Dirt bike header pipe glowing red. Q: Is it normal for my exhaust to glow red after hard riding? May 5, 2025 · Understanding the Problem: What Is a Red-Hot Exhaust? Before diving into the reasons, let’s understand what a red-hot exhaust means for your dirt bike. A richer fuel mixture will make it run cooler but is not necessary. The pipe turned cherry red after a few minutes idling, you could almost see throught the header. Mods are FMF power bomb? header, HMF pipe, K+N with holes in airlid, STG 1 cam, ported head and HC Wiseco piston. Just did the valve clearance check and everything is in spec; weather was about 50*F so ran with choke on for a while (maybe 2 minutes) and looked down at the FMF pipe and it was glowing red at the 1st bend. It's fine and completely normal. However, a glowing header can also indicate some underlying issues. At night it would glow all the way around to the bend in the pipe. Suzuki RMZ250 Honda CRF450R Yamaha YZ250F Kawasaki KLX230R What Causes A Dirt Bike Head Pipe To Glow Red? There are a number of reasons why it's glowing red, and they range from Jul 23, 2008 · My bike was the exact same way. CoKTM Current ride: 2012 KTM 300 XC Previous Rides: 2009 KTM 300 XC 2007 Kawi 450F 3003 KTM 525 MXC First KTM: 1986 KTM 500 MXC (2-stroke monster) Reply Quote Like W Exhaust header pipes getting glowing red hot I recently purchaced this 1985 xv 700 Virago w/40000 miles on it, front - Yamaha 1988 XV 535 Virago DX question Went for a little ride last night - a sloppy muddy wet ride. Common Reasons for a Glowing Red-Hot ATV Exhaust So let’s dive into the potential causes of your glowing ATV exhaust pipes. As it warmed up in the cold air, I noticed the front pipe glowing red, obviously a bad mixture. It starts up great and runs strong. 2002 450FM. However, it’s important to understand why it happens and what steps you need to take to prevent long-term damage to your bike. Jun 13, 2023 · Dirt bikes that most commonly have a glowing red pipe problem Basically any 4 stroke dirt bike can have this issue, but there's certain dirt bike models that have a frequent problem with the exhaust pipe glowing red. I have a 05 crf250x with a 250r cam, boyesen quick shot accelerator pump, and a chm system p4r exhaust with header. When the bike starts it takes it about ten minutes to get warmed up enough to let off of the throttle. As far as glowing head pipes go, some people say it's okay, some people say it means lean, and some people (including me) say it means rich. In my past experiences with cars, when the engine is rich, unburned fuel makes it past the combustion chamber, It pools in the headers, burns, and causes the headers to glow red. 95% of all newer sport quads out there have a single wall header pipe to reduce the amount of retained heat in the header. Just serviced the valves a few days ago If you could heat the two different types of pipes at the same rate, most aftermarket pipes that are worth a damn will glow well before a stocker would. The way the bike was behaving while we were in the traffic at Daytona matches the manual that came with the bike exactly! I have just noticed the header pipes turning red within the past week and only while sitting at idle in my driveway! Hi, I just picked up a 2001 DRZ400e with a Pro Circuit T-4 header and exhaust. If you need choke for more than a minute on a medium temperature day (in stock configuration) you’ve got an issue with fuel. The right side has seemed a little draggy sometimes lately. It also backfired 2s after stopping the engine and now there smoke coming out of the exhaust after 5min with the engine stoped. As we were coming home we noticed my exhaust pipe coming right off the cylinder was glowing red hot. If The TTR250 FAQ web pages -> TTR250 -> Repairs and maintenance -> Exhaust Header Glowing Red Start A New Topic Reply Printer Friendly Post Info TOPIC: Exhaust Header Glowing Red domski1 Senior Member Status: Offline Hello, I took the car for a spin last night and I was adjusting the timming under the hood when I noticed a glow coming from the passengers side of the engine bay area. I have done some research on the cause of the phenom & this is what i have found. I just put a new titanium header pipe on my 05 CRF 450 and after starting it the color turned so red it scared me. Jets are 155/160. I just installed the jets, cam, and had the head Obviously, bike was ridden very little during those years. A typical issue with dirt bikes is red-hot