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.