Ceramic Coated Header Winter Project Complete

[BigEasy]

Well after researching the options for coating my brown header pipe I decided on HP Coatings to do the job. I thought that I could find a local outfit to do it since I live close to Indianapolis and all the racing related business around here. I could only find 2 shops that do the process, one said that his polish coating would look pretty but likely wouldn't be durable enough (got to give the guy credit for being honest) the other shop wouldn't return my calls so they were out. I contacted HP after other reports both stellar and less than satisfactory about Jet Hot, then found that they were somehow interrelated. I had heard great things about Performance Coatings out of Washington but they only had a satin finish. So here is a couple before pics





Here is the pipe on the bench



Here is the after on the bench, photos don't really do it justice inside





And outside in some good light







The overall finish is pretty darn good, not perfect but good. That I think is inherent in the process as they explained it to me, if you reload bullets you are well aware of the process for polishing brass. After the pipe is coated it is then put into a shaker box full of media and shaken to give it the polished look.

It is not a fully tilt Harley bling chrome but a high polish stainless look that IMHO matches the bike. I even experimented a little with polishing it with a scotch brite pad on the top of the cat and it looks like it could be a restorable finish.

The final damage was $135.00 for the coat job and about $45.00 each way shipping. When they finished they called to tell me that the charge would be $190.00 because it was a header and can arrangment. I had to remind the guy that my quote request was specifically for a header and a cat. The sales guy responded to my quote request that it would be the $135 for the pipe, and $190.00 for a pipe and muffler. I expalined that to the guy who called and reminded him that I had stuck a copy of my e-mail string with the sales guy in the box with the pipe, he called back and verified that it would be $135.00.

Overall I am way pleased I just hope it holds up. Maybe nex winter a CF end can to top it off.

[deilenberger]

I wish you hadn't shown those pics.. mebbe I can forgeddaboutit by next winter (fat chance!)..

[stilldking]

I have the R1150R with that shade of brown too. Can I get the contact info of the company you sent the header to? Might need a project for next winter myself.
If you'd prefer not posting it, just send me a PM please.
Thanks
John C.

[BigEasy]

Here you go HPC Utah 14788 S. Heritagecrest Way, Bluffdale, UT 84065, Phone: 801-501-8303 Linkyhttp://www.hpcoatings.com/ The sales guy I talked with was Greg Chan. Took about 2 1/2 weeks with shipping, forgot to mention that in origional post

[stilldking]

I usually purchase headers like that for all my Hot-Rods, but never thought about having it done to the RR. Man, that's a GREAT idea!!!
Thank you for the info. Now that I'm retired, I guess I have something to do this winter.
Thanks again!!!

JC

[Dan-A]

Can they coat it black?

[BigEasy]

Yes black is doable check this site and search for ceramic coating http://bmwsporttouring.com/index.html there is the thread that got me fired up to do it. A guy that used Perfomance Coatings started it and another guy followed up with his coating project on and R12RT that he did the wheels and header in black. Looked very sharp.

[hoonu]

Looks great. Jet-Hot is another reputable company.

[NCGS]

I've had numerous pipes ceramic coated by both Jet-Hot ( http://www.jet-hot.com ) and HPC in Salt Lake City. I've had good and not so good jobs done by both.

I have a buddy in Atlanta who uses these fellas - http://www.americansupercarsunlimited.com . If I get another set of pipes coated, it'll be by these lads. I've seen their work, and IMHO they do better work than either J-H or HPC.

[BigEasy]

I was happy with the quality of the job but not thrilled to death. There were a couple of flaws in the coating but nothing I couldn't live with because you would have to look really hard to find them. Overall I am satisfied, and mainly happy that maintenance time will be reduced. Ufortunately my work schedule does not provide me with loads of free time so any way I can reduce the amount of puttering around the house/garage maintaining things is a good thing.

[qgaex]

Hi all

There is a question that just does not stand staying unasked:
Here in Germany near to nobody orders this bike without the chrome-coated exhaust pipes.
Why do most US riders prefer the uncoated stainless pipes (only to have them coated later-on)?

Cheers

from a puzzled

qgaex
+feelingthatspringiscoming+

[deilenberger]

Hi all

There is a question that just does not stand staying unasked:
Here in Germany near to nobody orders this bike without the chrome-coated exhaust pipes.
Why do most US riders prefer the uncoated stainless pipes (only to have them coated later-on)?

