Delboy's Garage, Harley Sportster Iron, Carbon Exhaust Wrap. 

My exhaust wrap arrived today Del and I had no trouble in going to my favourite RU-vid'r for help as always 😀

Probably one of the best pipe wrapping videos I have seen' I am actually undertaking this job as soon as I finish posting this! Thanks for the detailed video, and ride safe!

done a nice job of that Del, probably the best wrap job ive seen in fact, very tidy,

Ya I think those wraps look so much better then the shields! Great job wraping them! I've used them before and they smoked like crazy too untill they cured but I installed mine dry, I didn't think to wet them! Good one.

Nice job ... you put thoughts and time in the project!

Hello @DelboysGarage Its bn awhile. I'm happy to see how much your channel has grown. You and Your Wife do such Wonderful things for the Motorcycle Community I miss seeing your Videos. I appreciate what ypu both do. Thanks My Friends.

Thank you most kindly, you are very generous.. we always excell at the things we love i guess, i ran a bike shop for a living for ten years, and it was the worst job i ever had..nothing is worse than deadlines and having to do a job quickly and bodge it because the customer is champing for it back....i guess if something is a fun hobby, you take the time to get better at it.. thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.. ride safe.. Del.

@Rasd4Metta Yeah, i think everybody prefered the heat wrap, and it was amasing how much it stretched when it was wet, and once it dried and shrunk on, it was rock hard like it had been epoxy coated.. also it works as a heat shiled too, you can pretty much hold the header pipe while its running...

Nice catch with the wrapping direction.

@terroristone Thanks mate, that's praise indeed coming from you with your experience. I know i could do it better now, its a learning curve, getting neatly past the obsticles like clamps and brackets is a challenge, and that carbon wrap seemed to twist and pucker up like it had been snagged, may take it off and do them again once the rest is finished. .Mate of mine rolled his back wheel over the wrap, then 'wound' the pipe towards it, leaning back to keep it really tight. Thanks again chap, Del.

Very nice job bro, as always. And i like the bird singing wile you work. :)

Just wrapped the headers on my V&H big rad 2-1 with some bronze coloured wrap. Thanks for the great tips here. I did the job in less than 2 hours and it looks great. Mine is a 2011 Fat Bob that I'm turning into an old school look bobber. Might post a vid one day.

They have been filmed over a length of time, i had the harley Iron unitl last August, then had to sell it to support the family... i now have the bandit 1200, but time will pass and ill get another Harley.... thanks for watching.. Del.

Hi Tom...what your dealer was referring to was the practice of fitting BOTH the open filter and pipes, this makes the bike run lean and overheat...that will be what damaged his engine...and its why you MUST fit a fuel manager of some kind to enrich the mixture and cool it back down...but 'back half silencers' only are fine if you leave the factory air box and header pipes with O2 sensors in place....and yes, you can get baffles for the V & H short shots. good luck with it mate.. cheers, Del.

Thanks for getting back to me, sounds like did a good job then ;)

Great video and very informative.

@terroristone Thanks for your kind comments buddy, you're very kind. Im just loading up the first of a multiparter on fabricating a side mount number plate bracket. with my rubbish upload speed of about 1 snail mile an hour, it takes 4 hours to load a19 minute video, but hey ho. Hope you like it.... thanks again for your kind support. Del.

Hi James, I did replace the Iron with a Suzuki Bandit 1200 which is now a 'Rat & Survival' on-going project and recently bought a Hayabusa, I will be buying another Harley in the future some day...thanks for your kind comment, the air cleaner wasn't purchased... I made it myself, it was fabricated from scratch using sheet metal,so it's complete one-off, I did make a series of videos, if you were interested in watching them I can send you a link, thanks for watching,take care,Del

Thanks del. I appreciate the fast response. I will try eBay. I called my local harley shop and they wanted 77 for a simple black wrap. I want to take my 03 blue sportster from a chrome to a darker look. Love your videos brother.

