tape

J

jotacole

Full member
Hi
 What is the idea behind the tape that you sometimes see on the down pipes
 eg cafe racers.
 Also who sells it ?

               THANKS RUSS.
 
 
header wrap maintains heat in the tubes
proponents say retaining the heat improves exhaust gas velocity

i believe it was originally developed to reduce underhood temps in hot rod cages
esp useful in turbo applications

benefits include reduction of nasty skin burns in tight spots
drawbacks include trapping moisture shortening tube life
 
jotacorsa said:
header wrap maintains heat in the tubes
proponents say retaining the heat improves exhaust gas velocity

i believe it was originally developed to reduce underhood temps in hot rod cages
esp useful in turbo applications

benefits include reduction of nasty skin burns in tight spots
drawbacks include trapping moisture shortening tube life
Click to expand...

ie the benefits of ceramic coating.
 
Russ, a quick look on UK eBay for "header wrap tape" turned up a couple of dozen hits, so I'm guessing pretty much any local hot rod place will know where to get it if they don't stock it. But Paul LeClair used it on one of his Laverdas and did terrible rust damage to the headers, so in the rainy old UK that might explain why it's not too popular on street bikes. I did see a Triumph (iirc) at the Ace Cafe on the TV show "Cafe Racers" using it, so some people are obviously selling it in the UK.
JLO is spot on, ceramic coating helps to contain the heat and is mostly rustproof. And it can't come unravelled. You can also look for a coating shop that does thermal barrier coating inside the pipes, but apparently that's a lot harder to do.

Ken
 
first time I used the exhaust heat tape wrap on a Laverda triple, I wrapped a set of previously rusty chrome header pipes that I sand blasted bare then tape wrapped. They rusted again, under the heat tape, which when it got wet trapped the moisture.

then I did a little research. I sand blasted the header pipes yet again, and sent them out for ceramic coating, then I heat tape wrapped them again, as well as then spraying the heat tape with a high heat paint that soaks into the tape and seems to water proof them. That set of header pipes are on my 79 1200, and now every spring I respray them with the high heat paint, makes the tape look as new again.

I like the exhaust heat tape, retains heat in the exhaust stream, saves me from burningmyself on the header pipes, and more importantly from my perspective, allows me to use a cosmetically less than perfect set of header pipes rather than splashing out huge money on re chromed header pipes. Did you know that a new stock set of chromed triple header pipes are now close to $500? They look great until you start the bike, then they turn blue......

On my 84 RGS I have larger diameter stainless steel header pipes. I got sick of them turning an unattractive yellow, and I heat tape wrapped them as well. They won't rust.

http://www.thermotec.com/products/category/1/heat-insulation-wrap.html

Paul LeClair
 
I was once told that this tape was first used by NASCAR on their headers. However, because motorcycles have so much LESS header than V8 motors, the effectiveness is really questioned on how well it aides in getting spent exhaust out.
I once did wrap a Ducati exhaust (82 MHR) and felt that there was no noticeable difference in performance and the down sides were that they got wet and smoked, got dirty and looked really bad(then only white was available).
They did however keep my fairing from getting cooked.
 
Paul, I've always heard that header tape should never be used on stainless pipes, something to do with the excess heat damaging the pipes I think. You've not had any problems on your RGS system? How long have they been wrapped? Perhaps with the higher heat generated by a blown, nitrous sucking, big block V8 encased in an engine bay its a problem, but not with our cooler running out in the wind headers.

Paul LeClair said:
....
On my 84 RGS I have larger diameter stainless steel header pipes. I got sick of them turning an unattractive yellow, and I heat tape wrapped them as well. They won't rust.

http://www.thermotec.com/products/category/1/heat-insulation-wrap.html

Paul LeClair
Click to expand...
 
Mark, Paul, you need urgent counselling :D
Exhaust tape [on motorcycles] belongs in the same category as faux carbon fibre stuck on to your top yoke, silly tinted screens, purple anodised fasteners, stick-on ears on your helmet, cammo pants and lots of other stuff motorcyclists seem to enjoy adorning their bike with.
It looks good on the headers of a Lola T70 or an aero engine or a funny car. It most definitely isn't cool on a bike, especially a Laverda. :D :D

Look at this bloke, that's the kind of person who wraps his exhaust with tape. C'mon chaps , lets have a bit of decorum. These are classically designed Italian thoroughbreds we're riding here
 

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most applications of pipe wrap is to make bland bikes look a bit harder.Check out any chopper blog for a few thousand examples. Performance wise it's equal to the headlight covers you see you small tuning-is-not-a-crime cars.
Paul, i'm not getting it: blued pipes are soo beautiful.
 
Hi Bob

I do have to say you are giving me ideas.... I think I will go shopping later today for a few sheets of vinyl stick on fake carbon fiber to liberally adorn both Laverda triples and make them really stand out from the crowd...... :D However, nothing else on your list was particularly appealing to me personally.

Hi Mingh

I have never liked blued chrome exhaust pipes, to my eye just looks cheap and like the bike is tuned way too lean. I can't be the only one, most of the major manufacturers have spent gazillions trying to prevent or hide exhaust bluing, even Harley hides all the bluing with a bunch of heat shields. There is also a huge market for various cleaning products that claim to reduce or eliminate the bluing, or in the case of stainless steel, the ugly straw yellow colour they turn.

Paul LeClair
 
Paul, You need TI pipes, They turn all sorts of rainbow colors when they get hot. Come to think of it they might be just the thing for the militant 120 riders!
 
Paul LeClair said:
Hi Bob

I do have to say you are giving me ideas.... I think I will go shopping later today for a few sheets of vinyl stick on fake carbon fiber to liberally adorn both Laverda triples and make them really stand out from the crowd...... :D However, nothing else on your list was particularly appealing to me personally.

Paul LeClair
Click to expand...

:D :D :D Paul , I agree, I couldn't quite see you in a pair of cammo pants somehow. I can however send you some nice carbon fibre fabric and you could fashion a pair of underpants out of it. Come to think of it , witha bit of resin you could even mould sorry, mold in some crash protection Yes, I think that would cut a dash...
 
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