I've got the black Pro pipe 2-1 on my bike. I purchased the pipe back around january but it didn't get installed till early June. When looking the bike over the other day I noticed that the muffler and heat shields were already rusting. Am I cleaning it wrong? I just use soap meant for washing vehicles and warm water. Something I can put on them like a wax? Just want to make sure it's not my fault before I call V&H.

 

It's not your fault.

If it makes you feel better, my black supertrapps looked like crap after a year. I'd never do black again, but thats just me.

 

I would call V&H anyways, I don't see any reason why they should be rusting. Unless you are using something abrasive ( which I doubt you are ) it sounds like the finish is bad. There was another posting yesterday of a weld breaking on a set of chrome ones. I am not sure what is going on with V&H quality lately, but their quality control needs to step up. Keep us posted.

 

Had one set that rusted within 2 months of install. Was in an accident, had a new set installed that also rusted. I really like the sound and performance of them so I went chrome this time , have had no problems going on a year now.

 

Had one on my Fat Boy, rust showed up on the weld joints after less than one season. Have a chrome now, rust on the muffler bracket. Not all that noticeable, but annoying nonetheless. But I do love the sound.

 

Just curious...do you keep any yard chemicals near your bike (i.e. fertilizer, sprays, pesticides, etc.)? They are corrosive and will permeate throughout the room they're stored.

 

A friend of mine also had a set of supertrapps that rusted quickly. I have a set of black D&D fat cats that have been on my street glide for 6 years that have not rusted and still look great

 

I had a set of the V&H Roland Sands 2 into 1 Tracker exhaust on a Iron883 and after a very short period the black on the system was showing signs of decolourization. I wouldn't say it was rusting but the surface black protective coating was deteriorating which would have lead to rusting in time. I spoke to an independent mechanic who has installed these systems before and he told me that having to recoat these Tracker V&H systems was common practice due to the poor quality of the black thermal coating.

 

It's not parked next to any chemicals. Nothing abrasive used to wash, I use microfiber towels. I don't want to go chrome. Might look into having them coated or switching brands.

 

Chrome propipe on now 5 years...looks like new...almost 70k miles on it.