nklr i'm back ........... with questions.

[Rick McCauley]

What spark plug works best in the KLR? Stock, or some super plug like a platinum, or iridium. Why would one be better than the other, and is it good enough to justify the extra cost? Rick A17 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Rick McCauley]

Thanks. Any specific brand / number? Rick A17

--- On Fri, 8/28/09, tomatocity wrote: From: tomatocity Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR super plug To: "Rick McCauley" Date: Friday, August 28, 2009, 2:56 PM The iridium provides excellent spark, does not need to be gapped, very very very little wear, lasts for a long time. I have seen the stock plud show significant wear at 5,000 miles.. If you are a Mudder you might consider the Champion plug with a 16mm body. On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 12:33 PM, Rick McCauley wrote: What spark plug works best in the KLR? Stock, or some super plug like a platinum, or iridium. Why would one be better than the other, and is it good enough to justify the extra cost? Rick A17 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[judjonzz]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Rick McCauley wrote:

> > What spark plug works best in the KLR? > Stock, or some super plug like a platinum, or iridium. > Why would one be better than the other, and is it good enough to > justify the extra cost? >

My original plug, the standard NGK, came out at about 35,000 miles. The gap had opened up quite a bit, but it was still sparking happily away. I have heard mechanics grumbling about platinum and iridium in BMW cars, and can't think of a good reason to spend the extra money, even if it is only once every three or four years.

[Rick McCauley]

Well, we have one vote for the iridium plug, and one for stock. Where do we go from here? Rick A17

--- On Fri, 8/28/09, judjonzz wrote: From: judjonzz Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR super plug To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, August 28, 2009, 4:46 PM --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, Rick McCauley wrote: > > What spark plug works best in the KLR? > Stock, or some super plug like a platinum, or iridium. > Why would one be better than the other, and is it good enough to > justify the extra cost? > My original plug, the standard NGK, came out at about 35,000 miles. The gap had opened up quite a bit, but it was still sparking happily away. I have heard mechanics grumbling about platinum and iridium in BMW cars, and can't think of a good reason to spend the extra money, even if it is only once every three or four years. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Rick McCauley wrote:

> > Well, we have one vote for the iridium plug, and one for stock. > Where do we go from here? >

How about the Kawi shoppe? revmaaatin.

[Lourd Baltimore]

If you were looking for more responses, then you should have asked which is the best oil to use in your bike.... I've had iridium recommended to me, but I've never tried anything other than stock plugs on all my vehicles including my KLR. I've never had a problem, but then again I'm fairly diligent with all my maintenance. I guess it also depends on what you mean as "best" for the KLR. Performance, reliability, MPG, all of the above? Since I've only used stock, I can't tell you what I'm missing with using a iridium, split-fire, or other improved plugs. As far as brands go, I stick with Bosch or NGK. I don't mean to slight other brands, it's just that I've never had a problem with those two brands and so never saw a reason to switch. Josh A7 . ________________________________ From: Rick McCauley To: dsn_klr650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, August 28, 2009 10:57:10 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR super plug Well, we have one vote for the iridium plug, and one for stock. Where do we go from here? Rick A17

--- On Fri, 8/28/09, judjonzz wrote: From: judjonzz Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR super plug To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com Date: Friday, August 28, 2009, 4:46 PM --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, Rick McCauley wrote: > > What spark plug works best in the KLR? > Stock, or some super plug like a platinum, or iridium. > Why would one be better than the other, and is it good enough to > justify the extra cost? > My original plug, the standard NGK, came out at about 35,000 miles. The gap had opened up quite a bit, but it was still sparking happily away. I have heard mechanics grumbling about platinum and iridium in BMW cars, and can't think of a good reason to spend the extra money, even if it is only once every three or four years. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[J Fortner]

I think you may be giving the plug more thought than it deserves. My motto buy two or three plugs at a time and always have a spare handy. With plugs in the KLR. It's more about convenience. You won't gain any horsepower with one plug versus another. How often do I plan to check/change the plug? Frequently? Buy the stock NGK. Less frequently? Buy the iridium NGK. The standard NGK works well and is cheap. Around $1.49? last I bought a few. The iridium NGK if you plan longer trips or less frequent maintenance. I forget what the iridium plugs cost and didn't note the cost in the maintenance spreadsheet. So it must not have been over $5. I bought two or three of each plug several years and several decent size trips ago.. I carry spares on the bike and keep a couple in the garage. Cheap insurance and minimized hunting of parts for less than $10. Check O'Reileys, Autozone, PepBoys or equivalent. If they don't stock the plugs they can get them in less than 24 hours. Usually at a significant discount to the Kawi shop. The plugs in a good KLR engine seem to last forever. Jim What's left of an A7 after improvements

On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 4:57 PM, Rick McCauley wrote: > > > Well, we have one vote for the iridium plug, and one for stock. > Where do we go from here? > > Rick > A17 >