exhaust. It consists of several components, including the header, muffler, and exhaust pipe. So I was on my '12 F on a quick run to store tonight and after a good 8-10min on the road saw that my head pipes right at the crossover was glowing red. My pipe now will glow at idle. Ill say most all 4 strokes when idled will glow red whil sitting still. Why are my exhaust headers glowing red? Our stainless steel wall is only . my old yzf stock header used to glow and my rs3 yosh glows on my drz. . Is that semi normal!? The bike has been running tip top. why in the frick is my pipe getting red hot and shooting flames after 60 seconds or running ? and whats with the back firing ? It does not have O2 sensors from factory only the ones that work with the Twinscan WEGO. If it has a fuel problem wouldnt it lack power? Hey everyone, my boyfriend has a 2011 YZ450F dirt bike, it started running like shit and back firing little and now the pipe glows red after only a minute? What does this mean? Motorcycle Exhaust Glowing Red – Why It Happens & How to Fix It If you’ve noticed your motorcycle exhaust glowing red, don’t panic. These temperatures vary based on riding conditions and engine load. While many consider it normal, if your bike is properly tuned you will not see the red hot glow like most people report. The header on neither on my bikes glows red hot, even at idle. Sep 18, 2025 · Q: How hot does a dirt bike exhaust normally get? A: During normal operation, header pipes reach 1000°F to 1200°F near the engine, mid-pipes average 850°F to 1000°F, and mufflers cool to around 400°F to 500°F. The guy who runs it is a big dirt bike guy, and he told me he'd like to do inconel pipes for dirtbikes, but the investment is so much for the tooling (they actually roll the tubing out of sheet) that he can't afford to take the risk of buying it without really knowing if people will spring for the pipes. All of the other header Just took my dr for a quick spin through the woods, at night and noticed my header glowing red. There is nothing wrong with the motorcycle or the Brock's Performance mapping developed for use with the pipe. Here's a bonus video of a cars exhaust glowing red. Bike runs great. I bought a brand new WR250F about 2 months ago from the dealership. 2. Alot of heat is generated with more moving parts. What is a Dirt Bike Exhaust System? The exhaust system in a dirt bike is responsible for expelling gases produced during combustion. the exhaust pipe was so red-hot, it looked like it was about to turn into a goddamn puddle of molten metal. 2020 KLX230R Pro Circuit full system header glowing red how after idle for not even a minute. Gonna get my hands on a fuel pressure guage like I should have done already. Started it up after I got it all washed up. I have had plenty discolor from heat cycles, specially when fitting aftermarket exhaust systems, but never ever have had them turn red, and it has never done it on any of the 3 Victories I have owned. Glowing red pipes, at idle, is normal, especially on an EFI bike. In most cases, the red glow will be localized around your motorcycle exhaust’s header pipes. Please help? Thanks Some more than others, but if your bike runs smooth all through the range and returns around 45mpg, don't worry. Took the XP out with the girlfriend for 10 minute ride I was following behind her when I saw a red glow coming from the bike turns out the headers or just glowing red does anybody else's do this Why did my exhaust pipe get red hot? The exhaust manifold and turbocharger glowing red just means that they’ve taken in a lot of heat from the exhaust gasses. Some bikes are more prone to it then others, and how hard the bend is off the head is a direct factor. Just did valve inspection. I have a 2001 660 Raptor. The bike is new to me and the pipes are wrapped with exhaust wrap down to the too hot, over 900degrees. This can be attributed to several factors. Hi, When my son starts his bike the exhaust pipe/header(?) immediately becomes extremely hot and within about 60 seconds it is red hot. After a minute or two of idling, I noticed the first 6 inches or so of the header pipe was glowing cherry red. Now, at night time, there is only a faint hint of glow while under load just out of the cylinder head for about two to three inches. See your other thread for my thoughts on your jetting When the engine was changed back to 400 it will run hot until the new parts break in but it shouldn't run hot enough to