glowing headers

[dolphaxel]

Alright so I have searched left and right and come up with answers going both ways here. So last night I rolled my bike out into the snow to let it run and warm up as I do monthly in the winter and it was dark outside so easy to notice. I let the bike warm up good for a while with the high idle on. when the bike was sitting there running 2500-300 for a bit the headers got red around the bends. when I let it back down to idle it went away fairly quickly. The bike has ceramic coated headers and a spark exhaust after that. I had this bike tuned this summer and it runs with dual maps one for each cylinder and it runs great since the tune. I watched closely as it was tuned and the AF ratio looked good all across the board. Since the tune it gets better milage, runs smoother, and runs cooler per the gauge. The plugs look great when I pull them too. I also had valves adjusted and new belts installed. I think its fine, but don't want to do something stupid and blow it all to hell. I'm guessing this is normal, but I don't see it during the day and with air flow its better I assume.

the bike is a '03 m800SIE. thanks

[cmejia1978]

Maybe it helps:

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=60932.0

[dolphaxel]

thanks. I did read that already actually I think the major contributors here are that there is no air flow and thin head pipes not to mention all that horse power comes from somewhere right? Just the head pipes on my other bike weigh the same as my whole monster exhaust.

[extra330]

Red header pipes aside, your bike would be happier if you just winterized it & left it plugged in to a battery tender until Spring. Starting up the engine & letting set on high idle until the pipes glow isn't doing it any favors. I doubt you'd ever be able to get the oil hot enough to burn off the moisture that's being sucked into the crankcase without it being ridden under load.

just my two cents  WTF do I know..


Mike

[Howie]

Red header pipes aside, your bike would be happier if you just winterized it & left it plugged in to a battery tender until Spring. Starting up the engine & letting set on high idle until the pipes glow isn't doing it any favors. I doubt you'd ever be able to get the oil hot enough to burn off the moisture that's being sucked into the crankcase without it being ridden under load.

just my two cents  WTF do I know..


Mike

Agreed.  Don't start it unless you plan to ride it.  

[dolphaxel]

I would tend to agree with both of you guys. I did put fuel stabilizer in it. I really need to get a battery tender. Ive been too cheap I suppose. I really need a battery tender that I can hook up to about four batteries with different leads of something or maybe just move somewhere that I can play year around.

[dlearl476]

I really need to get a battery tender. Ive been too cheap I suppose. I really need a battery tender that I can hook up to about four batteries with different leads of something or maybe just move somewhere that I can play year around.

http://www.batterystuff.com/battery-chargers/12-volt/multi-volt-input/BT4b022-0148.html

[metroplex]

It's normal. My 696 headers will glow red if idling and the RPMs are set high for an extended period of time.

[extra330]

It's normal. My 696 headers will glow red if idling and the RPMs are set high for an extended period of time.

Normal does not equal good. I'd change my idling habbits if I were you. 

[metroplex]

Normal does not equal good. I'd change my idling habbits if I were you. 

If the bike is warming up in the garage when it is 30 degrees or so, it will glow red when the fast idle lever keeps the engine RPM at around 2000 RPM. Once the bike is warmed up, I can close that lever and let it idle at 1200 RPM with the headers going back to non-glowing mode. A few revs of the engine and the headers will glow red. It's normal. My exhaust pipes now look purple where they typically glow. This occured when the bike was brand new from the dealer.

There are plenty of videos of new Ducati's showing their glowing exhaust pipes. It should not glow if it is just idling at a low RPM (say, at a stop light).

[ducpainter]

If the bike is warming up in the garage when it is 30 degrees or so, it will glow red when the fast idle lever keeps the engine RPM at around 2000 RPM. Once the bike is warmed up, I can close that lever and let it idle at 1200 RPM with the headers going back to non-glowing mode. A few revs of the engine and the headers will glow red. It's normal. My exhaust pipes now look purple where they typically glow. This occured when the bike was brand new from the dealer.

There are plenty of videos of new Ducati's showing their glowing exhaust pipes. It should not glow if it is just idling at a low RPM (say, at a stop light).

You really don't need to let the bike get up to temp at fast idle.

It should idle at 1200 after about 45 seconds.

You also don't need to allow it to warm up fully at idle.

Just because the oil is not fully up to temp doesn't mean the cylinders aren't overheating.

Let it run until the oil has warmed a bit...maybe a minute...and ride off at moderate revs.

It's your bike though...do it your way.

[dolphaxel]

My attempt here was to just run the bike for a bit, but usually I just let it warm while I put on my jacket and helmet ect. That probably takes a minute then I get on and ride. Just keep the revs reasonable for a few miles. I understand the even cooling/ heating while at speed. Needless to say I got a battery tender and the bike will now just sit winterized through the winter from now on.