Hey guys,
I'm looking for a little help / advice,
I'm planning on wrapping my exhaust pipes on my Sporty and have been reading on a few different ways to install / wrap them. the best way is to soak / wet the wrap to help with the wrapping and keep the fibers down. but the wrap I bought is black and I have also read that the color will fade when soaking or wetting colored wrap... so my question is do I wrap them dry and don't soak the wrap or do I soak the wrap and then paint the wrap black with black heat paint? Not sure how much of a difference it will make wrapping them dry.


Any thoughts, suggestions or advice
Thanks for your time

 

The black wrap will lose it's color from the soaking. I did that and it was more of a gray once I got it on the bike. The extra moisture int eh wrap will really make it smoke when it heats up as well until it completely dries out.

 

FYI, the black color is gonna fade regardless anyway, that's why most different wrap kits supply the black spray paint. Unless you soak your wrap for 24 hrs, the amount of fading that will occur is equivalent to riding your bike for a month. maybe even less.

I ride my bike and if you do to, then I suggest to soak them and install. it makes the bond of the fibers better and tighter. Yes it will smoke when you ride her but who cares. it will smoke when you get caught in the rain too.

if your looking to build a show bike and plan on never really riding it or leaving it parked outside. then wrap them dry and hope a gust of wind doesn't catch a flap when your loading your trailer.

 

I soaked mine and it smoked for hours.. It will make it alot easier and it would wrap around the pipes alot easier too

 

I've wrapped 2 sets and both times followed the SE directions and MOISTENED the wrap with a spray bottle. It wraps tighter en easier and doesn't fray. First times sprayed it with high temperature engine paint which eventually faded. This time I didn't bother with spray. Have fun and remember to wrap from the back to the front.

 

i grew up playing hockey and taped my sticks over and over again asa kid.......i did not wet mine, i took it slow and pulled tightly and it turned out perfect!

 

Your joking right?

 

Most tapes are fiberglass. Wetting it keeps the dust down and makes it an easier and tighter wrap. If you pull the pipes off like I did its very easy. Soaking will result in some color loss. Wear gloves and a long sleeve shirt you are willing to trash.

 

Doh! I thought it was asbestos

The black SE wraps were so messy, full of little fibres that gets into your skin.

The bronze ones were much better. Yeah, wear gloves.

 

I always soak mine for just long enough to get them soaking wet, maybe 1 min in water then wring out the excess water. This will allow a much tighter wrap.