‘H-D Forums’ Asks: How Do You Care For Black Exhaust Pipes?
Blacked-out pipes and trim require different care than chrome or polished aluminum parts, but once you know what you’re doing, it’s easy.
It might sound like blasphemy for Harley-Davidson owners, but chrome isn’t for everyone — or everything. The relatively recent trend of blacking out your Harley’s engine and trim has supporters and detractors in equal measure.
Regardless of whether they like their bikes shiny or stealthy, all Harley-Davidson owners have one thing in common. They like to keep their bikes clean, and everyone has a different idea of how to do it.
Most owners have a cabinet in their garage filled with various polishes and waxes to handle all of the different surfaces and finishes on their bikes. Taking care of chrome is relatively easy. You clean it, you polish it, and then you buff it to a shine. But what do you do about black trim?
H-D Forums member SirHarley asked that exact question after installing a fresh set of black exhaust pipes. He wants to be careful cleaning the pipes — after all, using the wrong product could result in a chalky finish. Whether you love or hate black pipes and trim, everyone can agree that that would look awful!
He’s so nervous about maintaining the finish that he hasn’t even started his bike with the new pipes yet. Most responses are jokes about how he should get his pipes chrome plated. Thankfully, one member comes out with good suggestions for cleaning products for black pipes and trim.
Bopple Hill Rd suggests a product humorously called Pig Spit. He doesn’t recommend S-100 as it leaves a sticky surface behind. He also uses it on his engine cases. Simply spray it on when cool and rub it with a microfiber cloth. Easy peasy — way less work than chrome!
In our opinion, the black exhaust pipes look great on his 1997 FXSTSB Springer Softail Bad Boy. Yeah, that’s the real name — Harley-Davidson actually called this bike the “Bad Boy” from the factory!
The blacked-out look fits the character of this bike very well. Members kngpn and martinj express some concern about the noise level of this exhaust setup, but SirHarley points out that he had drag pipes on the bike before. He’s used to it being loud. Now, he’ll be able to keep it clean, too.
Photos: H-D Forums
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