Triumphrat

Voigtlanderr2

ok - so a self professed "cycle tuning professional" (he was also a harley guy) at a blues festival I rode to, said that the reason triumph pipes blue so bad is because we're using sparks that fire too hot and that if we would simply switch to cooler burning sparks the blueing would go away.

I know exactly #$%& about tuning a bike - I know just enough to know to let the dealer do it - but just thought I'd throw that out there for comment - is he full of it or is he right.

propforward

Heat is involved - but it's from the air injection system, which feeds fresh air into the exhaust port. This is done to burn unburned fuel to reduce emissions. Consequently, the exhaust headers get really hot and oxidise - and hence turn blue.

This is why a lot of people remove the AI system. That and for performance upgrades!

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Rule 1: Cardio

Rustic Road Progress

CAPTDON

The pipes blue because they are NOT stainless steel! They are crap chrome plated steel
& not coated inside. Even if they were stainless, they would blue a little @ the top from the heat, but not all the way! Why taking the AI off keeps the bluing from passing the bend..- heat. The old Bonne's were (I think stainless?) or a better grade of chrome plated steel? Mine have a rainbow effect- blue- purple-gold. It fits the bike & doesnt go much past the 1st bend. Rubbing them down w/ "never dull" will mellow the color - but not remove it. It will return fast. Don't like it- get SS headers! Otherwise - live w/ it & enjoy the vintage look. If your blue all the way down- something may be wrong mixture wise or you still got the AI? The HD guy doesnt know what he's talking about. G-mates HD under the chrome covers are as blus as the Bonne!

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CAPT D

ohiorider

They also blue because they are single wall pipes. My now sold and much-missed W650 had chromed double wall pipes that looked like this (see link) when I sold the bike with 52k on the odometer. However, I have seen a few W's for sale that are slightly blued, probably because they were adjusted too lean from the factory. I didn't mess with the mains on this bike, and only drilled the plugs and adjusted the pilot needles after the bike had several thousand miles on it.

http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n...ngCamDrive.jpg

Bob

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03 T100 Lucifer Org and Silv: 122/42 jets, TORs, 18T, UNI filter, no AI, Polaris bellmouth, Metz 880 tires, Prog. 440 shocks (105/150 springs), 11-1124 fork springs, Thrux fork caps, gaiters, MotoTwin low bars, 6024 lamp, htd grips, 12v outlet.

tccox

Problem with that is my 2007 T100 totally stock WITH AI system has NOT blued its pipes at 5700 miles, well, only very slightly and most certainly not as bad as Bonnies that have had their AI removed. And until someone posts before and after dyno results proving there's any substantial benefit to removing AI its gonna stay on my bike.

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TCCox
Charlotte, NC
2007 Bonneville T100

dkreidel

Older Triumphs did not have SS or double wall down pipes, but they did have a lot thicker copper and nickel flash under the chrome layer. The newer bikes are tuned pretty lean from the factory to meet emission regulations in most countries. Eliminating the air injection and either rejetting or re-mapping will help immensely. My 2009 EFI Bonnie has only a hint of yellow straw temper color near the cylinder head - no blue.

Ohio Bob is absolutely right about the little Kwak - my 2001 W650's exhaust looked just like the day I bought it when I sold it earlier this year.

Dick

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'09 T100 50th Anniversary- Togas, Hagons, PC V
'09 T100 green/white- Togas; PC III
'07 T100 tang/opal- Togas, Hagons, Sun rims (18" rear)
'06 Scrambler blue/white - Arrow 2>1; Sun rims 19" F&R, Maxxis DTR
'68 T120R - original owner

Baltobonneville

I thought that the stock headers are stainless steel. Does anyone know for sure?

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Marty
2005 Bonneville Blue 790cc, AI removed, Staintunes RC, Unifilter, no snorkel, 118/40/Thrux needle/1 shim/3 turns, tachometer, Ikon 7610s in back, Ricor Intiminators in front, Pirelli Sport Demons, D9 gauge panel.

dkreidel

Take a pocket magnet to the pipes - they are strongly magnetic and therefore not 300 or 400 series SS.

Dick

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'09 T100 50th Anniversary- Togas, Hagons, PC V
'09 T100 green/white- Togas; PC III
'07 T100 tang/opal- Togas, Hagons, Sun rims (18" rear)
'06 Scrambler blue/white - Arrow 2>1; Sun rims 19" F&R, Maxxis DTR
'68 T120R - original owner

TCL

Stock headers are not stainless. All the previous answers are correct and contribute to the blue pipes. Your "professional" probably lets the Harley mechanic tune his bike. I have never heard of a spark that is "too hot". The spark can only ignite the gas. It has nothing to do with how hot or how cold the exhausted air gets.
The heat has to do with the air/gas ratio, and as previously stated, these bikes run lean for emissions. Blue pipes are a Bonnie trademark. They are cosmetic and do not mean your bike running too hot. Most people comment to me "Wow, it looks just like the original Bonnies, even the blue pipes."

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Death or Glory

mikeinva

next time tell the Hd guy that if his bike blued the pipes it might run as good as your triumph lol

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