Is this normal?

[olekzap_imp]

I was not as clear as I could have been...

My question is really if the pipes indicate the bike as being abused. I've seen pics of the bronzing as being more uniform, but this one seems to look blotchy and speckled/pitted.

Thanks.

https://redding.craigslist.org/mcy/5468655397.html

Do the bronzed headers on this 2013 CB1100 look normal for approx 4000 miles?

Thanks! --CB360T

It doesn't look so much abused as neglected. As mentioned previously, the blotching and pitting is likely due to being ridden in the rain and put away wet. With the amount of bluing near the top of the headers it may have been caught in some California-Summer-stop-and-go-traffic. You don't want to leave air-cooled engines idling and stationary for extended periods of time. However, all four pipes look uniformly blue, so it is likely not a mechanical issue or necessarily a sign of abuse.

There are several CB owners on this forum who are not concerned about an aesthetic issue like the bronzing/discoloring of headers. It is, after-all, an inevitable problem with stainless steel. A rare few may not know that there are products to temporarily remedy the issue (like Optiglanz or Autosol). Some may just not have had the time to clean the headers properly as they would prefer to be riding. And finally, there may just be some who are plain lazy. However, based on the many members of this forum, who go to great lengths to make their CB headers shiny again, the lazy are clearly in the minority
[/quote]
It doesn't look so much abused as neglected. As mentioned previously, the blotching and pitting is likely due to being ridden in the rain and put away wet. With the amount of bluing near the top of the headers it may have been caught in some California-Summer-stop-and-go-traffic. You don't want to leave air-cooled engines idling and stationary for extended periods of time. However, all four pipes look uniformly blue, so it is likely not a mechanical issue or necessarily a sign of abuse.

There are several CB owners on this forum who are not concerned about an aesthetic issue like the bronzing/discoloring of headers. It is, after-all, an inevitable problem with stainless steel. A rare few may not know that there are products to temporarily remedy the issue (like Optiglanz or Autosol). Some may just not have had the time to clean the headers properly as they would prefer to be riding. And finally, there may just be some who are plain lazy. However, based on the many members of this forum, who go to great lengths to make their CB headers shiny again, the lazy are clearly in the minority
[/quote]

You forgot the people who think it looks better with bronzed headers. Personally I'm not a fan at all of the chrome perfect look on some.