Feels like Nuclear FUSION Between My Legs!

[Jimbeamrye]

Florida Summer...95-105 F and stopped in endless traffic lights...AAARRRGGG!!!!!!!!! The Heat Generated by my Rocket III is like a blast furnace on my legs. I swear while waiting at stop lights, I could start a small glass blowing, manufacturing factory with the heat provided!

Anyway I ordered some exhaust manifold wrap (2"X15'), and some special treatment spray for the wrap. Could anyone respond with any DO's or DONT's when wraping the exhaust manifold? I will start at the engine and wrap the headers, with the 15' provided, back towards the cat box. I allready have put the Rivco chrome manifold flange covers on and they helped a bit.

Plus I have heard that installing the cat bypass helps with heat reduction, but being strapped for cash, is there anyway to say, modify my existing cat box? In one of my old cars cat box, I was able to punch a large hole straight through the ceramic like honeycomb inside the cat box. I didn't remove all of the honey comb, just made a 2"wide hole through it.

BTW, while in my driveway, in neutral, I held the throttle to maintain a 1800-2000 rpm to simulate 45-55 mph in top gear. Of course there was no load and no wind, and within 45 seconds, my headers started to turn red. Within 2 minutes, all three header pipes, all the way down and around the bend was bright cherry red! I mean GLOWING bright. From the bend to about 1 foot before the cat box was red, but not glowing! I own a 2007 R3 Touring Edition, so does anyone know if this bike has the real lean map assigned to it? Is there anything the dealer could do for me by loading a different R3 map?


Any info would be appreciated,
Thanks.

 

[ATMofMN]

What part of Florida there, Jimmy boy?

I hate these lights. Give me wide open country.

ATM

 

[REGULATOR]

I used 1' wrap, follow directions, wet it, also don't just eyeball it take a look and measure according to instructions or wrap it before you cut it.
its really not hard, just be patient and don't be afriad to stop unwrapp and do over.
I wrapped the headers of my Jardines, can't honestly tell if it made an improvement. but I don't sit in traffic much. I also can't recall thinking about the heat either. I originally wrapped the mufflers too, that cooled them off a lot, but it looked like crap. style won that round

I wrapped tight and put the chrome covers back on afterwards and you can't even tell its there unless you look hard.

the stainless ties that cost a fortune, just invest in some hose clamps.

but wet it good, wear gloves if you can and take your time.
I'd also say take it off the bike to do but thats me.

Oh and they will STINK for the first few weeks or so when you start riding it.......lstink and steam/smoke up....

 

[mtnman]

You sit at red lights? One of the many reasons I ride is so that I can go to the front of the line at red lights!

 

[RiderRocketman]

I used to have my headers and exhaust wrapped right up to the slip-ons, catbypass and all (TORs pipes). I took it off after about 6 months because it didn't make much a difference on high heat days and the catbypass and exhaust area where the wrap cutoff got extremely hot and I think contributed to my battery getting cooked and starter lock after running in high heat. On above 90F days or if running for a long time, I had to let my bike cool down for a while before it would start. I believe it was because my battery got cooked too much and/or the super hot catbypass heat locked my starter motor which is right by the catbypass.

When you wrap your headers, the heat of the fumes is retained inside the exhaust and will really cook your exhaust parts, leading to premature deterioration of the metal as well as the super heat problems in areas not wrapped. If you do it, I'd do the entire exhaust from headers to tip, but I also would not do it with stock exhaust or catbox because hotter than normal fumes can ignite the packing material inside the exhaust.

 

[Jimbeamrye]

Good answers...this is what I need! Thanks for the info about the starter being right next to the cat box, cause your right, it looks like it will cook the starter. I will make a heat shield for the starter while I'm at it.
To ATMofMN, I am in Pensacola, FL. which is the farthest west place in FL.
The stainless steel ties are outragious in price, but anyone know if I use stainless steel hose clamps that they might chisel through the fiberglass wrap because of the excess weight of them+engine vibration?
And that was keen to point out that if you insulate the heat inside the headers, the heat will now push even farther down the tubes.

BTW, while in my driveway, in neutral, I held the throttle to maintain a 1800-2000 rpm to simulate 45-55 mph in top gear. Of course there was no load and no wind, and within 45 seconds, my headers started to turn red. Within 2 minutes, all three header pipes, all the way down and around the bend was bright cherry red! I mean GLOWING bright. From the bend to about 1 foot before the cat box was red, but not glowing! I own a 2007 touring edition, so does anyone know if this bike has the real lean map assigned to it? Is there anything the dealer could do for me by loading a different map?

 

[ATMofMN]

You sit at red lights? One of the many reasons I ride is so that I can go to the front of the line at red lights!

Still sit at the light, no matter where in the line we are. Problem is just so **** many lights. :cry:

ATM

 

[Jimbeamrye]

I posted my results and how too under topic: "DEI Header Wrap" which is also inside the "How to Goldmine" forum.