is there any advantage to wrapping the exhaust pipe with heat tape to help reduce the amount of heat coming off the pipe?

 

I didn't use tape, but I did use some clamp on heat shielding. I used it to help keep the plastic from melting any further...

 

Several.
#1. It keeps the heat (energy) in the pipe. Backpressure is a bad thing and you want all the scavenging you can get. The tape will help with that and add a touch of HP.

#2 It keeps the heat in the pipe and not on your leg or to cook your plastic on your quad.

Like everything in life there are also disavantages.

 

what are the disadvantages?

 

Not sure what your machine is but, had a problem with my 07 500 so I put a heat sheild (made by polaris) on and solved the problem. My leg and plastic on the right side got so hot it wasn't fun to ride.
Hope this helps.

 

i have a 03 sportsman 600.

 

I would not use heat tape holds moisture=rust on the exhaust... Updated heat shields or you can make your own with metal/alumunium... Heat tape (reflective) on the inside of platics would help too. Adding reflective heat tape to the gas tank would be a plus too. A lot of the factory reflective heat tape on the inside of plastics and gas tank will detoriate/fall off over time. Factory is know to skimp on not enuf from the factory too....

 

I have a 1986 Honda Fourtrax 250 (with no heat shield available for it) so the heat on my right leg is unbearable. Do you think that Polaris heat shield would work for me? If so, do you know your part number or model?

Many thanks

 

Any heat shield that isn't model specific would require some modification. You might try this place.Heat Shields : Official DMC Online Store for ATV and UTV Exhaust Systems and Slip Ons, Home of the Dual and Twin Exhausts