Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Thunderbike chrome problems

I got these thunderbike mufflers when my America was new in 2005. Now my mufflers are really starting to look like crap. All of my stock Triumph chrome is perfect. The mufflers are pitting and starting to flake. Anyone else had these problems? As I remember the price I paid for them I would expect better chroming.

Jerry

Yes , there was some discussion about that a while back , if they were newer , you might could call T bike , but since they're 3 years old , I dunno .

Here's an older discussion...

Jerry, old buddy.... I had the same issue with mine. I took pictures and sent them to Graeme at TBike in an email. It took a loooong time, but eventually they sent me a new set of shells. I had to switch my baffles over and the new set is holding up quite well. Seems they had an issue with their chrome guy and switched to another one.

Send them an email and see what they say - can't hurt to try.

And just for general info.... I had my original shells rechromed this spring by the guy I deal with in Jeannette.... $300 each. Ouch!

Thanks for the replys guys


jerry

mine are starting to pit also, never understood why they just dont go with stainless, for the price they should be

Frank

My 2004 pipes are holding up well, but, always garage kept, washed and cleaned after any rain.... etc. etc..... do want them repacked though.... a little too loud for these old ears....

Frank, If they were stainless they wouldn't be falling apart after 3 years and I wouldn't be sending them more money. fool me once.

jerry

Lets see: there are several thread describing how the expensive Thunderbike and Bub's chrome peels. To my knowledge, there has not been any issues posted with Specialty Spares pipes, which are cheaper.
I'm not sure why you folks continue to buy these pipes. My SS pipes look like new after 25,000 miles. My 02 cents...

because the tbike pipes are prob the best sounding pipes out there

Frank

I think my Sceptres sound better... Just an opinion...

OK, I'll jump in - I also think the Specialty Spares sound best. I especially think so since doing the 904BB. The BB lowered the pitch slightly to what was already a great throaty sound. I couldn't be happier with mine and definitely no chrome problems in 3.5 years.

Knock on wood........ No problems with the T-bike pipes so far. 5 years and still running.

Bob,

each to their own mate but for me the SS pipes are just too loud and I can tell you their are probably just as many people on the other side of the fence to the one your sitting on who will agree with me.

Mind you, the thunderbikes I reckon sound pretty blo#dy good on their website but all this kefuffle about their chroming issues definitely scared me away.

So what's left for a bloke like me who has already wasted a couple of bucks trying the SS's?

Well I'll tell ya, if you don't want any chroming issues and you want a pipe which can either be louder or not so loud, then buy staintunes.

Now just wait a tick whilst I go get my fishing rod

Thunderbike emailed me about my chroming problems on my 05.
They asked me to send them some pictures. That was on Oct. 5th. Waiting to hear back from them.

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because the tbike pipes are prob the best sounding pipes out there

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That's subjective and debatable One of the best would probably be a better statement IMHO

fair enough

Frank

Thunderbike knows that they had some problems early on with one of their chromers. Waiting to hear back from them about my flaking. They said that they are going to do something for me about my mufflers. In my opinion they have the best sound & they say they stand behind their work.

Jerry