Does anyone know what the temperature of the exhaust can and headers reach while under normal riding conditions?

I ask because I am painting my bike, and ended up using a high temp (500degF) paint cause it had a color I liked (they call is cast iron).  I was also thinking about doing the exhaust with this paint as well, cause right now my exhaust is bbq grill black.

They also have some 1200degF paint by the same company, but I am not sure if they have this color in it.

Anyone have any thoughts to share?

Andy

i think it would be handy to have some type of temp gauge on the bike

In the thread gasket maker for my exhaust... will it work??

Quote from: JamesG[...]combustion exhaust reaches temperatures over 1500 degrees[...].

I wonder where he got that info...?  :dunno:

You should also read through the Exhaust painting thread.


With all of that in mind, check out some of the pictures I took today at our NEW WAL-MART (whoopee....):


Notice that, although the front says "1200F Thermo-Guard Protection", the back has a bit of a disclaimer along those lines.  

Here's a picture of what I bought instead:


I suppose the Rustoleum stuff will fare just about as "well" as the Krylon, but at least it didn't SAY so with a disclaimer on the back.  

I used the RustOleum in the lower picture ('cause that's what Home Depot sold), and it worked well.  It's been about 15 months, and it's just starting to turn a tinge of rust in the top 5 inches of the headers.   I'd say it should be fine if you wire-brush and repaint every 2 years... not sure I'd try for 3 years at a go, though.

500f paint will melt off the headers pretty fast.  the exhaust cannister will probably be okay though.  try not to breath in too many fumes while the paint is burning off.

ive used both on my car for brakes(calipers and brake drums) and they both worked fine. <---the bbq paint

the 500 degree one chipped after a couple weeks

I used some high-temp header paint that I found at fleet farm (plasti-kote was the brand). It can take prolonged temps of 900f. Looks cool, too. Its a darker shade of grey, but its a little sparkley.

To get the old paint/rust off, use a 3M paint stripper wheel. It worked wonders on my exhaust. I'll try to get a picture of it up later.

OK the 500 degree one wont cut it... Turns red and brittle, and burns off soon... The thing is you cant paint 1200 or 1500 (PJ1 makes 1500) over it, you are better off letting the paint burn and cook itself, then sand it and wire brush it and then paint with 1500, or 1200.
Cool.
Srinath.