Corrosion on pipes

[Deanohh_imp]

The stainless header pipe spec was one of the major disappoints for me. I'd really prefer chromed double wall headers and would have been willing to do what it takes to keep them sparking (at > 36K miles the headers on my long gone 750 NightHawk still looked new when I sold the bike).

Stainless headers must be cheaper to produce than double wall chromed ones.. sigh...

Stainless darkens with heat (in the presence of oxygen). Power makes heat... So as mentioned earlier, I don't mind the darkened headers cause it shows that the engine has been working and making some power. On my street triple they're almost black and its no trouble at all.

also the exhaust system is regulated as part of the emissions control and is required to last x number of years under defined conditions. Plated chrome headers probably do not pass corrosion requirements and under some conditions fail to meet regulations.