Damage to headers

[dazza]

So,  went for a little ride today and whilst committed into a corner I ran over what I thought was a bit of road kill. I thought it felt a bit hard but didn't give it a second thought. Until I got home that is and noticed some damage to my headers. My question is,  will this affect the way the bike runs?  I didn't notice any difference but look's a bit unsightly. What do you think Foccers?.
As you can see, something's given them a fair old whack, probably made worse by the headers being so hot

[Ebme Geek]

Blime, road kill, I wouldn't want to be the one that knocked it out, well hard

Unsightly yes, but can't see that effecting how it runs, if it did only at absolute top load, top revs and wide open throttle, but I doubt it

[dazza]

Come to think of it,  it did look a bit like an armourdillo. :b

[Super_Monkey]

struggling to think how that will affect exhaust gases being thrown out and any problems with running?

[AyJay]

What the hell did you hit? It'd take a proper whack with a big hammer to do that amount of damage ...

[dazza]

I don't know what it was Ayjay. I was quite surprised and a little baffled when I saw the damage as I wasn't aware of it hitting the headers. I felt it hit the inside of my front wheel and remember thinking it felt a bit too solid for a bit of roadkill. Whatever it was, obviously got flicked up into the headers. There is no tyre damage either so maybe a piece of wood. I really can't be sure.

[AyJay]

You should call that your happy bump. Imagine if whatever it was had hit the radiator. Or oil cooler. Or your foot.

[dazza]

You're not wrong there AyJay, with the force that's caused that, it would of made a mess of the rad I'd imagine.
Reminds me of the time I was driving up the motorway in the car and something came off a lorry travelling in the opposite direction. I saw it bounce and spark then bounced straight over the central barrier at windscreen height before dropping and embedding in my intercooler rad.  When I pulled over to check the damage it was a dirty great big steel Bush the size of Exupnut's brain half a fist .  :eek

[AyJay]

Yikes. That's the one thing about riding a bike on a motorway that scares me - something being flicked up by a truck wheel.


I hit a pheasant once at only about 25mph and it was like having an oven ready frozen turkey thrown at me. Caught me in the right shoulder and chest. Bloody hurt. Anything metal at motorway speeds would just go through you...

[Captain Haddock]

If it did that after being flicked up I'd check that front wheel very closely for signs of cracking.

[dazza]

Thanks for the advice Captain Haddock,  I have checked my wheel all over and it looks fine. Like I said i just clipped it with the inside edge of the tyre creating what I can only describe as a tiddley wink effect.

[VNA]

I've had a dent in one of my down-tubes for years.
I presumed a stone or something hit it.
Just glad it didn't go through the oil filter instead!