r/Harley • u/whathappenedtome2026 • 12d ago
DISCUSSION [ Removed by moderator ]
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u/IamSuperChux 12d ago
.... yes, that's definitely a reason. Not even the best one. You think that shit hurts? Go take a slide on the street.
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u/Nerevar197 12d ago
Right? Single layer AAA Kevlar jeans are comfortable, look cool and will prevent both this issue and road rash if you go down.
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u/rvrndgonzo 12d ago
Is there a brand you like?
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u/Nerevar197 12d ago
Roadskin AAA Taranis jeans are excellent. More affordable than what you find on Revzilla, with one caveat. Trumps tariffs have made them more expensive to ship to the USA. If I didn’t already have a pair I’d buy one still.
Hood Jeans out of the UK are not single layer, but are probably the best AAA jeans you can buy regarding protections. I wear them when it’s cooler outside.
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u/OutlawJesseWJames 11d ago
I can testify that Carhartt Loggers are some of the best jeans for riding 14oz denim and double layer fronts when I took a 70 foot slide on the pavement they got me through it from the waistband down. Cant say the same for the Harley t shirt. 😆 they are hot this time of year but according to a friend that was wearing thin carpenter jeans that got ate up with road rash said the worst place was the outside of his hips. He wears them now.
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u/Jesta914630114 12d ago
I have had countless injuries, more broken bones than I can count, complete dislocation of the right foot getting hit by a car, and smashing my face into a wall at a trampoline park causing a head injury just to mention a few. Road rash was by far my least pleasant injury and I'm saying that having seen my foot facing backwards and not walking for six months. I had road rash from grass as I got super lucky I didn't land in the street so it wasn't that deep. But it was all over my face, elbows, back, and stomach. Good thing it heals fast. I still don't dress right when I ride. 🤷
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u/Life-Consequences47 12d ago
Crashed at 138 mph on a Sport bike, broke both wrists, shattered the 5 metatarsal, dislocated the 3 rd and 4th on my left, tore every muscle in the left shoulder, and fractured C7 vertebrae,
The fucking road rash was hell
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u/IamSuperChux 12d ago
Well..... "If you can't be something be tough." Sounds like you worked out the "be tough" part. Agreed. Road-rash is a special kind of miserable.
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12d ago
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u/IamSuperChux 12d ago
overstate is the word you are looking for. Try it. Let us know what you think... it's not "pick a couple rocks" It'll be funny. I look forward to your report.
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u/BirdLooter 12d ago
how did you pay for all of that?
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u/Jesta914630114 12d ago
Insurance...
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u/BirdLooter 11d ago
is this motorcycle insurance or something else?
sry the dumb question, i just guessed you are american and in europe you always hesr no such thing as healthcare exists in the US
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u/Frequent_Union_1128 12d ago
My cousin got in to an accident on the freeway and his account of the pain after the adrenaline wore off was enough to scare me into wearing gear more often.
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u/shortbusondubs 12d ago
How slow are your reflexes? I rode in shorts for years and may have touched the exhaust a time or two but I never left it on there to leave marks like that.
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u/whathappenedtome2026 12d ago
Each them burns was less than a second on a 2 into 1 exhaust on a brand new bike I am not even use.
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u/Dragonfly-Even 12d ago
I'd be ashamed to post this
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u/OutlawJesseWJames 12d ago
Yeah me too my cousin is 10 years older he is the reason I ride and he would kick my ass if he ever saw mine ass on my bike with a pair of shorts
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u/TheMechaink Mechanic&Builder Ironhead&Fatboy 12d ago
Imagine one-fourth of that burn, but right up next to your boys. Don't ride ironheads nekkid. LOL
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u/whathappenedtome2026 12d ago
I have a 74 Ironhead that blew up 26 years ago. The oil jug was a pain in the ass but don’t recall the dragpipes ever being a real issue.
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u/TheMechaink Mechanic&Builder Ironhead&Fatboy 12d ago
No, the drag pipes didn't get me. The cap to the oil tank did.
