IslandRoad wrote on 03/08/18 at 23:26:49:Eau, was the thermometer sitting on the heat wrap, or do you have a little bit of exposed pipe up there?
IR, It's a IR thermometer non contact. I aimed at what would be the hottest part of the bike that you can get to. Combustion temp is over 750ºC and it does not seem to get more than 200ºC at the hottest part of the exhaust on a hot day. I've aimed the thermometer into the engine through the oil fill plug and it's about 100C.
Let's be honest it's just about looks and I can't see that any increase in temperature results. It may even help heat to radiate away judging from some charts I was looking at recently which I can't find. But it's surprising to see that a black object gets rid of heat better than a shiny metal.
I've heard reservations about damaging the pipe but I can't see why it would unless you leave your bike in the rain. Put some on IR, you know you want to... ;¬)
I've got the heat shield off but I might get it black chromed and put it back, there's a bit of burned rubber on it. But I don't really mind that.