ceramic header coating

[Widetrack]

I'm thinking about a winter project of having the exhaust header ceramic coated as I'm getting tired of the brown look. There doesn't seem to be much on the board on exhaust header coating since 2008. Does anyone have any later info on coating their header?

Thanks

[rokinrider]

I think you can send them to Jet Hot?? there was a post a few months back with pictures showing a set on a bike coated. they looked real good I think. I'm hoping to get it done myself.

[BigEasy]

I did mine in '08 and put up post so you're reference is likely to my project, The bike has about 10k miles on it now (I suffer from mulitple bike syndrome so my bikes usually don't accumulate a ton of miles because I usually have 3-4 at a time) and the coating is holding up well. It has not chipped or flaked at all and where live they chip and sealed most of the roads in and out of my house this summer so for a month or so (probably 3-500 miles on the R) it was like riding on gravel. The coating has discolored some at the exhaust port of the head but if I didn't tell you it has changed you'd likely not notice.

I've got a few mods on this bike and the ceramic coat is one of my favorites. I may do the header on my Z1000 this winter.

Shameless attention happy lady pic:

[Widetrack]

Thanks for the info BigEasy. I'll pull the header this winter and have it coated. By the way, what seat is on your bike and how do you like it?

[BigEasy]

The seat is a one off built by Rich's Custom Seats and I love it. I put up a post about it down the page a little ways with more pics and some description. Not cheap but worth every penny.

[Widetrack]

Well I did it over the winter. Sent the header to Jet Hot in NC. Returned in a week or so and looked great. After ^200 mi. it looks just as it did out of the box. My buddy behind me said it smelled like a bunch of dead animals for several miles then cleared up. Jeff at Jet Hot was a pleasure to deal with. $215 plus shipping not ncluding my getting it there. So far very pleased.

[BigEasy]

Neat! How about a pic or two?

[Sander Abernathy]

Two questions:

First, can you be more specific about the dead animal smell? What sort of dead animal?

What about the catalytic converter? I assume it was not ceramic coated. Can it be? The reason I ask is that your post caused me to realize I could ceramic coat the exhaust in a color. I had been thinking thinking of "blacking out" my bike by doing my exhaust, telelever, paralever, and wheels all in black. A silver catalytic converter would stick out like a sore thumb.

[BigEasy]

Two questions:

First, can you be more specific about the dead animal smell? What sort of dead animal?

What about the catalytic converter? I assume it was not ceramic coated. Can it be? The reason I ask is that your post caused me to realize I could ceramic coat the exhaust in a color. I had been thinking thinking of "blacking out" my bike by doing my exhaust, telelever, paralever, and wheels all in black. A silver catalytic converter would stick out like a sore thumb.

Well I just lost a long winded response so I'll give you the short version: I found no smell when I did mine. They coated the cat as it's integral to the header and you would have to specifically instruct the coater to not coat it.

Since i had mine coated I found another coater in Indianapolis that I would use before Jet Hot, mostly because they're semi local and they're a nice competent mom and pop shop http://www.prokoteindy.com/ I'm not associated with them in any way other than being a pleased repeat powder coating (not ceramic but they provide that service) customer

[creamora]

Thanks for the links BigEasy.

On the subject of header coloration, as a newby, why are some brown (mine) and others blue? Hard run in .vs gentle?

[BigEasy]

Thanks for the links BigEasy.

On the subject of header coloration, as a newby, why are some brown (mine) and others blue? Hard run in .vs gentle?

The material the header is constructed of dictates the color. I believe the SS ones are the ones that turn blue IIRC

[Widetrack]

Tried posting photos from Picasa but had comment that stated " it was not possible to determine dimensions of the image" ??? Is there a size limit to posting photos? Anyway the photos are just like BigEasy's earlier in the thread. Maybe a bit more shine. They offer "sterling silver" and "exterme sterling". I have extreme sterling as it has a slightly higher temp rating. The header appeared to have been polished after coating as there were slight smuges of residual polishing compound on the header. These wiped off easily as I wiped down the pipe.

Not sure what type of dead animal but it was really dead.

