How Are These Pipes Made?

[Smoker]

heated around all the welds.

I believe this is the answer to the question about the first steel pipes. Not a good technique.

The craftsmanship on these anodized titanium chambers is incredible! I can hardly see the welds even in the close up pics.



I'd love to have a set of pipes like this, but it may not be possible to find a fabricator.

I also am curious why titanium chambers have a short life? All the steel and stainless pipes I've used seem to last forever. MK briefly mentioned that titanium pipes won't last long. That may end my big ideas.

If the titanium pipes could last 25,000 miles - that would be okay. I'm getting old.

[giron]

A very important factor that Brian brought up. They are very expensive to fabricate Titanium pipes. Brian mention welding rods?

[Questo vecchio rz]

NOW your Honda exhuast looks great, the pictured bike pipes are just phoney looking, too much color for me.
As far as F&F..I shouldn't talk I have a 1st gen Scion Xb that's now turbocharged, my exhaust tip looks really close to yours.
NOTHING IS better than driving a real 233 wheel h.p. 2200 lb. Scion and putting a whoop ass on Subaru WRXS even STis..actually most everything...lol They can't even hang with my toybox in the turns or autocross events. My favorite car I've ever owned, I love embarrassing middleaged douchebags in Corvettes.

As far as your bikes, I thoroughly enjoy your attention to detail, I suffer from the same chronic issue, and decade long build plan...lol. Seriouslly through piggybacking your posts I've learned alot and taken cues from your endevors.
Keep it up.

[Smoker]

A very important factor that Brian brought up. They are very expensive to fabricate Titanium pipes. Brian mention welding rods?

WTF? He didn't say either of those things in this thread.

Titanium pipes are expensive. Thanks for contributing that info.

[Smoker]

NOW your Honda exhuast looks great, the pictured bike pipes are just phoney looking, too much color for me.

My Honda NS400R pipes are made by JL.

Nice, but look the same as all the JL pipes out there.

I'm really just trying to do something a little different.

[giron]

sorry smoker. When I said that the titanium pipes are expensive to fabricate. Brian mention it to me, but not in this thread.

[MK]

I didn't say Ti pipes don't last generally.
I was told that you need to watch the temperatures in the welding zone and if you get a strong blue color it is prone to cracking - thus the conclusion if it's Ti and blue, then it may not last long.
BTW: As I'm no expert, but just a ambitious amateur, I didn't use rods in my Ti test. I cut narrow stripes of sheet material to eventually fill holes. All the rest is done without rods.

Concerning the fabrication the pipes from your pic look like the Japanese K2 Tec. Never saw welds like that otherwhwere. They have a huge focus on the aesthetics!

[AndyT]

Smoker

Not sure if this helps but the photos are from a 93 YZR500 showing the exhausts and the discolouring present, Don't know if they are titanium but they sure look the business,

I took them at the Phillip Island classic in January of this year.
Cheers
Andy

[giron]

Smoker this is what Brian has always suggested for the RZ500 motor. The same way Wolfgang has rear pipes straight back. This is what I plan to do with my RZV500 frame by altering it. This way the pipes come out straight on the rear cylinders. I bet pipes like Wolfgang on a stock motor will work a lot better than aftermarket pipes following the same configuration and size as stock pipes.

[giron]

Andy how about pictures from the front cylinders?

[Smoker]

Smoker

Not sure if this helps but the photos are from a 93 YZR500 showing the exhausts and the discolouring present, Don't know if they are titanium but they sure look the business,

I took them at the Phillip Island classic in January of this year.
Cheers
Andy

Are those made by BT?

Those are awesome pipes.

[Smoker]

Concerning the fabrication the pipes from your pic look like the Japanese K2 Tec. Never saw welds like that otherwhwere. They have a huge focus on the aesthetics!

The prototype anodized titanium pipes I posted are from Tyga in Taiwan.

I'm hoping that if I can get some titanium pipes made, they could be polished and anodized with whatever color pattern I want.

If not, I'd still be happy with some natural titanium pipes and let them color with age.

[AndyT]

Giron,

Mate I am afraid I did not take any of the front pipes do you suspect that they cross over under the engine.

Smoker, Not sure who fabricated the pipes for Yamaha back in the day but they do look good don't they

Cheers
Andy

[giron]

Thank You for the reply Andy

If Wayne Rainey or Eddie Lawson rode that YZR500 chances are it was the Yamaha GP team of Kenny Roberts. I would say that Brian Turfrey made the pipes. Brian showed me pictures of a YZR500 where the lower pipes crossed under the engine.

[Questo vecchio rz]

Thank You for the reply Andy

If Wayne Rainey or Eddie Lawson rode that YZR500 chances are it was the Yamaha GP team of Kenny Roberts. I would say that Brian Turfrey made the pipes. Brian showed me pictures of a YZR500 where the lower pipes crossed under the engine.

I have hundreds of negatives from pits @ Laguna Seca from the late 80s to mid 90s, I'll look one of these days and see what appears. if I recall there were cross overs on some bikes, It wasn't easy back then to get pictures...beleive me. I also know by aqaintence two mechanics / tuners/ racers whom worked with Roberts, and Lawson and when I can I'll see if one day I can get some old school info. I hate coming across as a dorky old race fan...lol. I've already got some cool autographs on posters and numberplates.