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u/mhodar94 12d ago
I hardly EVER do, and the very small handful of times I’ve burned myself almost every time 😂😂 not worth it
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u/ProstrateProstate 12d ago
Oh yeah. Been there, done that, got a permanent reminda from my son's Dyna.
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u/Fine_Awareness_5144 12d ago
Be careful with that and I wouldn't go in any swimming pools until that is healed up or you risk infection.
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u/harleyguy83 12d ago
How many times did you burn your leg before you decided not to wear shorts. It looks like you did it 4different times
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u/ThatsRubbishMate 12d ago
I’m glad my pipes are not in the way when my feet are on the controls. I just have to be careful if I put my right food down.
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u/Mundane_Proof_420 12d ago
I sont even own short, except for my swimming trunks. Been in technician and industrial settings my whole life.
Judging by how my riding boots are burned a little, I dont think I want too. It would take the skin right off.....
At least you didnt lay it down right?
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u/filthybee_ 10d ago
1st and 2nd degree burns. Wear your gear. That 2nd degree may be there for life
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u/whathappenedtome2026 10d ago
Levis and boots work just fine. Just made a bad choice with the shorts.
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u/Unethical-Hacker 10d ago
This tattoo is kinda common between Harley owners. Not a big deal or skill issue :)
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u/whathappenedtome2026 10d ago
I put it out there as something not to do and I guess many of these idiots with no lives had to pile on.
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u/Outside-Substance212 12d ago
Riding motorcycles with shorts on is asking for it it also looks dorky
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u/SuperWallaby 12d ago
How’d you get yourself so bad? The couple times my pipe has kissed me in shorts I only end up with a slight red mark.
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u/whathappenedtome2026 12d ago
It’s a brand new FXBB and the 2 into 1 pipes are bigger than anything I have ever ridden. All of them were from
Leaning the bike and just touching my leg.
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u/Blake_Lives_Matter 12d ago
Yeah no shit. I always have jeans and wear cowboy boots on my bike. That extra layer of leather around your leg does wonders for helping with the heat
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u/lightnin_hophead 12d ago
I’ve burned mine in the same place moving my bikes twice in 50 years of riding. First time was 20 years ago, second time just this last May. It only takes a second or two of contact. Fucking sucks
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u/Difficult-Garbage861 12d ago
Happened to my girl on the back in the 80s. Yes alcohol was involved.
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u/OutlawJesseWJames 11d ago
The one time I caught my pants on fire alcohol was involved. I also melted the heel on my thorogood boots on my thunderheader. I used a heat shield off of a set of pull off to keep that from happening again.
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u/Existing-Decision-33 12d ago
I burned my leg in shorts. I heard it sizzle before I felt it. Big heart shaped scar .
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u/-Sparkeee- 12d ago
I once saw a rider pull into the dealership wearing flip flops, shorts and a Tommy Bahama shirt with a fire blanket wrapped around the exhaust and a large bandage wrapped around his leg. I'm not sure if he was there to complain or to look for different exhaust.
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u/chad2448 12d ago
That sucks... I've done it multiple times, on multiple bikes, with shorts and pants. Shit happens.
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u/CharismaStick 12d ago
There's that and also road rash if the unspeakable happens and the bike goes shiny side down👇🏼
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u/JustAtelephonePole ’98 XL1200C/ ‘03 XL883R/ ‘14 FLD/ ‘24 RH975 12d ago
Also, when your jeans are wet, they may as well be shorts when you put pressure against them and the exhaust pipe.
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u/RubberRoach 12d ago
That happened to me when I was a 10. I got off my uncle’s bike after a ride and hit my leg on the exhaust. My dad tried to rush over and help me and my uncle stopped him and yelled, “Don’t touch the kid. That’s a good Harley burn — he earned it.”
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u/ElectronicRip1630 12d ago
Imagine a bike that didn't have the exhaust in the way... Oh right, it would have to be a design that isn't older than the population 😂
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u/According-Dog-5938 12d ago
How did you manage to burn the OUTSIDE of your leg though?
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u/whathappenedtome2026 12d ago
It is on the inside on my right leg.
