Heat shouldn't be an issue with the MR pipe (the highest temp I've read on mine was 320 degrees, right at the manifold). Wrapping the pipe could move the powerband up the rpm range a little bit, as sound travels faster with temperature and the pipe will act like it's slightly shorter.
I think the pipe brittleness comes mainly from many heat cycles / pressure pulses / vibration. The MT125 pipe I modded was very brittle; a chunk blew out of it after it went back together, I had to add some reinforcement (it's been fine ever since).
I used some thin adhesive lead sheet on the center section of my custom pipe once. It greatly reduced that tinny 'ring-ding' pipe sound, but was heavy and looked like crap so I scrapped the idea - maybe I'll try it again sometime.
Ray
_________________ '74 CR125M (175cc), '75 MR175, '82 RM250Z, '08 YZ250F, '14 Zero FX electric, '14 Zero MX electric, '18 Alta MXR electric
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