Hi mate, you hit the nail there....you dont have to soak it if you dont want to but it stretches better if you do then becomes tighter once its dried out... The cotton product you soak so it shinks on as it dries..but this stuff hardly shrinks at all.....however, it also wraps better and stays where you put it when its wet, less likely to drop loose if you dont hold it really tight while you clip it...

I like that you went from the back to the front thus leaving the uncovered edge towards the back and not towards the front where it would collect dirt, rain etc.... I've seen other vids of this same procedure and they are always starting at the head and working towards the end of the pipe.

I just did my pipes as you might know. And they look great and cuts down the heat a lot. Like you said it was easy to do pulled pipes off wrapped them and got them back on in 2 hours. Mind you they did smoke a bit at first but that went away soon after. Just remembered I use wire to hold down the wrap mush easier them the straps.

I know, it is a rather acquired taste...but if they are done neat and well like this then they can look quit good...but once they get dirty or ragged, they must be redone....thanks for watching matey... Del.

Hi buddy, thanks for your kind comments, with your bolts, do you mean the head colar bolts on the motor?.. if so, i can see they look quite covered in there, specially the back one. i use a small 1/4 drive socket on a long extension, then a ratchet....it goes in by putting the socket one the bolt head first, then feeding the extension in after...if you have a picture, closup, or a short video, i can see if there is some way i can help because ive never seen those close up hope that helps, Del.

I was just considering wrapping my pipes. Nice.

Another great video dude... I need to get you a "how to" spot on the website I write for. Keep the videos coming.

If you fitting V& H short shots you'll need the ones with the 02 sensor holes, simply screw them in and plug in the wires, if you have a free flow air filter fitted too then you'll need a fueler to re-map... hope that helps, thanks for subbing, Cheers Del

Good look this. My XLH has the connecting pipe between both pipes so think it look a bit naff ? More difficult to pull off .

like the #1 on the engine. good stuff. Excellent point on the wrap and which way to go. v that sporters come with the muffler shields? been riding my 2015 750 water cooled harley... oh my its so quiet...... made into a minnie cruiser.....seems to fit me. over 500 riding miles on her now.

Why thank you sir, you are most welcome, just spreading a few tips to help me fellow bikers...

@DHRC18 Justr a little suggection Doug... have a look at the small triangular single bags you can buy, they go on the left only, attatch down low by the swing arm and look a lot more "bobber" than the regular saddle bag look.. and why not go with the carbon tape first, and if you dont like the colour, just paint it with a brush and black manifild heat paint..(you dab it on and it soaks in, looks fine and the same as the black tape... that way you get both options.. ride safe buddy.... Del.

Also Tom....a simple pair of V&H short shots DONT COST £450...go to Alistair at "V-Twin Mania" and the last set we got for Penny's bike cost £280 posted....just bolt them on, Job done.....Bloody dealers aye, gotta love their neck.!

Hi buddy, No is never had to paint them, even after a whole winter, that particular wrap is like a silk materiel, and once it got really mucky i just washed it off with the rest of the bike, so never felt the need to paint them...they stayed fresh looking for at least 5k miles.

Ah don't worry about it mate, thanks for the advice! It was fairly abused before I got it, and I left it a little bit too long de-rusting the pipes... Looks like I'm having a £250 for a new downpipe and muffler haha.

Great as always! Del, I have a quick question about exhaust. I just changed out my '15 Iron to Screaming Eagle high flow AC and VH Straight Shots. Obviously, I need to have it remapped. Any advice on specifics when taking it to the dealer for the remap?

@oOoJanJanoOo Hi janjan, thanks for your kind comments, its great to have support from north of the border..lol.. i got the carbon hear wrap from "Matt Lewis Racing" cant post links here, so just google them, they have a huge eBay store you can buy online.. You can save a fare bit by buying from car performance suppliers if what you need it not "bike specific".. good luck, and ride safe hun..x Del.

I cant really help you decide buddy, those are all good options, its just a matter of what you like the best and what you can afford...a set of Thunder headers are a lot more money that a pair for short shots....maybe envisage the eventual image of the bike you want and go with the parts that give you that..?... hope that helps mate... good luck, Del.

