Red Exhaust

[truckdogg4]

What could cause my headers pipes on my RT to start glowing cherry red?

[bmwmick]

That is NOT unusual if you are running it hard. These bikes have thinwall stainless steel header pipes and they DO get rather hot. Just don't let it sit and idle. This can cause fairing damage from the heat. Start it, ride off gently till you have the oil warmed up.

[DarrylRi]

It's normal. Don't let it sit with the fast idle ("choke") set. Get on it and ride it.

[billpierce]

A plugged up catalytic converter could also cause that. How many miles and is the converter still on the bike?

[truckdogg4]

26,000 on the converter. Maybe I never noticed it because I am not used to seeing someone else ride it and just noticed it when I saw him pull into my garage.

[bikerfish1100]

Cat should still be fine for at least another 50k+ miles, probably lots more than that (my hi mile oilhead is my g/f's '99, with 74k on it, and no sign of trouble yet). sounds like "they all do that"- and you're just seeing it from a different perspective. If you don't like that look- don't loan the bike!

[devauxb]

Kind of purty isn't it? I had that happened to me once and scared the crap out of me. Turns out when I had last cleaned the bike, I accidently had knocked one of the throttle cables out of its 'seat' at the throttle body. As you might imagine, causing quite the out of sync situation. Anyway, a quick pop back in and all was fine.

[jlaban]

Makes me wonder (having just bought a 99 R1100RT) how does it perform in heavy traffic regarding overheating?

John

[JimVonBaden1]

I have never heard of a BMW bike cat converter plugging, no matter the miles.

IF your bike is running well, and you have just been riding normally, it should not be glowing red at idle. The only exception is if you forget to turn off the fast idle lever.

Jim :brow

[wozerd]

I'm betting it's the same "problem" as this R11XX riders
http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22885

I think it's neat!!

Screw all them double wall sissies!

REAL MEN (and WOMEN) have red hot glowing exhaust!!