Powder coat headers.

[red1100]

Does anyone have any experience with the new high temp powder coating on headers? There is a guy locally just started to use it and I’m wondering how durable it is.

[Nessism]

It holds up to heat reasonably well but is not tolerant of physical abuse. It's also somewhat sensitive about application. I had some pipes done and a chunk flaked off one of the header pipes right away after install because I assume the metal was not well cleaned. I also chipped the pipes in a couple of places during install.

[red1100]

And mines a chrome V+H 4to1 that will probably have to be stripped first.

[cowboyup3371]

Ceramic coating is the way to go but it can be expensive. I had my gs550t pipes done a few years ago and they have turned out well. I’ll see if I can get a new picture when I get home this weekend

[Steve]

Several years ago, I had the header on my older son's 650 done, but it was just the header pipes. We left the chrome on the muffler. If you click on the '82 650GL link in my sig, you can see a rear 3/4 shot. If you look, you can see the transition from ceramic to chrome under the brake lever pivot.
Here are a couple of closer shots:




Based on that, I then did the header pipes on my 850. If you click on the link for my '80 850G'K', you can see how that turned out. Just like the 650, only the header pipes are ceramic coated, the muffler is still chrome.

It's not quite "mirror-shiny", but it looks pretty good.


Tried to have just the header pipes on my wife's bike coated, but the coater said that the heat required to bake the ceramic is higher than for regular powder coat and would destroy the chrome on the mufflers, so we had the entire system ceramic coated. It's hard to see here, but this was last weekend:


Bottom line: It's not cheap and it's not mirror-shiny, but looks a LOT better than blued and/or slightly rusted pipes.

.

[1125rider]

coated headers

Several years ago, I had the header on my older son's 650 done, but it was just the header pipes. We left the chrome on the muffler. If you click on the '82 650GL link in my sig, you can see a rear 3/4 shot. If you look, you can see the transition from ceramic to chrome under the brake lever pivot.
Here are a couple of closer shots:




Based on that, I then did the header pipes on my 850. If you click on the link for my '80 850G'K', you can see how that turned out. Just like the 650, only the header pipes are ceramic coated, the muffler is still chrome.

It's not quite "mirror-shiny", but it looks pretty good.


Tried to have just the header pipes on my wife's bike coated, but the coater said that the heat required to bake the ceramic is higher than for regular powder coat and would destroy the chrome on the mufflers, so we had the entire system ceramic coated. It's hard to see here, but this was last weekend:


Bottom line: It's not cheap and it's not mirror-shiny, but looks a LOT better than blued and/or slightly rusted pipes.

.

Ceramic coat is the way to go. I have done it on several bikes. Cleaning is a snap. VERY durable. Always look great. Kudos on your bikes. They look GREAT

[1125rider]

Does anyone have any experience with the new high temp powder coating on headers? There is a guy locally just started to use it and I’m wondering how durable it is.

.. Ceramic coat is way more durable. Most powder coating cannot take the extreme exhaust heat

[Nessism]

.. Ceramic coat is way more durable. Most powder coating cannot take the extreme exhaust heat

Pretty sure these coatings labeled as "ceramic" come in a powder form. I think they are closer to paint than ceramic too.

[1125rider]

Ceramic coat is actually is a powdered thermal spray with ceramic components, so it is a "form" of powder coating. But that is like saying Trig and algebra are both math forms, one is just more advanced. Ceramic is heated to a lot higher baking temperature than regular powder coating to allow for flow and better adhesion. It has an extreme heat resistent ability. Regular powder coating is similar to just powdered enamel paint sprayed with an ion charge on then baked. While more durable than regular paint, not nearly as heat resistent and durable as ceramic coating. I have seen my ceramic coated exhaust on a couple of different bikes I owned get some scratches in them from various abuse. I was able to remove them with very minimal effort and not affect the integrity of the coating. Also have never seen it discolor, flake off, unlike powder coated exhaust parts I have seen others have.

[Nessism]

Regular powder coating is similar to just powdered enamel paint sprayed with an ion charge on then baked.

Powder coat comes in various types, polyester for example, and there is no equivalent to it in liquid paint. Urethane powder is more durable, and costs a little more. I don't think of powder like liquid paint other than it serves a similar purpose.

[1125rider]

Polyester and urethane are both a form of paint. They have been around for decades. Like I said most non thermal, ceramic component coat is a form of powdered paint.