wraping pipes?

[jonwright]

does it really improve performance? or does it mostly just cover up ugly exhaust?

 

[scroggins5000]

I've read that running lean with header wraps can provide a "slim" performance gain. However, I've also read that it can break down the material in the headers faster. It's probably more for the looks than anything. I've got my exhaust wrapped.

 

[Nitsuj]

does it really improve performance? or does it mostly just cover up ugly exhaust?

No. The idea is that it keeps the exhaust gas hotter, and therefore less dense, so free flowing. But as we all know (or should know) free flow doesn't equal more power. And if you wrap a bike with mufflers, then it's doing nothing because it's the muffler is metering the flow, not the density of the exhaust gases.

All that said, it still does look cool and remain a viable option for covering ugly pipes. And it's nice to keep heat trapped in the pipes and off your legs. I have a small section of the exhaust on my Duc wrapped because the termi system was cooking a section of the lower fairing.