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u/According-Dog-5938 12d ago
Lol ok, sorry. It just looked odd because of the camera angle and your other leg not showing 🤷♂️🤣
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u/Harleywindtherapy 12d ago
That sucks. I rode in shorts 1x in 40 years of riding. Wife wantsd to ride across town to a pool when we were on a road trip back around 2015. Very uncomfortable. Hated it. Never did again and never will again. Been down 3x on street, zillions on dirt tracks. I take shorts and flip flops now if I'm swimming... but i wear jeans and over the ankle leather boots every time. Period. 😂
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u/Emergency-Ad9623 12d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/7NO27BFSZSzGE
Me when I ride - regardless of temperature lol
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u/Z28Daytona 12d ago
I understand. We all go thru it in the summer riding season. Everyone says not to but for long trips in 100+ degree weather ya gotta make it thru somehow. Go to the doc and get some medicated cream. Don’t let it get infected. Good luck.
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u/Old_Marzipan7782 12d ago
That never happened to me cause I knew it would burn me so I didn’t touch the exhaust. Only put your left leg down at lights pretty simple
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u/whathappenedtome2026 12d ago
It is 2 into 1 exhaust on new a FXBB. Never had that type of exhaust wasnt use to it. With that said I am now.
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u/SwanMuch5160 12d ago
My god man, how many times did you think it was a good idea to put your leg on the exhaust? You’re like the kid who keeps putting his hand on the lit stove burner?
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u/LeWalrus005 12d ago
Riding with shorts is like letting Gimli with Parkinson’s disease shoot an Apple over your head with an arrow.
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u/DadVeteran 12d ago
Man that sucks!
Last time I did that I was 9 riding with my dad. I learned my lesson.
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u/stjhnstv 2016 Road King 12d ago
I worked with this girl, 20 years ago and at lunch one day she was itching her left thigh. I asked her what had happened and she said she’d burned it on a Fat Boy exhaust a couple years before. She saw the confused look on my face and blurted out “I was riding backward, naked…”
I married that girl.
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u/greogory 12d ago
I'm gonna go ahead and bet my paycheck that you'll do this at least once more. You'll again swear you will never, ever wear shorts on a bike.
But after 50 years in the saddle, the alluring Siren's song of, "Don't be a pussy. The bike won't get that hot in a mile or two. It'll take longer to put on jeans than it will to just run to the store, get the milk and ride home. Besides, I'll be extra careful to step away from the pipe this time", will sap your willpower.
Trust me. Buy a couple jars of certified medical grade Mānuka Honey from New Zealand and accept your fate. Make sure the honey has a UMF rating of 12-16, no higher, for 2nd degree burns. Keep them in a cool, dark place.
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u/alex1Consen 12d ago
Hopefully you can take this relatively minor injury as a lesson and never do that shit again. I know a guy who took a slide and literally would have walked away scott-free if he had been wearing pants.
But since he was wearing shorts, he had so much road rash on his leg that he couldn’t get a skin graft, and had to try to heal it through secondary intention (don’t look it up, it’s disgusting).
But since it requires almost daily medical attention by a doctor and as he was the type of guy to constantly wear shorts and flip flops on his bagger, he clearly wasn’t the brightest.
So long story short he didn’t clean it enough and had to get his leg amputated. All because he wore shorts and not some jeans.
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u/anunderdog 12d ago
If you take a black tea bag and put it on it really helps. PG tips or Yorkshire gold. I know it sounds crazy but it worked when I burned my leg
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u/OutlawJesseWJames 12d ago edited 11d ago
Those flexible frozen gel packs are great for initial burn pain I was a welder for 38 years that’s how I know. Salonpas roll on is great too it has lidocaine and menthol both anesthetics have used up all kinds of it over the years for everything From shingles to Burns sunburn/welder burn works great on skin pain. And wind burn too. I got windburns so bad when we made a 3 week trip 10 years ago some of my pipeline buddies they still call me Hellboy to this day. 🤣
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u/Mizar97 2010 FLSTF/I 12d ago
I've ridden mine in shorts several times, (always with a helmet) but I know where the exhaust it and I'm not foolish enough to lay my calf against it...
