'93 Daytona 1000 with 18 miles on Ebay

[Devildog]

This is my first post, so your patience if its a tired old topic.
I have a 93 Daytona with 6000 mile, the header pipe is shiny, not perfect but not dull.
The Ebay bike has headers with no gloss and the color of burnt toast, is that possible with 18 miles showing on the odometer? What is normal with heat tempering on stainless steel?

[oldbike54]

 It's possible that the odometer is reading 18 miles , and that the headers are toast colored and ruined , but not together .

  Dusty

[Lannis]

It's possible that the odometer is reading 18 miles , and that the headers are toast colored and ruined , but not together .

  Dusty

Well, it may be.  My Centauro had the same headers, and I really thought that the parti-colored stainless headers had a rather harlequin-esque appearance.

You might as well think it, because there's nothing you can do about it.   It's what thick single-walled stainless Guzzi headers DO!    And they'll stay that way forever, so "ruined" is a relative term.    I think they're like the structural steel they use for power pylons that get a thin coat of rust (by design), which, once in place protects the steel and you don't even need to paint them ....

Lannis

[Chuck in Indiana]

Stainless can be buffed with a wheel and rouge to look like a pewter dollar. When it gets hot, it will turn a golden color. If you keep your oily fingers off it, (and other oil) it will stay pretty pristine. <shrug>
So, if you're wondering if the 18 mile headers could be "ruined" in so short of a time, the answer is yes. They'll buff right out, though.

[Lannis]

Stainless can be buffed with a wheel and rouge to look like a pewter dollar. When it gets hot, it will turn a golden color. If you keep your oily fingers off it, (and other oil) it will stay pretty pristine. <shrug>
So, if you're wondering if the 18 mile headers could be "ruined" in so short of a time, the answer is yes. They'll buff right out, though.

I could use rouge to make MYSELF look pretty, but if took the time to do that I wouldn't get any riding in.   No motorcycle riding.

In real-world conditions with mountains to climb and oil to drip, the stainless pipes are going to be golden and blue and all sorts of lovely colors ...

Lannis

[Chuck in Indiana]

Lannis.. sorry, but nothing could make you look pretty.. 

[Lannis]

Lannis.. sorry, but nothing could make you look pretty.. 

In the present context, that's quite a compliment.  Thanks!

Lannis

[LowRyter]

Lannis.. sorry, but nothing could make you look pretty.. 

not if buffed with a wheel and rouge?

[leafman60]

If this is the bike, it supposedly has only 11+ miles on it-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moto-Guzzi-DAYTONA-/141796413799?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2103b99167&item=141796413799

I am amazed at how somebody trying to sell something of this value does not clean it up!  He even mentions how dirty it is from his garage.

By the looks of it, the bike was exposed to moisture as well as dirt/dust.  I'd be careful about it.  It could be a job to restore the cosmetics. Hopefully, the internals are ok.

That amount of exposure could turn the headers.  Again, I'd be careful about getting too worked up over the low miles without actually seeing the thing.  Be sure to change those tires if you get it and want to ride it!

[Blueboarhound]

I am amazed at how somebody trying to sell something of this value does not clean it up!  He even mentions how dirty it is from his garage. By the looks of it, the bike was exposed to moisture as well as dirt/dust.

I was thinking the same thing.

[rocker59]

By the looks of it, the bike was exposed to moisture as well as dirt/dust.  I'd be careful about it.  It could be a job to restore the cosmetics. Hopefully, the internals are ok.

That amount of exposure could turn the headers.  Again, I'd be careful about getting too worked up over the low miles without actually seeing the thing.  Be sure to change those tires if you get it and want to ride it!

Yep.  Lots of corrosion going on there.  But, based on the tires, I'd believe the miles. 

[guznax]

Are the exhaust pipes already that dark after 11 miles?

[Cam3512]

Are the exhaust pipes already that dark after 11 miles?

Probably dyno miles from the factory?

[leafman60]

Are the exhaust pipes already that dark after 11 miles?

One thing that is highly possible (and not necessarily good) is that somebody has regularly started the bike and let it run in place.  I've seen this done many times to machines that people want to keep as low miles but still run the motor every once in a while to "keep it loosened up."

Sometimes this can cause condensation inside the motor that doesn't get enough time to burn out. Also the headers do not receive the benefit of moving air to cool them down.

My guess is that this Daytona has been cranked up and revved from time to time and hence the dark headers. That combined with a corrosive environment could explain the dark pipes.

.

[Chuck in Indiana]

It's a museum piece, all right, and will take some pretty serious effort to make it a rider if that's what you want to do. Don't forget the cam belts..

[nick949]

Some people just have too much money!  How could someone own something like that and just let it sit? 
Nick

[oldbike54]

Some people just have too much money!  How could someone own something like that and just let it sit? 
Nick

  :1:

  Dusty

[Devildog]

If Leafman's assumption is correct, thats probably not the best way to break in a new motor.....

[cruzziguzzi]

Maybe like my Spot - it had its misrouted speedo cable break under 20 miles.

Also - does rouge come in drums?


Todd.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Maybe like my Spot - it had its misrouted speedo cable break under 20 miles.

Also - does rouge come in drums?


Todd.

Sticks. A little goes a long way. .