Jet Hot normally coats the inside of the header but cannot coat ours because of the cat converter. They coat the entire outside of the header. It appeared they sprayed at least a little the inside of the pipe right off the head though.

As far as stock pipe discoloring, chromed steel typically turns blue and stainless turns more brown.

[deilenberger]

Thanks for the links BigEasy.

On the subject of header coloration, as a newby, why are some brown (mine) and others blue? Hard run in .vs gentle?

The material the header is constructed of dictates the color. I believe the SS ones are the ones that turn blue IIRC

Close - not quite. They are all stainless steel, but the shiny ones are chrome plated stainless steel. The unplated ones turn poop brown. The chrome plated ones turn blue-balls-blue.

Normal.. any non-double-wall header is going to change color unless Jet-Hot'd..

[BigEasy]

I'd go with Don on this. He's been around BMW's way longer than I, and knows from experience. I was just trying to remember what I'd seen here.

[redwing]

Bigeasy ...nice looking bike ... very clean

I'm sure everyone is aware that most bikes have a kind of a chrome shield that appears like the exhaust is chrome even though the exhaust is inside the shield. Why is there not an after market part that sleeves the R's header and gives a chrome look. Several models have an exposed exhaust that turn brown.
A two hundred farkel yeah... I'll put it on my list.

Robert

[mogu83]

Why is there not an after market part that sleeves the R's header and gives a chrome look. Several models have an exposed exhaust that turn brown. I'll put it on my list.
Robert

Robert - don't hold your breath. The only chrome that comes standard on a R1200R is on the edge of the roundel on the sides of the tank. Most of us that have the chrome exhaust only have it because it came on the bike (speaking for myself). Seems like their isn't much of a market for aftermarket chrome on a Beemer. I think that says a lot about the people that ride them.
OTOH - their is a very popular American motorcycle manufacturer that offers chrome EVERYTHING and you can have your pick of OEM or aftermarket parts.

[jess]

The only chrome that comes standard on a R1200R is on the edge of the roundel on the sides of the tank.

Damn. Now I'm going to have to modify the roundel.

[BigEasy]

Bigeasy ...nice looking bike ... very clean


Robert

Thanks Robert, my first BMW and I love it, it has been an awesome bike. Looking forward to a lap around Lake Superior on her in June, and maybe a run down the Natchez Trace in the fall

[redwing]

Why is there not an after market part that sleeves the R's header and gives a chrome look. Several models have an exposed exhaust that turn brown. I'll put it on my list.
Robert

Robert - don't hold your breath. The only chrome that comes standard on a R1200R is on the edge of the roundel on the sides of the tank. Most of us that have the chrome exhaust only have it because it came on the bike (speaking for myself). Seems like their isn't much of a market for aftermarket chrome on a Beemer. I think that says a lot about the people that ride them.
OTOH - their is a very popular American motorcycle manufacturer that offers chrome EVERYTHING and you can have your pick of OEM or aftermarket parts.

Yes Harry I agree...you are right about the lack of chrome and what it suggests about the bike and the people who ride BMW. I like the pragmatic approach BMW has to motorcycling. It's a rock solid bike where all the frills are in function and longevity... I know I'm preaching to the choir ...... we have made an excellent buy with R1200R, five hundred pounds, lots of power, nimble, and dependable, and can be made into a touring bike even by degrees.
IMHO.... I also dislike the coke colored exhausts (though I do like Coke.) If I had of known how the stainless steel would have turned out I might have paid for the chrome. An ideal solution might be a brushed silver cover to the common or cross over pipe. I would find that option attractive. I like the look Bigeasy has and have considered a powder coating. But that decission is at the bottom of my list.
What is this "jet hot?"

Robert

[mogu83]

I have the chrome (it was on the bike) but I like the stainless better. If you just let it go it turns a nice even brown and anyone that spends time around engines knows what the deal is. The chrome turns blue near the exhaust port but not an even blue, even if you polish it the original look can never be restored.
The silver/aluminum hot jet looks right. Hot jet is a coating, applies like powder coat, (powder coat melts at 400 degrees)but works at a higher temperature. Black and silver seem to be the norm but I've seen it in other colors. Here's a link: http://www.jet-hot.com/