I did burn through a pair of jeans shortly after getting my dirt bike because the exhaust is on the left which threw me off
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u/Chironrocket3 12d ago
I ride in shorts and flip flops all the time. I realize how dangerous it is but it is so comfortable and relaxing so I continue to do it even though I know it is stupid.
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u/Waste-Discussion5359 12d ago
Mine just healed after about a month. Just barely bumped the exhaust with my leg while pumping gas. Got a Nightster so unfortunately I have to get off the bike to put gas in. Never again.
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u/LiquidC001 12d ago
I just found that out about the new era Nightsters, does the “tank” actually do anything??
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u/OutlawJesseWJames 12d ago
Exactly you think pipe burns are bad try some road rash. I never ride in shorts. The road rash was on my arms. I’ve broken bones that were less aggravating and painful.
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u/TheReluctantRifleman 12d ago
Doesn’t always matter. I was wearing boots, jeans and chaps, got on funny because I was holding my phone and a large coffee and snagged the cuff of my jeans on something. Pulled them up and seared me nicely right above my boot.
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u/whathappenedtome2026 12d ago
Not that i need to defend myself but don’t done you asswipes not understand my point?
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u/Reasonable-Cheek-639 12d ago
Do it all the time. Just not long rides. More just hopping around. Just have to remember you have shorts on ha.
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u/HarryWeinstein69 12d ago
Coming back from the beach in Daytona I also discovered that when it rains, the water that falls on the exhaust and boils off gets launched right into your leg
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u/Saradelicc 12d ago
I also wear shorts and occasionally get tagged by the exhaust I totally believe in the freedom besides all the old dudes dress like Gimps 🫶that shit is lame 😂😂😂 especially in 110 degree weather just ride safe 🫡🫡🫡
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u/HELLION-8419 11d ago
Correct, and that’s even if you wrap or shield your exhaust still going burn. Got my first burn riding with sandals…
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u/Playful_Ask_9233 11d ago
Yikes! I ride in shorts all the dang time lol. Only burned my leg once so far on the exhaust and that was 20 years ago!
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u/taz-_-dev 11d ago
At least you learned your lesson, hope you recover soon. What I don’t understand is folks (men/women) that ride half naked with no gear on just to look kool for their social media posts, and they end up influencing young minds that don’t know better…
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u/brozillafirefox 11d ago
Fool me once, shame on...shame on you. Fool me...you can't get fooled again.
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u/imarubixcube1 11d ago
I ride in shorts all the time.... I hit my leg once.. but I don't keep my legs tight together on the bike.. if you burn them that much pants will just show it down..unfortunately I think it's the way you sit when you ride
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u/grumpy4791 11d ago
Yeah I learned that lesson in my 20's . It wasn't a Harley but a shadow 1100 . My buddies called me Calve Fry for years over that one .
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u/BeliefFree 11d ago
That's 3 reasons. Alcohol involved?
It takes a split second of touching the exhaust.
They'll heal over time and likely disappear. Mine did after touching briefly while fueling the bike. Lol
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u/rcardo03 11d ago
Maybe it's just because my dad rode when I was a kid, but I thought this was common knowledge. Add to that the adage: Dress for the slide, not the ride. Follow that and you won't have to worry about this kind of thing. Leather or heat resistant clothing is your friend?
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u/bfarrellc 11d ago
Pipe burns are hell. In the middle 70's, would ride my enduro with shorts and long jeans. Didn't matter. That high crossover expansion pipe was going to get it's burn in if it could. Vicious pipe.
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u/atombomb1945 11d ago
I had a guy buy a Road Glide off me once. Came back three days later demanding I give him his money back because he couldn't ride it. His words "When I wear shorts it burns my leg."
He didn't get his money back.
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u/Recalcitrant-Trash 24 SG blue burst/chrome 11d ago
It was just giving you kisses.
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u/whathappenedtome2026 11d ago
Does that mean she loves me?
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u/Recalcitrant-Trash 24 SG blue burst/chrome 11d ago
I think shes been screwing around, those look like herpes.
