Muffler Paint

[renof]

Can anyone provide any good recommendations on muffler paint. I have tried VHT header paint but it turns grey after a couple of rides. I would like to restore it to the factory flat black.

[Motowalt]

If you have a nice example of the stock exhaust, I'd ceramic coat it and the headers black.
It will then last as long as you do...

[Lucien Harpress]

They have Hi-Temp header paint at Lowes that actually works rather well. Don't be afraid to lay it on as thick as you can, but if you "bake" it on (by running the bike) after you do, it helps a LOT. Not 100% bulletproof like ceramic coating, but a lot cheaper, and you can touch it up whenever you want.

[Dog Boy]

Can anyone provide any good recommendations on muffler paint. I have tried VHT header paint but it turns grey after a couple of rides. I would like to restore it to the factory flat black.

I'm sure others will chime in but being an original owner, it's been my belief the factory paint was not "flat" in finish. It was not a "gloss" finish but some where in between a flat and gloss. I remember it being as almost a satin finish. It did have some "shine" to it.

AL

[Steve81GL1100]

I used VHT "Flame Proof" header paint for the pipes on my 81. Now, obviously the 1100s have different exhaust than the 1000s, being mostly chrome, but the head pipes are/were black. Mine were sort of rust.... I cleaned them up, masked off all the chrome, and shot them with the VHT. It was probably a month between painting them and finally getting the bike started, but since then it's run for hours (total) in the driveway and more recently I've put about 300+ road miles on it with no issues whatsoever -- paint still looks rich and very black.
Around here, at least, many shops won't ceramic coat anything but brand-new exhaust parts because (they say) they can't guarantee the coating will stick to the pipe if it's been used.
Steve

[duke182]

Eastwood offers all kinds of coatings for restoration work.
Im sure they would have something that would work.

[fish]

rustoleiumem BB-Q paint.Any color you want as long as you want flat black
holds up rillyrilly good

[tomk1960]

They have Hi-Temp header paint at Lowes that actually works rather well. Don't be afraid to lay it on as thick as you can, but if you "bake" it on (by running the bike) after you do, it helps a LOT. Not 100% bulletproof like ceramic coating, but a lot cheaper, and you can touch it up whenever you want.

Dog boy is right. The finish is satin - it's still decent on my '77 and looks very similar to the pipes on a customer's Guzzi:



I powder coated this entire exhaust system using high temp satin black. The finish will hold up to 1000 degree temps, so it will be fine for exhaust systems. See if you have a local shop that can do it. It's important that the blast the exhaust with virgin media, however. Any oily impurities introduced will compromise the finish.

[jdvorchak]

I'm with fish. I painted my headers on the 1200 about 4 years ago with BBQ paint. When I rub through a spot I just hit it again and you can't tell that I've touched it up. It is flat black though.

[77Pinto]

They have Hi-Temp header paint at Lowes that actually works rather well. Don't be afraid to lay it on as thick as you can, but if you "bake" it on (by running the bike) after you do, it helps a LOT. Not 100% bulletproof like ceramic coating, but a lot cheaper, and you can touch it up whenever you want.

Its better if you put it on in light coats and let it flash between coats.


Bill

[rnelson]

I just did mine with the Lowe's paint. Says it's good up to 2000 degrees. Went on easy, but I do wish it was more black. It's more of a dark gray in my opinion. Won't know for a while how well it hold up since my wing is in a lot if pieces.

[roachb]

Flat black Rustoleum BBQ paint looks good and has held up for years.

[rnelson]

I'd be happy if mine came out like that Guzzi.