XJ CD surprise!

I just got my XJ CD in the mail today and was browsing through the photo section and to my surprise found this!

I can only assume that this was prior to 2003 as that was the last year I had it on the road before I bought my 1200 Bandit.
Man, it looked a lot better then than it does now.

 

LIKE!!!

Man those pegs look comfy!

 

PD13 by any chance? Bike is very pretty too - nicely set up.
Nice elbow BTW

 

Yep, definitely taken at Dover. Like I said, I was surprised to see it as one of the pics on the XJ CD, forgot how nice it used to look. Working on rectifying that problem now. Took the header over to a local chrome shop and was ball parked $350.00 + tax just to re-chrome the header and mid-pipe! 8O
So it looks like either a lot of elbow grease or high heat paint!

 

Maybe get a price for ceramic coating the headers.

 

@ Wiz, yeh it's time to get out the phone book and start putting feelers out on some of the other bike forums I frequent. Someone, some where must know a guy that has a cousin who's buddy has a friend...... :roll:

 

It's up to you but you might want to check with Don at Polished Treasures. He did a fantastic job on a set of 3 expansion chambers for one of my H2s....$450 total price + shipping

jeff

 

I was personally very un-impressed with the cost of the ceramic coatings. My exhaust system would have cost me just short of $500. Got two quotes...It looks good, but doesn't have the visual depth of chrome BUT still looks good.

 

I took a look and I think with shipping etc. I'd still be deep in the pocket.
Thanks anyway.

 

The advantage of ceramic over chrome is heat resistance (no blue headers)
soapy water wash brings them right up, no polishing.
I have never had any signs of rust on the pipes I have done.
It's not cheap but nor is chrome & painted pipes are kack.

 

Graham your header is stainless scotchbrite and some aluminum polish you will look new again. chrome will turn first fire up

 

Hey Dave the header is actually chrome, though from the pics I sent you, you'd think it was stainless (I wish)
So below are a few pictures of my alternative to paying $350 + for re-chroming.
I spent about a half hour so far with an SOS pad, Flitz chrome polish and a Mothers buffing ball attached to my 3/8 drill clamped in a vice.
Granted the mid-pipe didn't get the heat or abuse that the front of the headers did, at least it's given me some hope that they should clean up pretty good with a bit of elbow grease.
I only did half the pipe so that you can kinda get an idea of the before and after results.

 

its shinning up pretty well. Your just going to keep it good and polished after all the scrubbing. Wont take much to rust again