turn the header pipe red . I took the carb apart and the pilot jet was completely plugged, cleaned it and problem has never resurfaced. Only took off and put on the new pipe. This is not your typical issue of overheating because it Havent gone WOT or reved it up high yet, but still the bike wants to surge around mid RPM and is surprisingly easy to manage on the slow going 1- liners- awesome! Is it normal for my head pipe to be glowing bright red? I never noticed this on anything except maybe a turbo or carbon fiber brake rotors, Could this be a good indication of a lean condition? Similar Topics F Glowing header pipe Fletch1312 Nov 3, 2020 General Moto | Off-Topic Posts Replies 3 Views 2K Apr 26, 2021 Okiewan D 07 CRF 150 R header glowing red after carb being serviced denbsteph Jan 30, 2011 Honda MX & Off-Road Dirt Bikes Replies 18 Views 8K Feb 2, 2011 helio lucas H C Hello, Im new to the board and this is my first post. Yamaha dirt bike with exhaust glowing red. if your header is glowing red your jetting is too lean Not necessarily true, if you let any four stroke sit and idle with no airflow over it, it will glow red regardless of jetting. Anyway, I am going up a hill, doing about 3500k in 2nd, and I happen to look down and the right Just wondering if this is normal - I fired up my bike after a few months of not using it and warmed it up at idle speed. As long as the header isnt glowing further than 4-5" away from the head then its pretty normal. go start a MX bike outside at night and let it idleit will be cherry redsame for alot of 4 stroke vehicles. THe bike is hard to start and will only start when you flood the carburetor. The first day I rode it was during the day and everything seemed to be just fine, second ride was at night and I noticed that my exhaust header starts to glow red. but seeing you have a xr250 i don't have any experiance with that but running at 65mph for a bit i would think it would start to glow. On my s model the pipe backfires off the throttle and starts glowing when I'm cruisin in first through my neighborhood. Technical Discussion - Headers glowing red - Hi! I was wondering if the exhaust headers are supposed to glow red when running the bike. I think aftermarker pipes use thinner material then OEM and that is a reason they are much faster red glowing. It has previously had jet work done and a fmf muffler with stock header. This is a common issue that many riders experience at some point. Every time I put aftermarket headers they glow red very easily even with richer fuel . Lean jetting can make it worse but if it runs good I would ignore the red head pipe. I looked and my back 2 header exhaust pipes (2 only) were glowing red hot, like a red lightbulb. Go back and check your idle / low circuit and make sure all the fuel passageways are clear. All of my exhaust pipes glow orange/red when I ride them hard. Hello All, Not sure if I have a serious problem with the Bike, When starting from cold the exhaust header pipe glows cherry red and then after a minute turns blow torch red, This happens on the curved part of the exhaust header pipe which comes out from the cylinder head, Possible an over rich Is it normal for a bike's exhaust to glow red hot when starting up? Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. And carb clean. ? Is this something I should be worried about? Pipe is glowing red I just bought this pipe used, it’s a 2006 250f pipe, this is just from idling I didn’t rev or ride at all. This is also a cause of people reporting thier bikes boiling over from overheating as well. I added a shim to the needle, backed out the pilot to two turns. Does the bike work good besides the exhaust turning red . Thanks Glowing head pipes is normal on 4 stroke performance dirt bikes. Each part plays a crucial role in ensuring optimal performance and efficiency. I had changed the plugs yesterday and it was already dark when I got to finish the job. because of this we see a glowing red header when our bikes are just idleing or when we are The head pipe is so thin that the heat from the exhaust makes it glow red. With the heat this extreme, this fast, can Next thing I spot the two down pipes at the front of the bike glowing red hot, after only idling for a few minutes :huh: So, she's off to work in the car, upset I just changed my carburetor on my 03 honda rancher es and now my header pipe is glowing red after a few minutes why is this happening i also running 93 gasoline in it that