It there’s one thing that motorcycle aficionados know, it’s that you can always make improvements and modifications to your ride. One simple and effective upgrade you can easily do at home is applying a fiberglass or volcanic-rock exhaust wrap to your motorcycle’s header and exhaust pipe. This improves the look of your pipes while preventing burns and improving performance.
Want to know more about how exhaust wrap can lead to a smoother, cooler ride? Here are four reasons why we recommend motorcycle exhaust tape for your ride!
Reasons to Use Exhaust Wrap on Your Motorcycle
Cools the Engine for Improved Performance
When you need to maintain high speeds for racing, reducing downtime while you wait for the engine to throttle is a must. Having exhaust wrap on your motorcycle can reduce this automatic throttling by keeping the engine cooler, and this allows the engine to work at maximum capacity for longer periods.
How does exhaust wrap cool your engine? By keeping the heat inside the exhaust system and reducing the amount that radiates out, the entire system works more efficiently and less heat makes its way back to the engine. Hotter exhaust gas means that air gets pulled through the system faster for greater fuel efficiency, more horsepower, and less chance of experiencing vapor lock.
Increases Rider Safety
The second reason you need exhaust wrap for your motorcycle is to keep YOU cooler while you’re riding. Burns to your skin, pants, and boots are not uncommon while riding and are easily prevented by applying motorcycle exhaust tape along the length of your header and exhaust pipe.
Fiberglass and volcanic rock motorcycle pipe wraps can lower the temperatures radiating off your pipes by up to 50% compared with undressed pipes. Not only does this drop in temperature help to protect you, but less radiant heat can also help to extend the life of shocks and fairings close to exhaust components.
Enhances the Look of Your Ride
Remember the days of DIY when everyone was building motorcycles in their home garage? With motorcycle exhaust wrap, you can give your ride that retro, old-school custom look while covering up discolored and aging exhaust pipes.
Many fiberglass exhaust wraps come with a jet-black carbon-fiber weave that looks great and doesn’t fade over time. Another option is to buy a white exhaust wrap for your motorcycle and spray-paint it with a regular exhaust paint for a personalized aesthetic.
Easy-to-Install at Home
The fourth benefit of applying exhaust wrap to your header is that it’s cheap, quick, and easy to do yourself. When compared with other modifications, motorcycle exhaust tape gives you the best bang for your buck! Ready to bring the action to your garage? Check out how you can install your motorcycle exhaust heat shield wrap at home.
Types of Exhaust Wrap for Motorcycle Headers
Before installing your motorcycle exhaust wrap, you’ll need to choose from several different options. Once you’ve settled on a wrap and color, we recommend purchasing two rolls so that you don’t run out before you’ve finished the job:
Moto Lava Exhaust Wrap -- Official Wrap of FreestyleMX Tour
This 1/16”-thick exhaust wrap for motorcycles is made from volcanic rock that is crushed and melted before being turned into a fiber yarn. Lava wrap can take up to 1200°F continuous heat and 2000°F intermittent heat and has a cool, carbon-fiber look. You can take a closer look at how this wrap works with our Lava Exhaust Wrap Install and Test blog.
Black Carbon Fiber Look Exhaust Pipe Wrap
Our black exhaust wrap for motorcycles is made from a high-quality fiberglass yarn and features a special weave that gives it that coveted carbon-fiber appearance. Choose this wrap for increased flexibility around bends and use on applications up to 1350°F continuous and 2000° intermittent.
Heatshield Armor -- Exhaust Heat Shield for UTVs, Motorcycles, and ATVs
This aluminum exhaust wrap motorcycle heat shield is abrasion and chemical resistant and is one of the longest-lasting wraps in our collection. It can take up to 1800°F continuous and 2200°F intermittent and reduces pipe temperatures by up to 60%. We recommend this product for most UTV, ATV, and off-road applications.
Inferno Wrap -- Exhaust Pipe Wrap for Turbo Bikes, Snowmobiles, or UTVs
This heavy-duty silica wrap is designed for the most extreme racing applications. As the most heat-resistant wrap in our motorcycle exhaust tape and wrap collection, it can withstand maximum temperatures of 2000°F continuous and 3000°F intermittent. Any boosted motorcycle, snowmobile (snow machine), or UTV should be using this wrap instead of a traditional Lava Wrap or fiberglass product.
This black fiberglass heat wrap provides a sleek carbon-fiber look while protecting your shocks and fairing. Offering a 50% reduction in radiant heat, this exhaust wrap for your motorcycle withstands temperatures up to 1200°F continuous and 2000°F intermittent. If you choose this option, be aware that it shouldn’t be pressure-washed.
Exhaust Pipe Wrap for Motorcycles, UTV's, and More
This off-white fiberglass exhaust wrap for motorcycles—like all fiberglass heat wraps—is naturally water and fungus resistant. For a personalized finish, you can spray-paint this wrap with your preferred color using a regular exhaust paint. You do not need a silicone “sealer” -- that is a marketing gimmick! You can use any engine or exhaust paint to cover your wrap. This will save you money and give you more options for customization.
Things to Be Aware of When Using Exhaust Wrap for Motorcycles
After 40+ years of industry experience, we have become convinced that there are far more benefits than drawbacks to using motorcycle exhaust tape on your header and pipe. However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind:
The Initial Smoking Period
After installation, the heat wrap will smoke and smell for a bit as it “cures” onto the pipe. This smell goes away after the first few rides, we promise.
Longer Wrap-Up Times
When you use exhaust wrap on your motorcycle, the engine will take longer to heat up. Generally, lower heat is a good thing, but it could take you a bit longer to get your bike up and running in the winter when the outside temp is lower than average.
Once Wrapped, Always Wrapped
The third thing to keep in mind is that heat wrap leaves diagonal lines on your pipe after you take it off—so you’ll want to think carefully about the decision before you begin. Some motorcyclists suggest applying a heat-resistant silicone spray before you wrap to prevent the material from leaving a residue on your pipes.
Buy Exhaust Wrap for Motorcycles at Heatshield Products
If you decide to use motorcycle exhaust tape and enjoy the increased horsepower and safety, we recommend investing in the exhaust wraps at Heatshield Products. All of our race-track tested motorcycle wraps are made in America and are asbestos-free. Contact us for custom lengths or check out our exhaust wraps installation guides and material safety data sheets for more information on how to install your wrap at home.