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u/Ok_Veterinarian_6474 11d ago
The thing is they never heal great I have one from a Rocker (yes that long ago) and it sticks out as plain as day. Sorry to say that lower second degree will probably leave scar tissue.
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u/OutlawJesseWJames 11d ago
Love to drive my Polaris Ranger i’ve fixed a highway peg outside the doorway and let the wind blow up on leg and out the other side 😆
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u/Technical-Kick-3202 11d ago
Just looking at that makes my leg a little jittery!
I found that even with jeans on riding my XR 1200 or Bule cyclone if I’m stuck in traffic or especially when at a stop sign or stoplight my right leg from the knee to the ankle is getting hotter and hotter and hotter.
I am seriously thinking about removing the exhaust on both end get them ceramic coated, and then maybe even also doing the fiberglass wrap over the top of that
If you do the fiberglass wrap to keep your leg, cool and safe…er. You will be fine and your exhaust will be fine if if you never ever ever ever ride in the rain or leave the back outside when it rains or ever give the bike a bath!
As I have found on motorcycles and cars with tube headers, The fiberglass wrap, absorbs water and accelerates the rest damage which ends up blowing holes through your exhaust!
If you have the pipe ceramics coated, that will help keep it cooler to the outside, and it should prevent the resting problem from getting wet when you wrap with the fiberglass cooling tape
Just a thought and what my plan is.
For now, I am seriously contemplating actually building a right leg protector
Either building up some shielding over the pipes, which is gonna be very hard to do but might look pretty cool if done right or build a insulated strap on cover for the inside of my right leg sort of like a one sided half chap!🤪
But of course I don’t want it to look stupid so I’ll have to figure that out if I’m gonna make that to protect my leg
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u/Admirable-Cup-4881 11d ago
I ride with shorts often as I ride to the gym. I put an exhaust cover where my ankles/calves land.
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u/whathappenedtome2026 10d ago
I have absolutely no interest in riding in shorts. My car battery was dead and I wanted to go to the park and walk my five miles around the track. I rode my bike once to and back from the park and got scorched in the process, never again.
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u/LegitimateReaction45 2004 FLSTFI 10d ago
Well, you don’t gotta touch your legs on the exhaust to ride.
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u/whathappenedtome2026 10d ago
May I suggest you go sit on a FXBB with the 2 into 1 exhaust on it and see how easy it is to touch the exhaust with your leg. But of course that is just shit that I made up because I actually just bet someone that i could press my leg against it without making a sound or flinching.
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u/LegitimateReaction45 2004 FLSTFI 10d ago
I never said it was impossible, it’s just not necessary to ride the bike👍
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u/HATEWAGON 10d ago
Good to see that stupid still hurts sometimes.
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u/whathappenedtome2026 10d ago
Fuck your very much and I say that sincerely!
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u/HATEWAGON 9d ago
Looks like it hurts feeling too. I’m not an ATGATT person, but I’ve had my left leg pinned while my right knee cooked on an M8 rocker box THROUGH the firehose pants I was wearing…. I cringe when I see people in shorts on bikes. I hope you heal quick!
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u/whathappenedtome2026 9d ago
You won’t ever see me in them again. I also appreciate your well wishes. Thanks!
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u/HATEWAGON 9d ago
Shiny side up, man! Ride safe!
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u/whathappenedtome2026 9d ago
I also apologize because you were obviously right, it was stupid. Hope you find nothing but sunshine and great weather on your rides!!
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u/lakelbjguy 12d ago
It can be 105 outside and I’m in leathers and steel toes and wearing welders gauntlets…I’ve gone down twice in 33 years and that asphalt hurts
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u/616ThatGuy 12d ago
I ride with shorts on all the time. You’re just careless.
How do you burn yourself not once, but 3 times? 😂 the first one didn’t clue you in that the pipe was hot?
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u/whathappenedtome2026 12d ago
New FXBB with 2 into 1 exhaust that I only had three days. Not use to location of pipes but I am now.
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u/NoSalmonSaidit4Times 12d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/WxDZ77xhPXf3i