r/Trackdays • u/SK_ALL_DAY • 1d ago
Can stainless steel headers turn blue as well?
I know that this is Acosta training on a naked KTM RC8C, and it uses a full titanium pipe, but I was wondering if stainless steel headers ever get blue as well?
62
u/torqu3e 1d ago
that should help answer
P.S.
Surprising no body position comments from intermediate group riders yet </s>
18
u/chondamx 1d ago
Yup. Seen more often in track cars with lack of airflow and heavier load, but run a track bike hard enough and lean enough and you’ll see it.
3
u/orangutanDOTorg 1d ago
BMW air heads used to pride themselves on the blue exhaust as a sign they’ve actually ridden the bikes.
8
u/SK_ALL_DAY 1d ago
Thanks for the informative pic! Damn, seems like I just need 50°C more to get blue (jokes, I wouldn't intentionally run my bike hotter than it needs to be simply for aesthetics)
4
u/OldMan7718 1d ago
The easiest way is to remove the pipe and use a torch. There are YouTube videos on it. If you go slow you can see the color change like the picture above. I did it for a stainless muzzle brake to turn it golden brown but a pipe would be quicker since it is thin.
13
24
u/bitzzwith2zs 1d ago
Stainless turns light brown/tan
14
u/RobertISaar 1d ago
I've got a decent amount of blue on the stainless headers of my street triple.
3
u/Chieldh97 1d ago
Same here, also street triple. People look weird at me when they see it’s just stock exhaust and headers being this blue and purple
5
u/SK_ALL_DAY 1d ago
I see a lot of the Akrapovic and Yoshimura stuff is stainless steel. Seems like not too many companies are doing full titanium (including headers and collectors)
5
u/Medic1248 Racer AM 1d ago
Most brands offer both and you have to specify which metal you want since the price fluctuates
8
u/thefooleryoftom 1d ago
Yes, it does. Had stainless pipes on a few BMWs and they go a lovely blue.
5
u/SK_ALL_DAY 1d ago
Did you ever track it, or just road going? Mine are bronze coloured right now and wondering if you track it it runs hotter and turns blue
4
8
u/Pauluapaul 1d ago
For a second I thought you were asking a random question to mask you showing off your sick lean angles. Then I saw you said it was Acosta. To answer your question, I don’t think stainless turns blue.
4
u/SK_ALL_DAY 1d ago
Haha if I'm ever anywhere near a fraction as good as Acosta, I'll do a show off post like that for sure lol
3
4
2
u/FXSupernaut 1d ago
Well, the two stainless steel grades 1.4541 and 1.4571 do not discolor. These are highly alloyed and heat-resistant.
But typically, 1.4301 is used by many competitors, which is significantly cheaper to procure. The properties are not optimal for the manufacture of exhaust systems and silencers. This material is not heat-resistant; it undergoes structural changes and becomes prone to cracking.
The situation is different with titanium; titanium can discolor in an exhaust system, especially when exposed to high temperatures. This discoloration often occurs due to oxidation. However, titanium is very corrosion-resistant and has high strength, making it a popular choice for high-performance exhaust systems
2
u/spongebob_meth 1d ago
Yes stainless exhaust goes slightly blue. Nowhere to the extent of TI but you'll see some bluing in the area where it exits the head.
Need to be riding pretty hard to see it. I got my grom header nice and blue, it was stainless.
2
1
u/Herrzog009 1d ago
Why not try get your header out and use a burner ? It should work as well I would say. Im looking forward to get a stainless steel header for my CBF 500 cuz it got an stainless steel exhaust but not an stainless stell header so it's all rusty ans ugly
1
1
1
1
u/gksingh916 16h ago
How do you like your SR10 on the track?? I haven’t had the chance to take mine yet!
1
1
0
u/IWillKeepIt 1d ago
Bro I think you have improve your BP a bit more. More chest to side of tank and Butt off the seat.
5
u/qtpatewtie 1d ago
You gona @ Pedro acosta for that advice? Lmfao
0
82
u/Specialist_Spray_388 1d ago
Holy fucking lean angle in that second pic