Hi Stuart. this would b the very last thing i would do to a rusted exhaust mate.. the wrap holds water and stays wet if the bike is not run, (so if it rains on the bike when parked up) then the water is being held against the rust making it eat the steel even more...my pipes are stainless steel and wont rust, but if your pipe is rusted already, then the inevitable end is that you will have to replace it. if you just wrap it,it will rot out even faster.. sorry to be the bearer of bad news mate.

ha ha, well done Ryan, forgot to mention that its best to let them 'cook off' before you ride anywhere...lol.

@DHRC18 Hi mate, can be confusing that one... right.. To 'setting' you refer to is called the "Preload".. the little stepped collar effectively 'preloads' the spring with permanent tension, making it harder, so to twist off all the preload down the the lowest 'setting relaxes the pring making it ride softer.. this ALSO serves to adjust the height between fender and tyre AS THE BIKE RIDES ALONG.. so thats called the "ride height".. ill send you a PM to explain how to set it perfectly for you...

You're more than welcome buddy, just get back to me when you can, happy to help..Del.

del i found your videos extremely helpfull im learning alot quick question im planning on putting some short shot drag exhausts on my iron 2010 what do you think will that work fine and easy to install? thanks.

Thank you for sharing your work. How did you like your Le Pera Bones Solo seat?

Hel Del. You videos are great! They are very helpful and I am sure I will be putting them to use in the near future. I am planning on doing a wrap for my 48. What size jubilee clips did you use? Thanks!

Nice wrapping. The stainless ties don't need help from the worm clamps. Specially if you use a tie gun. But great job winding the tape very neat. Joe

hey bud, yet again another great job just acouple questions. Im thinking of wrapping my 48 pipes, I have American custom pipes well technically they are my stock with the baffles out, bike doesn't seem to be running lean right now but reading up on these wraps it says that it may cause to run lean is it true or they just tring to get me to buy more mods? and also they say at certain times like when they get wet they smell. true/false? if true how bad is it worth doing to smell ass while riding?

@Stogie7884 Hey thanks Jason, you're very kind, its just the things we can all do to save a few quid and have the pride in doing things for yourself... take care. Del.

Exactly, and ive even seen major league bike videos advocating wrapping the wrong way...cant understand it...its just common sense surely..Thanks for watching buddy, good luck, Del.

@DHRC18 The short reply.... NO.. i experienced no decernable change in the bike what so ever... i can see the point that is made there.. but on a hot day the bike will run way hotter than on a cold day in the snow, and thats all accounted for in the fuel map of the ECU... thats the beauty of fuel injection, it is to some small extent self rectifying in terms of mixture and fuel ratios... (thats what your O2 sensors are for)... and also why you can run a "dry" nitrous system with fuel injection

Hi del...i got my versys 650 and feel a little bit hot on lower leg....For your information, i still use the standard factory exhaust and i already wrap the header part exhaust...Does the exhaust valve will be affected as the heat inside the header part increased as we wrapped it?....And does the wrap damage the catalytic converter on my standard exhaust as the heat from the header increased....Now, i'm in yes or no decision to stay put my wrap on the header exhaust as i will make a long distance journey on my motorcycle a week from now...For your information, the wrap help a lot to make my lower leg from burning sensation as the heat decreased.... p/s: i ride a lot with 3 quarter pants when made a short distance ride

@landellsjhw thanks john, I'll have you a beer waitin' !

Hi Del. I have just wrapped my exhaust today on my 48 in a fiver glass wrap. I wetted it and got it on fine. Started it up and of course is steamed but then it the wrapped started to smoke. Is that it curing? I could not stay in the shed there was so much.

Hi Delboy! In recent days I was thinking about bandaging my Vance and Hines 2 into 1 exhaust. I was researching and read numerous conflicting opinions. I'll start by saying that I would do it for a simple aesthetic result as my exhaust is a little discolored with age. I have read that this practice can cause the engine to overheat too much and cause false results from the exhaust probes. can you give me an opinion?

No, i left them natural mate, the heat and weather made them look a lot better by the time i sold it.. !