[Rick McCauley]

I just threw a generic question out there to see if there was any advantage to using a different plug than the stock one. You never know what you might learn. I also keep my bike maintained, so it appears that there is no advantage to an expensive plug, other than life of the plug. Might as well use stock, and put a fresh one in every couple years. Rick A17

--- On Sat, 8/29/09, Lourd Baltimore wrote: From: Lourd Baltimore Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR super plug To: dsn_klr650@yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, August 29, 2009, 2:44 AM If you were looking for more responses, then you should have asked which is the best oil to use in your bike.... I've had iridium recommended to me, but I've never tried anything other than stock plugs on all my vehicles including my KLR. I've never had a problem, but then again I'm fairly diligent with all my maintenance. I guess it also depends on what you mean as "best" for the KLR. Performance, reliability, MPG, all of the above? Since I've only used stock, I can't tell you what I'm missing with using a iridium, split-fire, or other improved plugs. As far as brands go, I stick with Bosch or NGK. I don't mean to slight other brands, it's just that I've never had a problem with those two brands and so never saw a reason to switch. Josh A7 . ____________ _________ _________ __ From: Rick McCauley To: dsn_klr650@yahoogro ups.com Sent: Friday, August 28, 2009 10:57:10 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR super plug Well, we have one vote for the iridium plug, and one for stock. Where do we go from here? Rick A17 --- On Fri, 8/28/09, judjonzz wrote: From: judjonzz Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR super plug To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com Date: Friday, August 28, 2009, 4:46 PM --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, Rick McCauley wrote: > > What spark plug works best in the KLR? > Stock, or some super plug like a platinum, or iridium. > Why would one be better than the other, and is it good enough to > justify the extra cost? > My original plug, the standard NGK, came out at about 35,000 miles. The gap had opened up quite a bit, but it was still sparking happily away. I have heard mechanics grumbling about platinum and iridium in BMW cars, and can't think of a good reason to spend the extra money, even if it is only once every three or four years. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Rick McCauley]

That seems to be the consensous. If i had a ZX14 i might want to spend more on a plug, but in the KLR, I will just put a stock plug, and let er eat. Rick A17

--- On Tue, 9/1/09, cycletip wrote: From: cycletip Subject: Re: KLR super plug To: "Rick McCauley" Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2009, 12:52 PM --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Rick McCauley wrote: > > What spark plug works best in the KLR? > Stock, or some super plug like a platinum, or iridium. > Why would one be better than the other, and is it good enough to > justify the extra cost? > > Rick > A17 ________________________________________________________________________ Rick - spark plugs are designed to do three things. 1. Seal the hole against compression leak 2. Conduct electricity 3. Dissipate heat That's about it. Manufactures came up with iridium, multiple electrodes, fancy names and any number of things to "market" they're products. Some late model cars do use the spark plug a little differently but that's another story. In those cases the harder compound electrode do help prevent wear facilitate good current flow. As for our KLR's - Use the OEM or brand X equivalent but be sure to try and get the heat range right when crossing over. No two manufactures have identical heat ranges and will most often direct to a colder plug vs. hotter for obvious reasons. IMO spending more money for a better mouse trap is worthless. Now if you're talking 2 strokes..................never mind. That's my own personal problem. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Rick McCauley]

refresh my memory rick A17

--- On Tue, 9/1/09, tomatocity wrote: From: tomatocity Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR super plug To: "Rick McCauley" Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2009, 1:30 PM Remember the FRAM commercial. On Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 10:57 AM, Rick McCauley wrote: That seems to be the consensous. If i had a ZX14 i might want to spend more on a plug, but in the KLR, I will just put a stock plug, and let er eat. Rick A17 --- On Tue, 9/1/09, cycletip wrote: From: cycletip Subject: Re: KLR super plug To: "Rick McCauley" Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2009, 12:52 PM --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Rick McCauley wrote: > > What spark plug works best in the KLR? > Stock, or some super plug like a platinum, or iridium. > Why would one be better than the other, and is it good enough to > justify the extra cost? > > Rick > A17 __________________________________________________________ Rick - spark plugs are designed to do three things. 1. Seal the hole against compression leak 2. Conduct electricity 3. Dissipate heat That's about it. Manufactures came up with iridium, multiple electrodes, fancy names and any number of things to "market" they're products. Some late model cars do use the spark plug a little differently but that's another story. In those cases the harder compound electrode do help prevent wear facilitate good current flow. As for our KLR's - Use the OEM or brand X equivalent but be sure to try and get the heat range right when crossing over. No two manufactures have identical heat ranges and will most often direct to a colder plug vs. hotter for obvious reasons. IMO spending more money for a better mouse trap is worthless. Now if you're talking 2 strokes..................never mind. That's my own personal problem. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]