Which spark plugs to get?

[gerrymcghee]

I am going to change the spark plugs on my 1999 sv650s. what are the best ones to buy, and any tips or shortcuts before I start.
THANKS.

[xXBADGERXx]

Bog standard normal ones will suffice , I have not met one person yet that said any of these Iridium ones made a huge and noticeable difference , of course somebody will now come in and "Fight the Corner" for justifying why they spent £25 on 2 plugs instead of around £8 for 2 NGK ones . I`m from the "If it aint broke then don`t fix it" School when it comes to basics on bikes . Welcome to the site by the way :)

[Dave20046]

NGK Cr8E if I recall correctly, I've had a few NGKs fail so get denso's if I can (they have a different code though, i.e not cr8e). Never tried irridium, I doubt performance but if longevity's any better (& guaranteed), I'm all for changing my plugs less often!

[boot]

Suzuki manual states NGK CR8E or Denso blah blah.

Haynes says the same, but recommends NGKCR9E or Denso U27ESR-N for extended high speed riding.

Tips - Despite the tool kit that comes with the bike not being perfect, the spark plug tool in mine was very useful for removing the plugs.

[Dave20046]

Haynes says the same, but recommends NGKCR9E or Denso U27ESR-N for extended high speed riding.
.
That's interesting, what constitutes as extended high speed riding I wonder? Would that be your motorway commuters (i.e sat at a decent pace for a long period of time) or sun-fun riders (0>fast>faster)?
...or both?

[xXBADGERXx]

In the same breath I had a pair of Denso plugs fail on me on my SV on the Wirral Egg Run this year , IF they had been OEM ones then they would have done 20k , IF they were done on a Service interval and changed when I bought them then they would have done at least 13k in my ownership ......... Manual recommends a change of plugs every 7k for the pointy so imagine it would be the same for a Curvy as well . I lobbed a pair of normal NGK plugs in and have been more than happy that they go Pop and Bang everytime they are needed to .

[xXBADGERXx]

That's interesting, what constitutes as extended high speed riding I wonder? Would that be your motorway commuters or sun-fun riders? (or both?)

Track days , Minitwins racers etc .

[BanditPat]

I use Denso plugs, NGK ones dont tend to last as long for me. Iridium ones are supposed to last longer and give a stroger spark, whether they do or not I have no idea

[Dave20046]

Sorry you're complaining they failed after 13-20k? :razz:
I do my plugs atleast every 6k (however granted badger it ain't my main form of transport anymore)

[xXBADGERXx]

Sorry you're complaining they failed after 13-20k? :razz:
I do my plugs atleast every 6k (however granted badger it ain't my main form of transport anymore)

Did I say I was complaining ?

I stated that they failed because they were well and truly out of their change time , so if you stick to this schedule then ANY plug will be fine .

[Holdup]

Owners manual says

CR7E if plug is likely to get wet
CR8E standard
CR9E if the standard plug is going to overheat

I'd personaly stay with the CR8E (or eqiuvalent) you could try a iridium, you may notice a small difference in fuel consumption and acceleration, but i believe the main benefit is that they dont need replacing as often.

[Dave20046]

Did I say I was complaining ?

I stated that they failed because they were well and truly out of their change time , so if you stick to this schedule then ANY plug will be fine .
Nah had a couple of NGKs (not at the same time) fail well before my usual change time. Then again it's the same old 'one bad experience' thing, I may well have just been unlucky.

[xXBADGERXx]

I`ve used NGK and Champion over the last 20 years and never had a problem , and in the same breath I would never diss the Denso ones , I just can`t justify £20 on a set of plugs with some extra doo-dad coating or containing some extra metal that in no way warrants that price . You may get a slight improvement but I wouldn`t feel I got a "bombproof" plug at the end of the day , they could all go nasty within those 7k changes as we can all vouch for here , you have had problems , BanditPat has had some ....... I`d rather take my chances with a normal CR8E for the price of a couple of Pints , does exactly what it says on the tin ..... or wobbly Yellow cardboard box ;)

[Sid Squid]

Any standard plug will be fine, it doesn't matter if it's NGK, Denso, Champion, Bosch or whatever brand.
I don't imagine anyone in our climate will need to use a colder plug - even if they spent every minute of their riding ona motorway.
Iridium or other exotic metal plugs might be more resistant to misfire marginal conditions, so could possibly be better at staring when it's very cold, but if the machine is kept in good order and starts well anyway will be of no benefit.

PS. Search - we've done this subject many many times before.

[yorkie_chris]

NGK CR8E are fine for the SV for far longer than the service interval says they should be. If not, there's summat else up with your bike.

Sorry if that seems curt, but this has been done to death.

[xXBADGERXx]

May have been done to death but a new user to the forum might not know how to look for the answers , that is why we have obliged them , if he is still here in a years time asking the same question , then your allowed to get the "Clue" bat out and get medieval on them :)

[Alpinestarhero]

May have been done to death but a new user to the forum might not know how to look for the answers , that is why we have obliged them , if he is still here in a years time asking the same question , then your allowed to get the "Clue" bat out and get medieval on them :)

+1. There is no harm in people starting new threads and asking the question in their own way and getting the exact answer to their exact question. Its a discussion forum...if you want to search, then you'd just search the whole internet. :D

[thedonal]

You can get a pair of Iridiums for far less than £25 if you look carefully.

I think the pair I've got in cost me about £15-

http://www.sparkplugs.co.uk/pages/database/results-ccp.asp

[yorkie_chris]

May have been done to death but a new user to the forum might not know how to look for the answers , that is why we have obliged them , if he is still here in a years time asking the same question , then your allowed to get the "Clue" bat out and get medieval on them :)

Yes, more to head off the debate kicking off again :-P

[Dave20046]

You can get a pair of Iridiums for far less than £25 if you look carefully.

I think the pair I've got in cost me about £15-

http://www.sparkplugs.co.uk/pages/database/results-ccp.asp

Any feedback?
(sorry to the debate haters :razz:)*




*hmm refrained from using the spark pun pretty well :scratch:

[thedonal]

I'll let you know at the end of the month when I service the bike- will try and take some pics to see how they've worn.

Hard to isolate them as they went in with a service- so the bike had plugs and new oil and they were replacing worn plugs, so there'll be an improvement anyway. I really couldn't tell you if the throttle response is noticeably better.

Think they were a little better for winter starts and they may last longer. They are really the main things for me. And for just a few quid more from that dealer, I'm happy to pay for it.

[Neeja]

I pulled the iridium plugs out of my dead engine to put into my new one on Monday night. Should have got pics of them, but there's hindsight for you.

Plugs did 17k miles in the old engine (put in at 13k when I got the bike; dead engine was at just under 31k). Pulled them out, virtually no erosion on them, light tan colour. I used a dremel with a nylon bristle attachment to give them a clean up, and they looked like new. Gap still good, back into the new engine.

Can't say fairer than 17k miles and going for a pair of plugs that cost me about £18.

No difference to performance, but it does seem to start a little easier on very, very cold days (as in, below zero). Other than that, they're plugs, and they work.

[gerrymcghee]

thanks for all the replies folks and sorry if I was bringing old topics I will try not to make the same mistake again.