Exhaust bluing

[Colin47]

Hi all,
My son has just bought a bmw r1250 gs 2021 model, just before he picked it up from dealership he asked for a acropovic end can to be fitted,
After a short ride home the chrome exhaust header was burnt blue,
He has tried several products to remove the bluing, to no avail,
Any suggestions how he can remove the bluing and also why did it happen so quickly,
I picked up my bmw r1250r sport same chrome exhaust but no acrpovic
My exhaust completely clear of any bluing we picked up bikes together March 1st,
Colin

[Grumpy Goat]

Hi all,
My son has just bought a bmw r1250 gs 2021 model, just before he picked it up from dealership he asked for a acropovic end can to be fitted,
After a short ride home the chrome exhaust header was burnt blue,
He has tried several products to remove the bluing, to no avail,
Any suggestions how he can remove the bluing and also why did it happen so quickly,
I picked up my bmw r1250r sport same chrome exhaust but no acrpovic
My exhaust completely clear of any bluing we picked up bikes together March 1st,
Colin

Here is some info on bluing, in case you are yet to do the research. This article (complete with picture of a BMW boxer cylinder) says that they "... turn blue as a result of extreme heat passing through them. This is usually caused by the motorcycle running lean, meaning there is too much air and too little gas being mixed together which causes a higher temperature to pass through the exhaust pipes."

The GS and the RS are tuned differently and in addition he has the freer flowing Akra exhaust which could have contributed to more heat than yours. Also, more bluing can come with time and it is not always a nice even bluing either. If there are greasy spots on the pipes you can even see bluing "fingerprints" - definitely not nice.

A product that a lot of people suggest is effective is AutoSol. I bought a tube years ago with the intent to remove the bit of bluing on my pipes. I am yet to do that job so can't comment on its efficacy. The blue doesn't bother me enough.

[Colin47]

Hi all,
My son has just bought a bmw r1250 gs 2021 model, just before he picked it up from dealership he asked for a acropovic end can to be fitted,
After a short ride home the chrome exhaust header was burnt blue,
He has tried several products to remove the bluing, to no avail,
Any suggestions how he can remove the bluing and also why did it happen so quickly,
I picked up my bmw r1250r sport same chrome exhaust but no acrpovic
My exhaust completely clear of any bluing we picked up bikes together March 1st,
Colin

Here is some info on bluing, in case you are yet to do the research. This article (complete with picture of a BMW boxer cylinder) says that they "... turn blue as a result of extreme heat passing through them. This is usually caused by the motorcycle running lean, meaning there is too much air and too little gas being mixed together which causes a higher temperature to pass through the exhaust pipes."

The GS and the RS are tuned differently and in addition he has the freer flowing Akra exhaust which could have contributed to more heat than yours. Also, more bluing can come with time and it is not always a nice even bluing either. If there are greasy spots on the pipes you can even see bluing "fingerprints" - definitely not nice.

A product that a lot of people suggest is effective is AutoSol. I bought a tube years ago with the intent to remove the bit of bluing on my pipes. I am yet to do that job so can't comment on its efficacy. The blue doesn't bother me enough.

[Colin47]

Thanks you for the info
Colin

[Lee]

BMW uses single wall headers.
Single wall chrome pipes will blue quickly.

Are you sure your R1250R has chrome plated headers and not the stainless steel without the chrome plating?

[Duckbubbles]

BMW uses single wall headers.
Single wall chrome pipes will blue quickly.

Are you sure your R1250R has chrome plated headers and not the stainless steel without the chrome plating?

Chrome will turn blue/golden, while polished stainless will turn brownish in time.

Frank

[darrell]

2016 R1200RS, 117,000 miles and 2002 R1150GS Adventure, 127,000 miles

[attachment=1086][attachment=1087]

[TriangleRider]

Blue headers are part of the BMW ownership experience. Always has been.