Depressed in Spokane

[Coyote Chris]

I love forums....how did we ever do anything without them?
I was reading up on everyone's experience on changing sparking plugs in the 2017 and later Vstrom.
It uses Iridium plugs and retail for all 4 is about $100. They are not easy to get to. Two are not bad at least.
The change interval is 2 years or 7,500 mi. (!)
Just lifting the tank to get to the air cleaner and coolant replacement requires the removal/loosening of 5-7 pannels of plastic plus tank bolts.
My plan is to get a filter and coolant (bike is now 8 or so years old and 16-18 k miles old) and look at a plug that is easy to get to.

These ridiculas change intervals by an entire company forced upon an ignorant buyers public are sickening. Nothing but wallet vaccuming.

 

[Mellow]

I don't like Iridium plugs... they work well but, many have notices the tips missing if they go beyond the 12,000 mile main interval (BMW R1250 engines)

Mine on the RT looked good at 12k so I left in, then got paranoid and checked again at 21k miles (left-old right-new) bike never ran bad and I think the tip burnt off, not fell off:



I replaced with Iridiums since I had them already but the next change I'll use the plugs the R1200 bikes used:




I think they'll last longer even though changing the plugs is easy on the boxer engine - I don't want the tips falling off.

 

[Chucksklrst]

Here is what a 2013 V-Strom look like for maint.

 

[Sunny]

Here is what a 2013 V-Strom look like for maint.

I am still dreading opening up my Gold Wing for Air Filter change

 

[suvcw04]

Try gold paladium plugs. I used them on the days before 100,000 mile plug changes in cars. They were the only thing I would put in a two stroke. If they survive there, they'll survive anywhere. Champion and NGK both made them.

 

[Coyote Chris]

Here is what a 2013 V-Strom look like for maint.

Thanks! The 2017 is a bit different but not alot.

 

[Coyote Chris]

Try gold paladium plugs. I used them on the days before 100,000 mile plug changes in cars. They were the only thing I would put in a two stroke. If they survive there, they'll survive anywhere. Champion and NGK both made them.

Its interesting that NHK forbids the use of anti sieze compound.

 

[Coyote Chris]

I don't like Iridium plugs... they work well but, many have notices the tips missing if they go beyond the 12,000 mile main interval (BMW R1250 engines)

Mine on the RT looked good at 12k so I left in, then got paranoid and checked again at 21k miles (left-old right-new) bike never ran bad and I think the tip burnt off, not fell off:

View attachment 24177

I replaced with Iridiums since I had them already but the next change I'll use the plugs the R1200 bikes used:

View attachment 24178


I think they'll last longer even though changing the plugs is easy on the boxer engine - I don't want the tips falling off.

Thanks for the info! A guy posted pics of his FJR iridiums after 35,000 and they looked fine but the Small tips do bother me. I like the R1200 plug design. The Suzuki iridiums are $25 apiece. Crazy. I think the fact that they still worked at 21k is more of a tribute to the strength of the spark of a modern ignition system.

 

[Coyote Chris]

I am still dreading opening up my Gold Wing for Air Filter change

Dont look up how easy it was on the 1983 Wing....you will cry yourself to sleep.

 

[junglejim]

I think that heat is the enemy of spark plugs (and other engine parts). Ethanol contributes to combustion heat as does fuel mixture, air intake (barometric pressure), humidity, gasoline additives, sustained high power demands, and the list goes on. The harder you run an engine the more heat is produces. It is always a balancing act to manage all those things as well as producing a product at a competitive price with the performance matching that of the competitors. Then consider durability, ease of service, EPA certifications, import requirements, parts compatibility, buyer appeal, profit margins, and marketing. It is a wonder that anything works at all.

For me, I am looking at my first oil change due now (at 6,500 miles). My closest dealer is 200 miles away and about 3 weeks out for a service appointment. YouTube videos show that an oil change on my new BMW requires some panel removals and is a messy job even with a motorcycle lift and all the proper tools. Another factor is my increasing lack of dexterity, crawling around on the floor, getting up and down for one more tool, and seeing through misaligned bifocals. No local store will have the oil or filter but might have the crush washers (if I knew what size there were). And don't even get me started on a "best oil" discussion. The "best" oil can be somewhat subjective but I know that BMW of course has their own opinion of what is the "best" oil for their "best" motorcycle. Maybe I should just ask my wife what's best, after all spouses know everything.

 

[suvcw04]

Yup. Once I get on a creeper, or a short sit down stool or even in my grease pit, I would rather take a beating than have to change. I am just as likely to call my son and tell him to put on some old clothes and get over here.

 

[Coyote Chris]

I think that heat is the enemy of spark plugs (and other engine parts). Ethanol contributes to combustion heat as does fuel mixture, air intake (barometric pressure), humidity, gasoline additives, sustained high power demands, and the list goes on. The harder you run an engine the more heat is produces. It is always a balancing act to manage all those things as well as producing a product at a competitive price with the performance matching that of the competitors. Then consider durability, ease of service, EPA certifications, import requirements, parts compatibility, buyer appeal, profit margins, and marketing. It is a wonder that anything works at all.

For me, I am looking at my first oil change due now (at 6,500 miles). My closest dealer is 200 miles away and about 3 weeks out for a service appointment. YouTube videos show that an oil change on my new BMW requires some panel removals and is a messy job even with a motorcycle lift and all the proper tools. Another factor is my increasing lack of dexterity, crawling around on the floor, getting up and down for one more tool, and seeing through misaligned bifocals. No local store will have the oil or filter but might have the crush washers (if I knew what size there were). And don't even get me started on a "best oil" discussion. The "best" oil can be somewhat subjective but I know that BMW of course has their own opinion of what is the "best" oil for their "best" motorcycle. Maybe I should just ask my wife what's best, after all spouses know everything.

I have heard rumors that Mellow may...just may...travel at high speed for long distances. Plausable deniability.
In Aircraft, we had a cylinder head temp gage, an exaust gas temp gage, a mixture control, and a prop control. And of course an oil temp gage. My Uncle's B17 also had a turbocharger control.
But what is actually happening in a cylinder is very hard to know.

The Great Equalizer: Understanding Brake Mean Effective Pressure

When looking at engines and trying to compare them, there are a couple of ways to level the playing field. BMEP is one of the most effective.

www.enginelabs.com

Air race pilot/Space shuttle commander/Space shuttle pilot "Hoot" Gibson explains how his piston failed. One you have dead sticked a space shuttle, dead sticking a raceplane with a blown engine is no problem.