Stock XS1100F exhaust on ebay with cracks near header/mufflers

[gtem]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/38752300544...4aAuy-EALw_wcB

How repairable do you guys think those cracks are? Would one have to grind the chrome back, lay a bead down, then rechrome?

[LAB3]

To the best of my knowledge a used exhaust pipe cannot be rechromed due to the loose material inside of it getting mixed into the plating tank and contaminating the fluid inside of it. You'd end up with all kinds of specks, pits and places where the chrome wouldn't adhere to the metal not to mention having to replace the fluid and cleaning out the tank.

[DEEBS11]

You can't rechrome dirty metal. Especially with carbon on the inside where you can't clean. It will contaminate the process. For $300 ? Wow.


This is about the best deal going these days. However, it is louder than stock but it is stainless.

[LenB]

The bigger question is the extent of the internal corrosion. Went through two sets from rusting out at the axle detents because I worked close to home and the pipes didn't heat up enough to burn off the condensation - shot exhaust up behind the fairing - a little unsafe. What's left could be pretty thin metal and difficult to weld.

[speedlimit85]

new cracks form after weld...but may last ...those look worth it to me

[LAB3]

Considering the shipping costs you're probably better off going with that new system Deebs linked to. Also, have you tried this place yet?

https://www.newmotorcycleparts.net/

[gtem]

Hi Lab. I'm not in desperate need of an exhaust, I have a nice condition MAC 4-1 on the bike now, but I tend to enjoy some gravel/dirt road riding so the superior ground clearance of a 4-2 is appealing. That and I generally like to stay as close to OEM/stock as possible. That Delkevic stainless pipe is definitely the best value going by a mile, I'm almost tempted to buy one just to have a spare system ready in case they become unavailable in the future. Who knows when anyone else might ever make a replacement exhaust for these 45 year old bikes!

[XSSIVEUS]

FYI there may still be European XS11 NOS pipes available. One of my stock 78s has a set of these pipes. They're pretty much identical to US pipes except the setback of the exhaust header pipe flanges. The inner ones are slightly different, requiring a second set of gaskets to get them to seal correctly. Mine work flawlessly and they look identical except for a set of goofy metal tags riveted onto the mufflers. I decided to leave them vs drilling out and re-riveting. That may have been a mistake, read on:

When I pulled the bike from the mid-West to CA and registered it here, the DMV gave me heck over them because they "weren't stock smog gear." There was no smog gear in 1978, but these yahoos didn't know a carb from a toilet. I told them US pipes were no longer available. They told me I'd have to scrap the bike to which my response was "oh, hell no." Turns out to fix the issue all I had to do was write a hand note that this was an equivalent part and the only way I could restore the bike was to install these pipes made to the same standard, but issued for another market. They accepted that and issued registration. Geez, what a PITA.

Anyway, you may still be able to find NOS across the pond but be prepared to pay a pretty Euro for them. Cheers.