i run in my race dirt bike could that be the problem to running richer gasoline and I also turn the idle screw at the bottom of the carb can this be a problem also Reply Like The glowing red header on a Yamaha or any other dirt bike is not an uncommon sight, especially if the bike is stationary and idling for an extended period. When I run the bike the header turns to a glowing red hot? Ive had many aftermarket exhausts over the years, but hard to believe this is normal? Any adviseA jetting problem? Any advise of help would be great. Many stock exhaust systems have dual-wall designs so you never see the pipe that the exhaust is actually flowing into. And the start of the journey was no exception, but a sort of overall lack luster set in steadily. I am thinking fuel supply problem. Nov 4, 2024 · What causes your motorcycle’s exhaust to glow red and the intensity with which it glows depend on various factors. Is this normal and should I worry about it? I know not to let it idle too long or it will overheat but this is new to me. I havent noticed it doing this before but admittedly it was night I have a 2013 yz250f just pick it couple weeks ago. When metal heats up to high temperatures, it can start glowing red. 028" thick and it is completely normal for the header tubes to glow a dull red in low light with the bike idling. That is where they turn blue over time (from being HOT). The individual selling it started it up with the choke on and let it do it's thing for several minutes, I pushed the choke in and it took about thirty seconds before the bike finally began to idle ( it was acting like the choke was still on). Noticed a funny smell and then noticed the header pipe glowing red. What going on? Thanks for the help. (this topic pops up on many forums, Ducati, BMW, Indian, you name them. Is this supposed to happen? I may have only noticed it now as I'm almost never on my bike at night (kids take up soo much time). When cleaning the carb I glowing headpipes are normal but usually with a aftermarket pipe. The Engine Is Running Too Lean If the bike, for some reason, does not get as much gas as it needs, it will still run, but it will be running too lean. What’s wrong here? Have a 07 kx250f started it up this evening and while it was just sitting within minutes the header pipe was glowing cherry red rode it around for a minute it stopped but letting it sit at idle began glowing again. When your dirt bike is running but stationary, the lack of airflow can cause the exhaust pipe to glow red, indicating excessive heat buildup. I started the bike, got it warmed up and revved it up and down a little, I tried to rev it to My pipe started to glow red after 2min pf idling. D I've noticed that my 98 wide glide feels a little hot on my leg, but when I was riding home at night I looked down and noticed that my rear pipe was glowing bright red hot about four inches down from the exhaust port. Stock. Should I worried? Now it is cold outside and it is currently snowing. It can be disturbing if it's your first time experiencing it and you have no idea why it's happening. I listened to it for about two minutes idling and noticed the header pipe GLOWING RED. realizing there was something seriously wrong with the bike, i shut it off. What could this be causing this? If it was "normal", then there are 1000's of us out here with abnormal bikes because my pipes have NEVER gotten so hot as to glow like that. Today i took the bike to the dealer and got a dyno tune, it runs great but now both pipes glow. What he heck is that all about? Bike runs fine other wise. For dirt bikes, this is usually seen as a red or orange tint on the exhaust pipe. A red header and exhaust popping is a sign of an extreme lean condition. I have read on the forum that bluing or yellowing can be the result of a lean mixture, stuck or burnt valve, etc. this brings us to my first question. 1. I just want to be sure since this is my first bike and I’m doing all of the maintenance Even when the bike is OUT running in the wind, It is not Abnormal to see red glow in the first 2-3 inches of the head pipes at night. This is a pretty normal behavior for combustion engines (both diesel and gas) under high load, especially with turbochargers. Put on my FMF PowerBomb header tonight and started the bike up as it's been sitting all winter from a near complete teardown/rebuild. It is very apparent in the dark. eoulq, rt09f, zbtbf, l1na7, iwof1, y5ldw, jsh2x, q9lh, mzfz, 8v1oi,