Should my exhaust headers glow?
 

Forgive a 660 n00b a dumb question, but should the headers of my new XT660R really be glowing a deep red at tickover? None of my other bikes have ever done so, but I'm new to FI, new to big water-cooled singles, new to the XT.

Here's some video. For some reason my phone's camera saw blue, but it's a deep red in person.

Mine do on the Tenere and my KTM RC8. Might be useful for lighting a fag if your matches are damp!

I have never had that happen. How long was the bike idling without moving?

It is normal if the XT is idled for long periods.

Less than five minutes. Long enough for me to zip up my jacket, get my plugs in, lid and gloves on. It also got its glow on within a minute or so of getting home last night.

No temp warnings, obviously.

I was thinking last night, there's every chance I've had sports bikes that did this and I just never noticed because of the full fairings.

Have raised your CO?

I have idled mine longer than that (in summer even) before an oil change with no signs of glowing headers. I don't want to be a worry-monger but I would say that was not normal. Let's see what others think.

I have owned 80 bikes in the last 17 years, the only bike that ever did this was an air-cooled BMW that was stuck in rush-hour traffic in Auckland and was crawling along at low speed for an extended period.

(Worse case scenario, if your head is not cracked or the timing out,) yes big singles do have hot exhausts.....even my little Ducati single was hot............................................... ................................................. I sold in 1984 FOR �275!!!!!(i needed the dosh to pay the rent) No-one wanted one then, I originally was asking �500!!!!!!! At that era everyone wanted a Yam 2 stroke!!!!! Now my mission is to get back together with a Duc 350 1972/MK3/. Its going to cost me tho.......


But glowing....Check it out<<

I haven't touched it, no. This bike has 500km on it, I wasn't planning on touching anything until after the initial 1000km service.

Well, if it is, I guess I've still got 23 months and three weeks of my warranty left...

I can't say I ever noticed my DR650 doing the same. Although the whole thing used to get boot-meltingly hot at times.

Same. xt660r, 2007.

Just called the workshop at my Yam dealer, they agree.

Nothing to worry about, they do glow a little if they're left standing, as long as nothing else is going on (temp warning, coolant problems) it's fine.

So I guess I'll stop worrying. I'll be putting in for its 1,000km next weekend.

Thanks all for pitching in.

It is normal

The reason it glows is the AIS valve is open at idle which allows fresh air into the exhaust, this extra fresh air burns off the excess fuel when the bike is idling, if you have increased your CO above 15 it adds excess fuel to the red glow.

Thanks for the explanation, Kev. Since I have disabled my AIS, that explains why mine most likely will never do that.

My header pipes glow too. The first time I noticed it was after fitting my stainless MTC cans back in December. Its usually dark when its noticeable. Since then I've done a good 3k mls including over a 1k in a single day with no harm done. As others have said its quite normal. :BaseballHat_LNY2EG:

Mine is glowing, i think its normal for this bike.