Triumphrat

steveboy · 02-16-2009, 06:51 AM

I know the question must have been asked a million times,but what is that blue stuff that goes in the pipes to stop them from discolouring.shiney downpipes is what i am after.

davidc · 02-16-2009, 07:51 AM

Nothing really works well. Resign yourself to this, paint them, buy Raask pipes which cost big bucks. Option one is cheapest and the one I went with.

dave1068 · 02-16-2009, 08:16 AM

Cheapest way is you use steel wool and bar keepers friend and elbow grease to scrub off the blue and remove the AI. It will reduce the bluing.

Expensive way is have the pipes ceramic coated inside and out.

The first way gives it more of an original look and the excuse to work on your bike every summer

Easy · 02-16-2009, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveboy

I know the question must have been asked a million times,but what is that blue stuff that goes in the pipes to stop them from discolouring.shiney downpipes is what i am after.

Steveboy, Your profile doesn't show what year your bike is. So my comment may not be pertinent. However, if it is a new EFI bike you might not have to worry about the dark bluing you see on the carbed bikes. Many on this site who have the new EFI bikes, and have left the air injection system intact are reporting that they are just getting a bit of straw colour on their pipes.

To each his own. Personally, I think the bluing on a Bonnie looks good. A badge of courage...so to speak, showing that the bike has been driven the way it is supposed to.

surfdogx · 02-17-2009, 06:58 AM

Get lucky and find Bonneville Chrome Heat Shields on Ebay like I did.
Seller said they came off a 2005, and fit my '08 like a glove.
Manufacturer: Unknown

Nickwiz · 02-17-2009, 10:05 AM

Or buy a blue Thruxton. The blue pipes complement the bike nicely now!

KingBear · 02-17-2009, 10:15 AM

Just a few thoughts:

Don't run your bike at idle or too long or ride with the choke out. The choke causes your bike to run very, very hot which will blue your pipes even more. Pop the choke in as soon as your bike will remain running without it.
Do like dave1068 said and clean them, not every time you wash your bike (it's too much work) but maybe once or twice a year. Once your bike is run in you should notice somewhat less bluing.
A lot of people remove the AI system to reduce bluing, but I never did. My bike runs great as it is and I get 45mpg. I don't feel the need mess with something that works just because of a little blue on my headers, but that's just me.
Embrace the blue. The authentic Bonneville has blue pipes. Harley's and other bikes don't because the headers are double walled so the outside is nice and pretty and shiny, but inside they are as blue as can be. Don't fall into the trap of thinking every surface must be polished chrome.

That's just my two cents. Good luck!

GreatNorthRider · 02-17-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingBear

Just a few thoughts:
[*]Embrace the blue. The authentic Bonneville has blue pipes. Harley's and other bikes don't because the headers are double walled so the outside is nice and pretty and shiny, but inside they are as blue as can be. Don't fall into the trap of thinking every surface must be polished chrome.[/LIST]That's just my two cents. Good luck!

I gotta agree with this one! I consider the blue to be part of the Triumph look. It also shows I ride my bike, now work on cleaning it every weekend.

BonnieBlack07 · 02-17-2009, 10:38 AM

I completely respect people's decisions to keep their pipes blue. I think it looks great on many of the Bonnie's/Thrux's I see, primarily due to the various colors. It adds a little flavor to the bike, and seems to be a unique little 'touch' these bikes get.

However, if you're like me and some others, the blue might have actually not been as asthetically pleasing as you would imagine. Me, I have a 07 Bonnie Black and I felt that in my quest to make my bike more custom tailored to my tastes, the blue was getting in the way. As some have mentioned, you can ceramic coat the pipes. However, that will cost you around $100-200 depending on where you get it done. You might be able to find it cheaper, but I haven't.
You can also wrap the pipes, which is what I originally planned on doing. It's another unique look and if done right, can look very and instant RAT bikish.
However, I decided I wanted to paint the pipes with a high heat bbq paint myself. Some others have done this and after compiling a lot of different suggestions and tips, I decided to give it a go. You can find those instructions here if you decide you want to try it out:

http://www.triumphrat.net/twins-tech...dark-grey.html

Regardless, there doesn't seem to be one definitive solution for stopping the blue, only reducing it. And the tips these guys have given so far are exactly what I would suggest too.

dirtydutch · 02-17-2009, 11:40 AM