Quick search didn't turn up anything, but is it normal for the header pipe to be glowing red where it comes out of the head? Noticed it tonight while riding at a leisure pace around the neighborhood. The bike is completely stock.

 

I looks a worry and can be a sign of a bike running lean.

But, IMO, its probably OK.
If it's dark enough a lot of bikes headers will glow red if run hard for awhile.

 

It's lean. Fix it.

 

Maybe, but give your bike a good run in the Lancelin dunes at night.
Excellent fun by the way.
And the headers on most bikes glow
You just never give the bike that much sustained throttle on the roads when its pitch black.

But, you're right, it's probably running lean

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but as I read thru old threads I think I remember reading something about the smog crap increasing the heat in the header also. So besides fixing the mix might he also want to remove the smog stuff?
Cheers Jim
PWI-967

 

Mines never glowed

 

Yes, that helps a lot. I don't think you'll ever totally get rid of the red right at the beginning of the header though. Just to faithfully follow a blanket statement that any red at all=lean will cause you to chase your tail for days day and you'll be WAY on the rich side...especially if you are seeing this red at night time or are opening your throttle while the bike is still warming-up.

 

This may sound silly but is there gas in it, mine glowed red just before it ran out of gas,
it was running lean for about a minute.

 

Mine only did when it was new(stock)- wrecked the spark plug

 

Wow, thanks for all the replies! Sounds like it's normal for a stock bike with all the smog crap and stock jetting. I am sure someday I will be changing things, but it will have to stay stock for awhile. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't hurting anything. From past experience, bikes do tend to run lean from the factory. I know about 99% of you guys have modded your bikes, but is it worth re-jetting a completely stock bike? I see a lot of people are changing the main jet, but they also have slip-on's airbox mod, etc.