Color of Header Pipes

[Bill Hagan]

So long as the header pipes on my Guzzis have been more or less the same, I have never minded the, getting discolored, even blotchy, etc.  I don't look for cleaners and other ways to return them to their showroom state.  Sort of a "ride 'em, don't hide 'em" and "chicks dig scars" sort of thing. 

But I have never really understood the meaning of blue v. gold v. other shades, etc., tho I do understand that it is tied into lean, rich, or other heat-caused changes.

So, tho it's only July, I turn to this august group  for guidance on whether what these pix -- at foot of post -- show is good, bad, or indifferent.

Oh, 315 miles.  May ride it again today -- if I can ride the Cub Cadet first and get some mowing done.  Trailering it to Atlanta on Saturday for some more Georgia miles before first service down there at GuzziSteve's former shop.  Wish he could do it.

Thanks.

Bill

P.S.  Wayne, et al, please do not scare me on purpose with any of your fake "OMG, it's going to blow" stories.  You know I'll believe 'em. 

[Waterbottle]

Bill , those pipes look sweeeeet. They will change colour depending on how you are riding. A lot of wide open throttle, they will blue up. Slow cruising, straw coloured.  I wouldn't be concerned about tuning by pipe colour.     I love that bike  , I think it should be named " Skinny Griso "
The Ti pipes on a Griso go straw colour riding in town and blue on the highway. Constantly changing colours.

[pete roper]

Doesn't the Storny have TI pipes? TI goes wonderful colours that are cool as a very cool thing, apart from mine which are nowhere as cool as Beetle or Waterbottle's but that's because I ride like a softcoque!

[malik]

Bill, the V7's  stock headers are double-walled & Italian chrome. They turn blue. Then eventually pit & corrode. When you can't stand the untidiness any longer, you replace them with - single-walled stainless headers from Agostini. These turn brown.

Enjoy your beautiful blue with hints of rainbow & gold,

Mal

[pete roper]

Looks like TI to me Mal. Can't be arsed going and looking it up though.....

[malik]

For the premium they charge on that model, they should be TI. Then they won't corrode like the chrome ones. At present it sure looks pretty.

[Chuck in Indiana]

FWIW, when tempering steel from full hardness, you can "color draw" it to a specific temperature by eye.
Steel does this..

[pete roper]

Had a look and the AF1 site says its stainless steel. Doesn't look like stainless to me and Arrow are famous for their TI pipes, a lot of Griso owners use 'em, myself included.

Anyway Bill, I wouldn't worry. "They all do that Sir!".

Pete

[ponti_33609]

My old v11 kind of turned that color (when cleaned) with stainless headers. 




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[Wayne Orwig]

P.S.  Wayne, et al, please do not scare me on purpose with any of your fake "OMG, it's going to blow" stories.  You know I'll believe 'em. 

Don't think it is going to blow Bill. But just to be sure, you need to leave it here for a few months for me to check it out.

[guzzisteve]

I thought it was going to be based here, that way Michael has a play toy.

[Dilliw]

Don't think it is going to blow Bill. But just to be sure, you need to leave it here for a few months for me to check it out.

This is what I would do :)

[tonUPRacer]

Lovely, but get those stickers off!

[TimmyTheHog]

oh wow...your pipe's color is so uniform, my OCD approves!!!!

My is kinda spotting between blue & yellow...wish mine was more uniform as yours...

[tazio]

I thought it was going to be based here, that way Michael has a play toy.

THAT'S want I'm talkin' 'bout !! 



......Oops, wrong Michael I take it. 

[Wayne Orwig]

This is what I would do :)

I know you would.

[Thunderbutt]

Hi Bill- Do you have any plans to ride while your in the HOTlanta area?  We(my Wonderful Wife) are in Hiawassee and if I can get a hall pass, can meet you for lunch, coffee, what ever. 



Photo @ TWO Suchess last week

Jerry 

[Bill Hagan]

Hi Bill- Do you have any plans to ride while your in the HOTlanta area?  We(my Wonderful Wife) are in Hiawassee and if I can get a hall pass, can meet you for lunch, coffee, what ever. 



Photo @ TWO Suchess last week

Jerry

Would love to comma but.

I arrive Saturday evening with Stornello on trailer and me in my un-AC'd truck after 600 miles at 55-60.  I'll need several beers to recover! 

That said, while my primary focus is ensuring my Mom is OK, that is usually in evenings.  So, I hope to ride every day. 

Some Newnan "Other Brands" folks said they wanted to get together on Sunday, and I know Michael wants to try it out.  I also rranged to have its first service on Thursday and -- if I trailer it there -- it'll be same day; otherwise Friday, so those days may be blocked in whole or part.  No doubt those will be best weather days. 

Anyway, my email is wrhaganATearthlinkD OTnet & c/p is 404EIGHTZEROIGHT848 6, so let's coordinate that way.

Lovely, but get those stickers off!

Agree.  If I can't get that done before I leave, will take heat gun to Atlanta.

Don't think it is going to blow, Bill. But just to be sure, you need to leave it here for a few months for me to check it out.

I added a comma to that first sentence as I found it troubling unpunctuated.    Anyway, as nice as it seems out of the box, you'd probably improve it. 

I thought it was going to be based here, that way Michael has a play toy.

NOT!  Michael is, however, thinking about getting a matching machine.  This trip will decide it.

For the premium they charge on that model, they should be TI. Then they won't corrode like the chrome ones. At present it sure looks pretty.

The MSRP is pricey. But, in the U.S., at least, MG is knocking off $2K, and the dealer I bought it from in Accident (!), Md., dropped price another $K ... and charged no freight or set-up (but did latter!). So my out-the-door price was $8100USD.  Naturally, Virginia tackled me with sales tax and title/tag costs when I got home, but the bottom line remains well south of the advertised cost.

Bill

[malik]

$US8,100! We over here are definitely being shafted. I know all the arguments (the tyranny of distance; smaller market, higher margins), but it still doesn't compute. We are most jealous.

[SmithSwede]

Bill:

Don't worry for a second about those pipes.   I think they are beautiful, and my V7 Stone also has pipes with similar hues.  To my eye, this is beautiful because it reveals "honest wear" and amounts to the badges a machine should have as it's put to the task for which it's designed. 

This kind of aesthetic reminds me of old, old, blued revolvers.  Sure, anybody can appreciate a new-in-box revolver which has no blemish or wear on its bluing.   But what I think is even more beautiful is an older revolver, showing years of honest wear, with faded bluing, patina, and other wear marks.

It's like old, but well cared for, leather boots.  Obviously not new, but beautiful precisely because used and worn as intended by their designer. 

To the extent I understand it, this perspective is akin to the Japanese aesthetics of wabi sabi.  Wabi sabi aesthetics values honest use, the passage of time, and the impermanence of all material objects.