Iridium plugs in your Airhead?

Anyone using Iridium plugs? I have had great success with Brit bikes using these plugs. Anyone know the Iridium equivalent to the recommended Bosch plug for the 79 R100RS? Thanks.

I use standard NGK BP6ES plugs. Here is an NGK cross reference for iridiums - http://www.clubplug.net/ngk_ngk_iridium.html . Here is a source - http://www.jegs.com/i/NGK-Spark-Plugs/739/BPR6EIX/10002/-1 .

I have been considering trying the iridium plugs also but they seem to be the resistor type only so it would mean changing the spark plug caps to the no resistance type.

I always used resistor plugs in my regular (resistor) caps on my GL500 and never had problems. Is there any reason why they wouldn't work in an R100? I'm considering this for my '88 GS.

Can someone post a pic of the difference between resistor wires/non resistor wires and is there a way to ID resistor plugs/non resistor plugs visually?

For me any way, not sure if it's worth the money. Between the carbon build up and oil that invariably gets drawn in through the breather in the air box and finds it way to the left plug.....I just run what's cheap and in spec. Clean them and regap with tune up.

How many manufacturers in the world use WIZBANG spark plugs as factory install?? NONE, ZERO, NADA

Not one of these teams of qualified engineers has found them viable for thousands of motor designs. Any improvements noted are so small as to make them far too expensive in a rational sence. A 2% benefit cannot overcome a doubling or more of the cost.

If you are not running good enough with stock plugs, the plugs are not the problem and different plugs will not fix you.

Heaps...that means lots and lots. If you haven't pulled many sparkplugs in your life, then get a sparkplug catalogue from any manufacturer, in the front section there will be photographs - 2,3, and 4 electrodes, extended tips, shielded electrodes, V grooves, taper seats etc. Wizbang everywhere.

Iridium ? I don't see the point, but try it and see. I'm using Bosch W78 Plus 4's. Doubled my HP and halved the fuel consumption.

For airheads, there isn't a big advantage (or any) for using exotic multi electrode plugs. The combustion chamber is designed for normal plugs. However, the iridium has to do with the electrode. It allows it to be smaller and last longer. In that regard, it shouldn't matter. The plugs will last longer, and spark well longer, but will cost more. So its a matter of choice.

my two running airheads have standard Bosch plugs but I tend to use
fancy plugs on some of my cars and bikes, silver plated in my cb750
(very short life) and platinum in my gt turbo, can't remember what I have
in the others

Anything that helps a bit is good in my book but I doubt I'll bother on the
airheads

Wizbang spark plugs are to give extended service life in todays vehicles, think replacement @ 25-35kmiles rather than the normal 5k miles on our bikes.

Think 100k miles. It's really remarkable.

Exactly, whizzbang plugs are meant for a engine with high efficiency I.E. a very tightly controlled combustion process. These old aircooled tractor motors (while very reliable) have too much variation in combustion chamber temps with minimal fuel control. Modern fuel injection has maps to match the fuel delivery rate precisely to internal temp, atmospheric temp, engine speed and load (and other stuff).

An old motor with carburetors will not keep the Wizzbang plugs clean enough to take advantage of the extended service intervals and the wizzbangs do very very very little, if nothing at all to promote combustion efficiency. You would not put iridium plugs in a 1972 Ford with a 300 6cyl and expect them to last 80k-90-100k miles even if the motor was fresh.

On these antique motors save yourself some money, buy a quality "normal" plug and inspect them at the correct intervals.

Anyone who has any experience with aluminum spark plug threads knows that means teardown and thread restoration too many times. But hey, you need a complete valve job by then anyway.

+ 1 . Iridium plugs provide no advantage over standard plugs.

I've run Iridium plugs in other motorcycle engines and they do make a difference in driveability. You should be able to find the cross reference you need and they are certainly worth a try. I wouldn't worry too much about adding the 5k plug resistance to the plug wire resistance, with the Iridium's narrower plug tip, they don't take as much voltage to fire.

I used them in some first generation Goldwing's which had point ignition with no issues. I also currently use them in my Harley and there is a noticeable difference ( to the better ) between them and the stock plugs.

So go ahead and try them.

+1 for cycleman's explanation and results.

Others have had similar results even documenting a 2hp gain on Yamaha xs650 and 750s on dynojet testing (see http://www.xs650direct.com/products-27.html site).

As the xs engine has a similar combustion camber shape as the airhead I thought it would be worth a try. Yes the plug is expensive but if it extends the service life and if it improves the engine performance even marginally it would be worth the extra cost. The reduced voltage required to fire a "pin" type electrode should provide reduced fouling and improved starting (or so the theory goes).

While cycleman may well be right about not worrying about the plugs built in 5k resistance, I tend to like to duplicate the original ignition specs as closely as possible so as not to stress the coils.

Just my thoughts and I'm no expert.

ebay price is $25ea .. ouch... checked Oriellys who had em for $7 ea
for $15, I'll give em a try ...

BMW R80GS R80ST R80RT R80 ngk IRIDIUM spark plug 6637

Not running 5k resistance caps isn't about the coils. It's about the ICU and hall effect sensor. Running less resistance IS hard on them.

I run them in my truck but I only change plugs every 100k miles. Other than that I have my doubts about any performance change. I have never noticed any difference running platnum or whatnot. I sure didn't notice any difference with split fires but that fad seem to be over. In my bike? I had just as soon change regular plugs versus cleaning longer lasting ones. The crude WILL build up on them!

I have been running NGK iridium plugs in my 1983 R80ST for years now. Haven't touched them except for valve adjustments and they still look great. Much easier to start than before, and they never seem to load up. Best improvement for the money so far.