LCGB Forums

Just thinking out loud here... But asking the question out there...

Ceramic coating costs in the region of £250 (I believe & the downpipe's temperatures total it, but I may be wrong?!)

Heat proof powdercoating, does it still exist & any experience anyone?

The best longlasting finish for a downpipe is to chrome it?

A more affordable zinc finish would do the job, right? & also sort the main body without affecting the sound wave type whatsits?!

Just asking as these days a new exhaust costs in the region of £350 + & the steel seems to be getting thinner... & anything to preserve the life of one investment frees up bux for other grin inducing add ons

With thanx for any advice!

Zinc will burn off in less than 30 minutes; not exaggerating here.

The best coating, all things considered is nickel. It stops rust (if you keep it reasonably clean), looks ok (in my opinion anyway) and is comparatively cheap.

You don't need to be meticulous with it, just wipe the salty lumps off, otherwise it will rot.

But NOT zinc.

Cheers D! That was still an answer without the Farce Book, please keep them coming, Bristol L.C. had a top websisite, once stuff went Farce Book, it went tits up...

There was an in-depth discussion about the alternatives:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=10856#p95279

There may be even more information in the archives. A lot of 'crossers have pipes plated & the bright nickel finish appears to be quite durable, but not 'too flash' if that makes sense. I'm sure that KTM made an SX 200 (!) that had it's expansion chamber bright plated as standard.....

Warkton Tornado No.1 wrote:There was an in-depth discussion about the alternatives:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=10856#p95279

There may be even more information in the archives. A lot of 'crossers have pipes plated & the bright nickel finish appears to be quite durable, but not 'too flash' if that makes sense. I'm sure that KTM made an SX 200 (!) that had it's expansion chamber bright plated as standard.....

Yes, it seems most mx 2 stroke bikes are getting nickel plated these days. It discolours at the hottest points, down pipe etc., goes blue, purple etc. But stays in place and.like you say, doesn't look too blingy.

I missed your question about heat proof powder coat. When I sold my winter, I had a pipe treated with this, and it just burnt off like dulux emulsion. Maybe the bloke who did mine didn't know what he was doing? Maybe it's only heat proof up to x degrees, either way, it was useless.

dickie wrote:

Warkton Tornado No.1 wrote:There was an in-depth discussion about the alternatives:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=10856#p95279

There may be even more information in the archives. A lot of 'crossers have pipes plated & the bright nickel finish appears to be quite durable, but not 'too flash' if that makes sense. I'm sure that KTM made an SX 200 (!) that had it's expansion chamber bright plated as standard.....

Yes, it seems most mx 2 stroke bikes are getting nickel plated these days. It discolours at the hottest points, down pipe etc., goes blue, purple etc. But stays in place and.like you say, doesn't look too blingy.

I missed your question about heat proof powder coat. When I sold my winter, I had a pipe treated with this, and it just burnt off like dulux emulsion. Maybe the bloke who did mine didn't know what he was doing? Maybe it's only heat proof up to x degrees, either way, it was useless.

I had the same results with a Scootopia powder coated exhaust it rusted quicker than a painted one.

Another option Andy is electroless nickel plate



Cheaper than ceramic and easier to repair with weld but not that easily available. Gives good protection but exhaust paint doesn't adhere to it brilliantly.

had my BGM clubman u bend done in bright nickel.a friend works at a platers and suggested it to me .im sure he siad nickel was used as the base coating in bright show chrome plating process.
Mine has lasted a good few years( had it done in June 2014) but starting to look tatty and a few spots of rust appearing

dickie wrote:Zinc will burn off in less than 30 minutes; not exaggerating here.

The best coating, all things considered is nickel. It stops rust (if you keep it reasonably clean), looks ok (in my opinion anyway) and is comparatively cheap.

You don't need to be meticulous with it, just wipe the salty lumps off, otherwise it will rot.

But NOT zinc.

In retrospect I think I meant nickel, was just misremembering So nickel doesn't hold a satin high heat rattle can blast over then Mark...? Not that sad, just prefer my zorsts to be black...

I picked up several kilograms of electroless nickel plating today including some Tutto Lambretta U-bends and they look almost too nice to fit. My electroplater even commented how nice they came out.

Andy B.L.C. wrote:

dickie wrote:Zinc will burn off in less than 30 minutes; not exaggerating here.

The best coating, all things considered is nickel. It stops rust (if you keep it reasonably clean), looks ok (in my opinion anyway) and is comparatively cheap.

You don't need to be meticulous with it, just wipe the salty lumps off, otherwise it will rot.

But NOT zinc.

In retrospect I think I meant nickel, was just misremembering So nickel doesn't hold a satin high heat rattle can blast over then Mark...? Not that sad, just prefer my zorsts to be black...

That's right Andy, looks nice when first done but comes off easily but at least the metal below is good

After a weekends ride I just wipe my Clubman exhaust down with old gearbox oil - seems to have done the job for the last 38 years

Nudger wrote:After a weekends ride I just wipe my Clubman exhaust down with old gearbox oil - seems to have done the job for the last 38 years

They built them well back in the day then

Seriously though, that’s the sort of tip my dad gave me when I was a youngster but I have long since forgotten. I am going to give it a go. Cheers