 
| Excerpt from: Motorcycle Addict
|  | | November 10, 2008 | | Thermo Tec Heat Wrap for the Exhaust | Victory Vision owners, like most big American V-twin owners, are well aware of the amount of heat that these bikes put out. Particularly in the summer, this can be a real bother.
In addition, the location of the rear cylinder exhaust pipe on the Vision is just behind the rider's leg. For me, at least, this means toasting my Kevlar riding gear. As a motorcycle lawyer, this is more of a problem than it sounds, because I need to appear in a suit. Wearing jeans on the bike means being able to change. Wearing a Motorport Ultra II means leaving the riding gear with the bike, and looking ready to go as I walk away.
The Vision simply won't work for me with this gear, because sooner or later the exhaust pipe cooks the riding gear.
This weekend I think I solved the problem, with the side benefit of a huge reduction in heat.
I bought a role of Thermo-Tec heat wrap, in black, with their attachment bands, and protective spray. It made a great half hour or less morning project.
FIrst, you remove the heat shields from the front part of the exhaust. (you can do the whole exhaust, but I didn't see any reason to go this far). If you haven't had these off, each shield is held on by a regular hose clamp. You should be able to see these, or at least easily find them. Undo the clamps all the way, and work the heat shields loose.
I forgot to wet the Thermo Tec, but this is part of the deal. Then simply wrap the exhaust, pulling tightly. When you have it in place, put the bands on, pull like heck to make them tight, and cut them off. I simply bent them back and forth until the ends broke off, which made a very neat job, ending as close as possible to the attachment part of the band.
At this point, the exhaust looks very cool and custom, and I absolutely would not have put the shields back on, except that the look was very different from the rest of the bike. And of course, I was trying to reduce the heat as much as possible. The shields went back on as easily as if I had done nothing.
The one shocker was that when I next rode the bike, I stopped at a stop sign, and it looked like my exhaust was on fire. Lots of smoke from the heat wrap, and stinky as well. Five minutes of riding, and this problem is pretty much over.
I have no temperature measurement, but I am certain the heat from that pipe is cut in half, or better. I was able to briefly touch the pipe within minutes of stopping after a half hour ride. I haven't put the Kevlar on the pipe yet, but I certainly would not expect a casual touch to do any damage. I doubt it will be necessary to do so, but if I have to do anything more, I will fit a small protective piece to keep the Kevlar off the pipe.
The only possible downside is that, if I trapped too much heat, it could damage the pipe. I doubt it, but we'll see. The Thermo-Tec is supposed to handle this issue.
All in all, a great improvement, and one I highly recommend.
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