling is that it's only really worth trying to repair an exhaust
system if a replacement is utterly unobtainable. Otherwise buy a new
one. It's easier, and sometimes cheaper in the long run.



--
BMW K1100LT  Ducati 750SS  Honda CB400Fx2  Triumph Street Triple
Kawasaki GT550x2  Suzuki TS250ERx2 GN250  Damn, up to ten bikes!
Try Googling before asking a damn silly question.
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com

 


Thanks for the tip!


Metal preparation...sanding and popping out dents as best I can, or some
fancy chemical/sandblaster/death ray stuff?  I can do the sanding and
perhaps lessen dents a bit, since I have more time than money, but the rest
is beyond me.


Honda seems to use better steel and chrome than Yamaha, and I don't mind
ugly stuff that can't be seen.  Still, I see your point.  It seems pipes age
better when completely chromed.


Unfortunately, new stock exhaust is way WAY too expensive.

I'm wondering if a Goldwing exhaust will fit on the Valk, possibly with a
little modification of the mounts.

I've also seen references to baffles for the Cobra exhaust.  Since they're
local to me, I'll give them a call next week, and take a closer gander at
the pipes.  This would be the best scenerio, as I really don't want to buy
and ship replacements, then store, sell, and ship the old ones.

I suppose I need to join a Valkyrie group or something so I can see about a
trade.

Thanks for the info!

CS

 



No, pre-chrome metal polishing is a skilled specialist job.

<snip>

 

Somebody must do a pattern system, surely?


Well, the headers ought to as it's the same 1500 engine. As you say,
getting the rest of the system to attach might need some work. Only way
to be sure is to park the Valk next to a 1500 Wing and measure it all
up, or borrow a Wing exhaust and offer it up. That might be tricky....



--
BMW K1100LT  Ducati 750SS  Honda CB400Fx2  Triumph Street Triple
Kawasaki GT550x2  Suzuki TS250ERx2 GN250  Damn, up to ten bikes!
Try Googling before asking a damn silly question.
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com

 

wrote:


You may want to look into something like this:
http://www.jet-hot.com/headercoatings.html

It's not cheap and not as shinny as chrome, but, may very
well outlast your bike.  I had them do the headers on my
F150 about 16 years and 200k miles ago in silver color.  I
had the pipe on my KZ done more than 25 years ago in black.
The ones in the truck are forever dirty because I never saw
any need to spit polish them.  The ones on the bike still
look good but are cleaned more often.

Lugnut