Is this normal?

[Django]

Reminds me at Don Quijote's tilt at windmills.

[MikeOxbig_imp]

It doesn't bother me at all. If anything it adds to the retro/vintage look. I'm pretty sure a good metal polish will get it back to new.

[the Ferret]

One of the things that separated the Japanese bikes in the 60's from the brit bikes and Harleys was the pipes remaining bright shiny chrome that always looked good and new. Those of us that grew up with Japanese bikes were proud of that distinction. There is nothing retro (historically) about a Honda with tinted pipes.

[Nemo_imp]

What's the best way to clean them?

[MikeOxbig_imp]

One of the things that separated the Japanese bikes in the 60's from the brit bikes and Harleys was the pipes remaining bright shiny chrome that always looked good and new. Those of us that grew up with Japanese bikes were proud of that distinction. There is nothing retro (historically) about a Honda with tinted pipes.

In that case I may have used the wrong words to describe that look. Just saying I sort of like that "aged" look and doesn't seem too out of place considering some people think my CB has survived through several decades since the 60's. Then I tell them it's a 2014 model and they almost don't believe me.

[flynrider]

One of the things that separated the Japanese bikes in the 60's from the brit bikes and Harleys was the pipes remaining bright shiny chrome that always looked good and new. Those of us that grew up with Japanese bikes were proud of that distinction. There is nothing retro (historically) about a Honda with tinted pipes.

Well, it depends on how you look at it. As I recall, back in the day, the first thing that 9 out of 10 UJM owners did was ditch the beautiful chrome pipes and fit a MAC/Kerker/Yosh 4 into 1 SS pipe.

When I initially saw the 4 into 1 on the CB1100 I thought that's what Honda was going for.

[kmoney_imp]

It doesn't bother me at all. If anything it adds to the retro/vintage look. I'm pretty sure a good metal polish will get it back to new.

That's how I've thought about it too. Maybe not so much the vintage look, but the worn in and worked out look -- similar to rubber pilling on the sides of sportbike tires.

[Carguy1959_imp]

I to have a 14 STD. For the first couple of months I cleaned the headers with Mothers mag polish and a power ball. They would look like new. I also tried Optiglaze. After a few months they seemed to tarnish faster. So I thru in the towel. Mine are dark now and they don't bother me a bit. I am not lazy, I just chose to spend my time enjoying myself. If it gets to the point that I can't take any more (doughtful) then I will buy a full black system.
I have also thought of wrapping them.

[Jeff the CB CBX guy_imp]

Agree. Except polishing is good for muscle tone.

[Retsel_imp]

One of the things that separated the Japanese bikes in the 60's from the brit bikes and Harleys was the pipes remaining bright shiny chrome that always looked good and new. Those of us that grew up with Japanese bikes were proud of that distinction. There is nothing retro (historically) about a Honda with tinted pipes.

Hummmm, as one of those proud Harley riders, in years passed, everyone I knew loved the bright and shinny chrome pipes. That was until they rotted out and blew out at the throat. I only wished we had a stainless steel option. I'll take modernized retro over true retro any day. That said, I would be concerned with the color of the pipes on this bike with only 4300 miles on it! I have considered blacking my stainless headers but, if they are going to turn as black as these anyway, why bother?

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