Motorcycle exhaust heat wrap -- it has its pros, it has its cons. But no one is debating the fact that it looks extremely cool—especially when you go for that coveted carbon-fiber aesthetic! If you’ve decided to wrap and you’re ready to kit-up, you may be wondering “How much exhaust wrap do I need for my motorcycle?” Find out the answer to this frequently asked question to stop dreaming and start wrapping!
Selecting Your Motorcycle Exhaust Heat Wrap
The first step to buying motorcycle heat shield exhaust wrap, quad bike, or racing snowmobile is to find out the temps reached by your exhaust pipe and how long they stay there. For example, the temperature of your muffler might sit at around 800°F to 1200°F under normal conditions but reach higher temps while racing.
To see how hot your exhaust really gets and to plan your motorcycle heat protection accordingly, you can use an exhaust gas temperature gauge at different times and under different circumstances. An easier and quicker way to get an idea of how hot your bike gets is to check with your manufacturer.
Wrapping Material
No matter what a manufacturer may claim, treated fiberglass and volcanic rock motorcycle exhaust wraps and tape can only withstand constant temps up to 1200°F. The upper limit for this motorcycle exhaust heat wrap is race-tested at 2000°F for intermittent peaks lasting 30 seconds or less.
UTVs, turbo bikes, carts, and snowmobiles need a more rugged wrap and do well with a texturized amorphous silica filament yarn. Featured in our original extreme-application Inferno Wrap, this cutting-edge material can handle 2000°F continuous with peaks as high as 3000°F. As you can see, getting the right motorcycle exhaust heat wrap for your ride is just as important as working out “How much exhaust wrap do I need for my motorcycle?”
Color
Ok, so you know which type of motorcycle exhaust heat wrap you need to keep you and your bike cool and safe—now let’s think about the look of your wrap. Black motorcycle exhaust wraps tend to be the most popular with their sleek profile and carbon-fiber appearance. If your bike is black, choosing a wrap to match is pretty much a no-brainer.
Calculating the Length You’ll Need
Materials and colors out of the way, let’s talk about “How much exhaust wrap do I need for my motorcycle?” Order too little and your wrap-job won’t work, order too much and you’ll have less cash for other cool stuff like our colored spark plug shields and pro-look HP heat shrink sleeves.
To calculate the exact length of motorcycle exhaust heat wrap, you need four pieces of required information:
- Pipe diameter (in inches)
- Pipe length (in feet)
- Number of bends less than 45°
- Number of bends greater than 45°
Most people like to wrap from the intake manifold down to the start of the muffler—but if you want to include the muffler as well, that’s completely up to you. Measure your pipes and punch the numbers into our exhaust wrap calculator for the exact amount of motorcycle exhaust heat wrap you’ll need to complete the job. Please note that our calculator assumes a ¼-width overlap when wrapping, so if you want a greater overlap (a ½-width overlap really isn’t necessary), you’ll need to add another 50%. Four-cylinder bikes will naturally need more wrap than twins. More power = more wrap!
Now that you’ve figured out “How much exhaust wrap do I need for my motorcycle,” it’s time to install your heat wrap like a pro. Here are some of our top tips:
Run Your Bike Regularly
Rusting is another problem that’s often cited, but the materials we use at Heatshield Products are waterproof, chemical-proof, and shouldn’t trap much moisture if you wrap outlet-to-inlet and back to front. Play it safe and run your bike regularly to turn any residual moisture into vapor and keep your pipes dry.
Spray Your Exhaust Wrap—Don’t Soak
Ever read guides to installing motorcycle exhaust heat wrap that told you to soak the wrap to help it shrink? Not only does fiberglass wrap not shrink, but it also contains a special coating that could be damaged if you soak it for too long. Plus—who wants to work with the mess of a dripping, pasty wrap? Get a spray bottle and fill it with water and spray your wrap down as you work. This little bit of moisture will help you achieve a tighter wrap and make it easier to work around the bends.
Once you start up the engine for the first time after wrapping, this water will vaporize along with the binders (starches) contained in the heat wrap in the new-wrap “smoke” we’re all familiar with. This is normal -- don’t worry, you still have the best exhaust heat wrap possible even if it smokes!
Wrap, Wrap, and Re-wrap
The first time you apply your motorcycle exhaust heat wrap, you might find that the job looks bulky or the pipe doesn’t quite fit right. There’s nothing wrong with wrapping your exhaust pipe a few times until you get the tightness you want. After all—your wrap is designed to last for years!
Shop Professional Motorcycle Exhaust Heat Wrap at Heatshield Products
Now that we’ve answered the “How much exhaust wrap do I need for my motorcycle” question, you’re ready to get your materials together and start wrapping! Heatshield Products has over 40 years of industry experience and offers motorcycle exhaust heat wrap that that been tested under real-life race conditions. Contact us with questions about your specific vehicle type and find a distributor today!