Hi mate, after looking around zee interwebs for info on exhaust wrap, i have found the ONE big drawback with this stuff is 99% of the people selling it say not to paint it, as the paint tends to flake off because its non-absorbing unlike the fiberglass wrap. And mine have to be black so going with the glass ones and going to bury it in VHT black to give it a bit of protection :)

Exactly that mate, its not your bike.....nothing that can be removed and returned to standard can "ruin" a bike...only permanently cutting or changing a thing could be said to ruin it....but again, only as a matter of opinion.... thanks for watchin all the same... cheers Del.

Hey Del.....thank you for the videos, they are so easy to follow and you explain everything so well. Question for you as I want to wrap mine real bad ....everything I read on the net is that this deteriorates the pipes and they crack or crumble......have you had that issue? I find it hard to believe.

Hi mate, i hear this "you need to" from dealers over and over, so to be clear..for a full "stage one tune". fit straight through mufflers, open air filter, (many available), and fuel pack, SE Pro-Tuner etc to enrich the fuel mixture beyond where the factory ECU is able..but if you just want it louder you dont need all that, you can just change the mufflers only and run the bike otherwise completely as it came..it wont be "stage one tuned" just a lot louder and a very tiny bit freer running...Del

im getting an iron in a month but a cant decide on the pipes or air intake? short shots or 2in1 thunder headers? heavy breather or stock? need some help on deciding thank you

What oh D&P! I'm planning on doing this to my bike Del, did I hear you right in hearing that you just do the exhaust bolts up wrist tight with a socket? Would it be worth sticking some locktite on them because of all the vibrations? Cheers in advance mate!

I know this vid is a bit old but was wondering how you feel about wrapping the pipes while still on the bike? I have a 2016 48 with the crossover pipe welded from front to rear header so there is one more obstacle to work around if I wrap the stock headers. Even if I take the full system off to wrap them I will still have to wrap around that. Thoughts?

hi, great job, just one question, when you've fixed back the exhaust on the cyl head did you changed the gasket or you kept the old one?

Del, i have a 2011 Iron 883. question is can i replace my exhaust with straight pipes (no baffles or mufflers) and remove the O2 sensors without remapping?

Nice video. I'm hoping you got another bike after selling your Iron? Anyway, I was wondering about that air cleaner. I like how it looks stock. What was it? And where did you purchase it?

@DHRC18 Hey you're welsome buddy, get the greeny grey shiney carbon stuff, its looks gold when its dry and kahki when its wet, plus it doesnt show the dirt either... careful pulling it too as it gets all buckled and puckered real easy. and by the way, thats a very kewl Nightster you have there.. lets have a video of you fitting it too.... ride safe and keep smilin'.. Del.

thank you thank you for clarifying wrapping from back to front. I thought it was weird with all these videos wrapping from front to back. It's like doing a roof; you don't put the tiles on from top to bottom.

Thanks Delboy, I was hoping that was the case. The dealer told me one horror story of a guy who went touring in France and didnt get the full "stage one tune" and he ended up with a engine re build as he goosed up his cylinders? You mentioned about the new V & H short shots being loader. Would it be OK to fit them with Baffles? Thanks Tom

any long term thought about them? did you keep theme in the long run did they last ? im looking to do the same to my bike!

i like your bike, i like your style. i see you have different videos about different bikes. are all the bikes yours? en wich do you like the most?

Hi mate...i get a lot of requests, and i say every time, we aren't a commercial information channel, we only load up and share the things we have course to do at home here.....also i dont have a Harley with a carb, and in fact dont have a bike that needs re-jetting at all....so sorry to disappoint you, but i cant get to every subject we are asked for without a bike to perform it on....good luck, and thanks for your faith.. Del.

your video was very informative and clever , thank you

Hallo mate. Have you got any advice on exhaust sistem updates? I've put short sots V&H. Do i really need to have a fuel pack? Or can I run it as it is?

