BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Have just bought a 2012 R1200RT SE and would like to know if the exhaust pipes are stainless or mild steel?
Would like to set to with some fine steel wool and SolVol to brighten them up a bit? Thanks in advance Mick

They are all stainless but the header pipes always go blue.  The end can in most cases is also chromed.

Thanks for the reply, blue doesn't bother me, but there's some crud on the connector pipe that I want to get off and give the whole of the system a spruce up.

All I've ever used on them is Autosol.  steel wool could damage the surface stainless or not.

Noted thanks

Yes, don't go near stainless steel with steel wool - it'll scratch like bu$*ery! The mechanics at the dealer workshops usually have a few useful 'unofficial' cleaning methods (for sprucing up bikes being put up for sale) up their sleeves, so asking them may be helpful...??

RealOEM lists two Exhaust Manifolds, http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... Id=18_0529

I had a 2007 RT SE with Stainless Steel header pipes & end can, Chrome was an option at the time.

My 2012 RT SE has a full Chrome system, pipes & end can.

Two end cans are also listed, one Chrome & one not, http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... Id=18_0614

falconmick wrote:Have just bought a 2012 R1200RT SE and would like to know if the exhaust pipes are stainless or mild steel?
Would like to set to with some fine steel wool and SolVol to brighten them up a bit?

The exhaust pipes are Chrome plated.

Not having had a Fender Extender fitted from new, the connector pipe was a bit pitted.
Used some 00 Grade Steel Wool & Autosol, ended up with a few light scratches.
As an alternative, a toothbrush or similar works well with Autosol.

Thank you gents, the two photos show how I would like mine to look.

This is what Stainless Steel exhaust pipes look like after & before polishing on a 2007 RT.



SS shines but doesn't have the lustre of Chrome.