In reviewing posted pics on the forum, I've noticed that several of you have "de-chromed" your header in favor of (usually black) paint or powder coating.  Considering the sorry cosmetic shape that my header is in at present, I've been thinking of stripping what's left of the chrome on the pipe and doing something similar the next time I have an excuse to remove the exhaust.

Hence I pose the questions to the group:  what have you all used in the way of paint or coating for your header?  Has anyone done the job themselves (say, with some hi-temp primer and rattlecan engine block paint), or is this work better left to a professional if I want decent results?  Thoughts, opinions, suggestions?

When I bought my Savage the previous owner did the black exhaust thing.  I hated it hehe.  I took an orbital sander and sanded it off.  It might not be chrome but it doesnt have a scratched pattern either.  I think it looks better.  When my pipe blues ot turns gold which I like.

I use DEI high temperature silicone paint on headers.  Have it on my car headers and my motorcycle pipe (I'm using a dull aluminum but they also have a black paint).  It is supposed to be good to 1500degrees Fahrenheit and you need to heat it to 400 degrees for it to cure.

You can't beat a deal like that.

Well I guess I have to put a few words in here as well since I just got done doing this to the header pipe on my fathers savage.

I went down to Autozone and picked up a can of VHT (a PJI product) very high temprature - flameproof - 1300° to 2000° (704° - 1093°C) Header Paint. It also says Silica - Ceramic coating.

His header was rusty and had turned many different colors besides the normal purple or gold. We wire brushed the header pipe down and then lightly sanded it with (I believe) 220 grit sand paper to just clean the surface. It painted really easy and I had no runs with it.

They give two curing methods - the first is to bake it in an oven, so we didn't go with that one.

The second method is with the pipe back on the bike. Run at idle for 10 minutes and then let cool for 20 minutes. Run at idle for 20 minutes and then let cool for another 20 minutes. Then take it out for a 30 minute ride and it is done. (they say the finish is not chemical resistant until cured, so this is important).

So far I am very satisfied with it and from reading online about this paint it was originally made for NASA for use on the space shuttles. If that's the case I would think my header pipe is bit cooler then the space shuttle

Of course your mileage might vary 8)

so does painting the header and muffler stop the bluing from showing up? on my truck i have a ceramic coated header and it greyed a little; is this the same as the painted method for the cycle header?

I did the same thing though not as well.  I just wire-wheeled it and wiped it down, then I sprayed it.  I waited 24 hours, then mounted it and ran it a while to heat it up per the directions.  For the most part, it's holding up well.  In a couple of small spots it has chipped off.  I am considering having it ceramic coated.  I'm not sure conventional powder-coating is up to the heat requirements.

The BBQ paint works fine, just rough up the header first with some fine sand paper. The first time you fire up the bike do it outdoors, the paint will let off some nasty fumes till it gets hot. Painted a wood burning stove once with BBQ paint and almost gassed myself.