Cheers

from a puzzled

qgaex
+feelingthatspringiscoming+

Mostly 'cause in the US - few people actually "order" a bike. Most of them buy what the dealer has in inventory (in the case of an R1200R - that might mean a choice of 3 bikes at a largish dealer.) And many of the bikes carried in inventory don't seem to have the chromed pipes. When the R1200R first came out - BMW gave the dealers what they felt the dealers should have.. at least now the dealers may have a bit more say in what they have on their floor to sell.

[DrD]

When I bought my bike it was one of four on the dealership floor. Since I was getting a great deal for the old BMW, I had to select from them. All the options on my bike were fine, except the chrome exhaust. Chrome is just bling, I thought. Turns out I didn't pay for the exhaust, or several other things (it was a great deal all around).

Now that I see the rust brown color of the standard pipes after some miles and I am soooooo glad I have the chrome ones. These turn a lovely, organic blue from the cylinder for about a foot, then a deep, mellow brown. Sweet!

[hoonu]

Now that I see the rust brown color of the standard pipes after some miles and I am soooooo glad I have the chrome ones. These turn a lovely, organic blue from the cylinder for about a foot, then a deep, mellow brown. Sweet!

I dunno, but so long as sh*t is still brown, I don't think I want headers that color.

[NeilS]

But why do the pipes change color at all? Honda figured out coaxial exhaust pipes more than 20 years ago--their chrome or stainless pipes don't discolor at all. For BMW prices, I'd expect nothing less. Is there a functional reason not to use them?

[NoRRmad]

Weight.

[BigEasy]

Hi all

There is a question that just does not stand staying unasked:
Here in Germany near to nobody orders this bike without the chrome-coated exhaust pipes.
Why do most US riders prefer the uncoated stainless pipes (only to have them coated later-on)?

Cheers

from a puzzled

qgaex
+feelingthatspringiscoming+

Mostly 'cause in the US - few people actually "order" a bike. Most of them buy what the dealer has in inventory (in the case of an R1200R - that might mean a choice of 3 bikes at a largish dealer.) And many of the bikes carried in inventory don't seem to have the chromed pipes. When the R1200R first came out - BMW gave the dealers what they felt the dealers should have.. at least now the dealers may have a bit more say in what they have on their floor to sell.

As Don says, not much choice. The closest dealer to me was 1 1/2 hours away (since I bought the bike a new one is about to open 1 1/4 hour away) and they did not have a R12R in stock. The closest dealer with one in stock that wasn't gray and the one where I bought the bike is 3 1/2 hours from home. They had my bike in stock (the only one they had)but it was still in the crate when I bought it. At the time I was unawawre of the potential for the browning of the pipe since this is my first BMW and pipe discoloration was not part of my research inquiry.

I guess I am a victom of the american consumer culture (or parinoid that SWMBO may have closed the purse strings too soon) I wanted it, and I wanted it now. After having this done I think that even if I had gotten the chrome pipe that would have blued, I would ceramic coat it as well.

[MJB]

Hi all

There is a question that just does not stand staying unasked:
Here in Germany near to nobody orders this bike without the chrome-coated exhaust pipes.
Why do most US riders prefer the uncoated stainless pipes (only to have them coated later-on)?

Cheers

from a puzzled

qgaex
+feelingthatspringiscoming+

Mostly 'cause in the US - few people actually "order" a bike. Most of them buy what the dealer has in inventory (in the case of an R1200R - that might mean a choice of 3 bikes at a largish dealer.) And many of the bikes carried in inventory don't seem to have the chromed pipes. When the R1200R first came out - BMW gave the dealers what they felt the dealers should have.. at least now the dealers may have a bit more say in what they have on their floor to sell.

Quick question:

If you order the "Chrome Exhaust" as an option, what do you actually receive?
Is it just the muffler, or do you receive the entire exhaust system in chrome: starting with the pipes from the heads, to the end of the tail pipe?

[DrD]

Quick question:

If you order the "Chrome Exhaust" as an option, what do you actually receive?
Is it just the muffler, or do you receive the entire exhaust system in chrome: starting with the pipes from the heads, to the end of the tail pipe?

Entire system is chrome.

[MJB]

Quick question:

If you order the "Chrome Exhaust" as an option, what do you actually receive?
Is it just the muffler, or do you receive the entire exhaust system in chrome: starting with the pipes from the heads, to the end of the tail pipe?

Entire system is chrome.

Thanks, because I did purchase the option.
Just waiting for the snow to clear, up here in Canada, so I can pick the bike up.