| Author | Message | ||
     Loud_and_low |
I am looking into wrapping the headers on my XB9SX. Hoping to cut down on some of the heat. Has anyone done this, and if so, what were your results? Less heat on the inner thigh?? | ||
| Onezeno |
I saw an XB9 with wrapped headers at homecoming and the owner said it noticeably cut down the heat. | ||
| Brightbuell |
One question, do you have a right side scoop? if not consider getting one it help with the heat a lot. | ||
| Boliver |
Yes it helps cut down heat on your right leg.Yes if the heat is an issue, buy the right side scoop also(americansportbike.com) You do not have to take the header off and wrap to the head.I wrapped mine without taking them off and I added the scoop.I live in the South(Tulsa,OK) and I immediately noticed the fan to run less and my leg wasn't as warm any longer.Also if you are wearing shorts(cut offs) you might want to consider pants from now on.If you do a lot of city riding(stop and go) there is not much more you can do.Them big HD twins do NOT like to sit still.They are air cooled you know.LOLGood luck. | ||
| B00stzx3 |
Did mine few weeks ago. Awesome! I did mine on the bike as well. Defintley cut down heat and make the exhaust a tiny bit deeper. Just got my right and left side scoops from UPS truck yesterday, so the combo should be great. I don't commute though, DC drivers are the dumbest and most self serving in the world possibly, I'd get killed with these idiots commuting! @Loud_and_low - soak the wrap in water for an hour before you put it on, will make it easier to get on there nice and tight. Also go to Home Depot/Lowes and pickup some longer (like 7'') STEEL/METAL zip ties. | ||
| Andrewlind87 |
I did this on my bike. It still gets hot as hell sitting still but at least I don't risk burning myself.  | ||
| Dhays1775 |
i wrapped mine on the bike also. i just recently completed a basic rider's course and we had to do a lot of slow maneuvers. the header wrap helped a TON compared to the Harley guys. they were dripping with sweat. it was still hot, but not NEARLY as bad as it was prior. but don't forget that wrapping your headers will make them rust a hell of a lot sooner.  | ||
| Dhays1775 |
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| Andrewlind87 |
Rust? Wait, I didn't know anything about rust. How long does that take to do damage to the headers? | ||
| Terrys1980 |
The headers are stainless, so you might die before they rust. | ||
| Dhays1775 |
i said "sooner" right? they won't rust into pieces over night. the biggest thing is just making sure your headers are clean as a whistle before you wrap them. | ||
| Loud_and_low |
Thanks for all of the replies. I will give the wraps a try. Any advice or details on the "how to" wrap the headers on our bikes? I am still a bit cloudy on where to start, and how to handle the junction of the 2 pipes. | ||
| Im_joedirt |
I started on the front header, wrapped down over the collector then back up to the rear. I used S/S fasteners front and rear to secure the tape. If you apply the tape wet it fits tighter and less mess from the fibreglass. | ||
| Gunut75 |
The headers are stainless, so you might die before they rust. They are a grade of stainless that contains very little nickel and chromium. Therefore, they WILL rust before you die. Consider them to be "rust resistant".  | ||
| Akbuell |
When I wrapped the pipes on my X-1, I noticed that my right thigh was noticeably cooler than pre-wrap. And yah, wet the wrap before installing. Makes the whole procedure go much better. | ||
| B00stzx3 |
@Loud_and_low, just what joedirt said. Soak in water for an hour. Start at back cyclinder collector (if you're looking at the bike, the pipe towards the left), go down, then collector (the wide thing, wrap it as one piece) then up to front cyclinder collector (right side). What I did to ensure it stay put was stainless steel zip tie on very first wraparound, then every 6 inches or so I used another zip tie. So IIRC I used about 6-12 zip ties on the whole header. Maybe overkill, but that bish is staying put. Also, you can grab silicone header paint from DEI (peeps that make the header wrap) which will make it look better (black) and prolong the life of the wrap. If you get a can, tape/dropcloth everything around the header and go at it. | ||
| Terrys1980 |
Yes it will develop surface rust. But when stainless begins to rust it forms an oxide layer that protects the underlying metal, therefore it will take many many years to rust through. |