Great vid. What pipes? Slip-ons, new pipes? What kind? Thanks again

Sorry to bring up an old vid, but have you had to paint them yet? How long did the wrap last before having to do so? Any follow up info is much appreciated. I like the hiding of the stainless ties BTW, very sneaky! :)

hi. just wondering if you could point me in the direction in where to purchase these same wraps. if you could let me know that would be great. these wraps came out great by the way!

Hey. Is there anyway you can talk about backpressures and exhaust? Also i really need to rejet a bike and have absolutely no idea how to. I'm having a lot of my friends subscribe to you because of how detailed and informative your howto videos are. If you can make a rejet video it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Hi Del! Great videos they are area great help, I've been looking for wraps and can't see much for under £60 !? Where abouts did you get your wraps from if you can remember?

Hi Delboy, love all your videos. Especially interested in now fancy the black Vance and Hines short shots but bit confused. I thought I could just buy the new exhausts and fit them but I've been told by my local Harley dealer I also need a Fuel pack and a new air filter system. So something that I thought cost around £450 it seems will be more like £1200 with fitting. Please help. Can you make it any clearer and more Importantly cheaper. Thanks Tom.

Where did you purchase the wrap from? Can't seem to find any in that colour. Thanls

Hi Del Just wrapped my pipes but people saying I should not wrap all the way to the header as will crack the pipes as they get too hot...not sure how true this is but see both sides to this...your thoughts?

How has the wrap been since you put it on. I friend has had a bad experience with exhaust wrap and he said I should just paint them?

You did a great job as well, so many videos on here where the wrap is sloppy

Looks like snake skin, cool!

Is it better taking the exhaust off? Mine is a bit rusty and im worried the bolts could snap. I have exhausts on both sides not very long on the vixen. Do you think I would be better trying with them on? Cheers

Great color , just change the color of the seat same color

Hi Del. Iv heard on forums that wrap when wet, destroys the pipes underneath and within a year their pipes have cracked. Is this true? What about if when they are wet, you just keep the engine running until dry. You reckon that would fix the problem? Cheers Tony.

will the wrap make a air cooled single overheat quicker

Del, Did you ever get around to painting these?

love you honesty ,, i dont really love the color,,

Hi buddy,I always like to chuckle when I read the scare mongering bullshit designed to make you buy upgrades! Wrapping your header pipes is perfectly ok & will cause no ill effects to a healthy bike. I suppose being really picky you could say that wrapping exhausts leads to higher exhaust temps., which could affect fueling, but fuel maps are marginally self adjusting,certainly enough to cope with wrapping..they'll only smell if something's burning on them,like a plastic bag or some shit!

Im not a fan of wrapped exausts but got to say that they look quite good

does the exhaust remain in the same condition after removal of the wrap or does it rust or something?

@kennroxx Not so sure i agree on the contrived aging thing, thats a bit naff to me, they will age and weather by themselves, then thats cool, but to pre-distress them is fake, dont worry chap, they get ridden i all weathers and will get tatty soon enough, with the "Im the one" covers, i totally agree, they are pants, i'll be making a replacement for the points cover, maybe from Brass or copper, but the clutch cover is a 'buy only item'. ill find a std one then be selling that... Cheers, Del.

They look the mutt's mate......WAY better than the Harley 'pic 'n' mix' parts :D Ever more tempting me over to the dark side. haha ;P

The color is supposed to be Titanium im reckoning, if not then you're in some Barney, Barney Rubble, you know Trouble

glad you had a laugh 1 more question and I apologize for not having all question in 1. Is this TITANIUM WRAP? if so the descriptions say not to use water/soak it. Or is it a marketing ploy to get lazy people to buy it. (you don't have to soak but it will be better if you do) isn't a good marketing ploy. thanx again and sorry

Hi I just did mine today. I’m on Facebook in a group called ccw tha riders

Just don't use bare hands if the wrap is made of fiber glass.

Ignorant here. I never knew the purpose of the wrap and always thought it look awful but seen many do it. What is it for. Seen one poster about heat. Is that all it is?

Why you call the guy a learner ? in fact he ís a great teacher and you can learn from him a lot .