The gold isn't as hard to buff out as the blue on the headers. The gold comes out fairly easily.
Heat is what causes stainless steel to discolor. I think the best protection is to have your bike properly jetted. A lean condition will make it run hot, and a rich condition will blow unburned fuel into the exhaust, where you get a secondary burn inside the pipes. Both will cause discoloration. Proper jetting will give you the least discoloration, although it may not eliminate it altogether.
This is my opinion. All appropriate disclaimers apply.
Regards,
Cody
