Is it OK to use Iridium Spark Plugs in my 04 290 Sherco? I was thinking of trying the NGK BPR5EIX 6597 Iridium IX, but wanted to check first incase it does something horrible to my engine!

Should be perfectly fine.

I put one in my 315r and it was instanly different (in a good type of way)

Highly recommended.

Think about it!!

I can notice the change when a dirty or fouled plug is changed .

But! Correct plug [heat range] and gapped to spec, isn't a SPARK, a spark!!

V tip, copper head, platinum, Iridium, chocolate coated, does it make a difference, why pay $5 a plug when a $2 plug will work just as good.

Are there benefits to wonder plugs? or is it all hype.

The manufacturer of the plug, and the manufacturer of where you are sticking it! at more than twice the $$ they just sticking it!!.....................................................to you.

If it made a machine run so much better would it not come stock?

Could you take the plug out and tune your bike on how the plug looked, or is! cost most must be the best all the tuning you need ?

Think about it!!

I can notice the change when a dirty or fouled plug is changed .

But! Correct plug [heat range] and gapped to spec, isn't a  SPARK,  a spark!!

V tip, copper head, platinum, Iridium, chocolate coated, does it make a difference, why pay $5 a plug when a $2 plug will work just as good.

Are there  benefits to wonder plugs? or  is it all hype.

The manufacturer of the plug, and the manufacturer of where you are sticking it!  at more than twice the $$ they just sticking it!!.....................................................to you.

If it made a machine run so much better would it not come stock?

Could you take the plug out and tune your bike on how the plug looked, or is! cost most must be the best all the tuning you need ?

Had this argument last year with the SuperMoto lads.

So I bought some Brisk plugs and took them with new NGK to the dyno and ran the plugs back to back.

Results were ..................................... and extra 2rwhp and the bike held onto the peak power instead of dropping straight off with the NGK.

Dyno tester has been tuning bikes for over 20 years and said he hadn't seen such a cheap way of getting an extra 2 rwhp out of an already well tuned engine.

Conclusion: If a spark is just a spark then how is this possible. The Brisk and the Iridium plugs create a more efficient spark that burns more of the fuel which in turn produces a better explosion giving far superior combustion. There is no point in "back" tuning an engine to run on a weaker spark solution when you can have extra horses easier and cheaper.

So in conclusion:-

"A spark is a spark" - No

Does a good plug make a difference - Yes (Splitfire not included)

Can I back up this with data from a calibrated machine - Yes

Can you back up up the negative comments with the same data - No

Or are you just pulling theories out of the air? - Yes

HTH

Poke

QUOTE]

Had this argument last year with the SuperMoto lads.

So I bought some Brisk plugs and took them with new NGK to the dyno and ran the plugs back to back.

Results were ..................................... and extra 2rwhp and the bike held onto the peak power instead of dropping straight off with the NGK.

Dyno tester has been tuning bikes for over 20 years and said he hadn't seen such a cheap way of getting an extra 2 rwhp out of an already well tuned engine.

Conclusion: If a spark is just a spark then how is this possible. The Brisk and the Iridium plugs create a more efficient spark that burns more of the fuel which in turn produces a better explosion giving far superior combustion. There is no point in "back" tuning an engine to run on a weaker spark solution when you can have extra horses easier and cheaper.

So in conclusion:-

"A spark is a spark" - No

Does a good plug make a difference - Yes (Splitfire not included)

Can I back up this with data from a calibrated machine - Yes

Can you back up up the negative comments with the same data - No

Or are you just pulling theories out of the air? - Yes

HTH

Poke 

Was this performance increase on a motor that puts out 350 HP or a trials motor that puts out about 16 HP. ?

Was this performance increase on a motor that puts out 350 HP or a trials motor that puts out about 16 HP. ?

Neither, a halfway house SuperMoto engine that started out with 55rwhp and ended up with 65rwhp

I was a convert a couple of years ago and still am. Difficult to convince some folk on how much difference a few extra quid on a plug can make.

Have you tried one Ishy ?

Interesting to hear what a "Brisk" plug might be, as its a make that I have never heard of.

Have a look here

I used the LGS version in the Husaberg

Great plugs, but in the UK it is easier and cheaper to buy them from the USA.

HRC and the other trials manufacturers spend a bob or two on R & D, to improve the motors etc, and trials bikes have gone up in price to near $8,000 US, if stated in Hop's post an increase of 2 ponies on a trials iron is a very significant performance increase, why are they not using those plugs ?

A race motor, spends most of it's life at Max RPM, a trials motor spends most of it's life at less than half throttle.

I have tried Platinum plugs, and the manufacturers recommended, and was unable to detect a noticeable improvement from stock, but my bike could of been set up and running correctly to start with.

How often do people change and/ or compare a plug when it's running fine ?

of course changing a plug when it's fouled or dirty will show an improvement.

It's your money spend it how you like.

I swapped to a vx plug on the advice of a Yorkshireman living in Yorkshire, wouldn't run anything else now.

I swapped to a vx plug on the advice of a Yorkshireman living in Yorkshire, wouldn't run anything else now.

Some more advice from a Yorkshireman not living in Yorkshire, **** off.

Wonder did you try the recommended NGK plug, as well as the Brisk one and the Iridium?

Husaberg - Used NGK then dynoed with new recommended NGK/Brisk = definite power increase, I have the paper stating that.

Montesa - Used stock NGK was crap and fouled, stopping the bike dead. Put a new NGK in and it started and ran OK. Put the NGK Iridium in and it started easier and runs a lot smoother. Ticking over at real low rpm where before I had to use throttle to keep it running. No change to carb settings.

Definately worth the extra few quid to try as you don't have to gap this plug so it takes a lot of gueswork out of the setup.

Remember that manufacturers will always supply the cheapest part that does the job. If a spark plug costs them an extra $5 it is money they will not recover in the sale price as people will expect the bike to be sold running, and this is the only criteria they have to meet (and they do)

$5 per bike multiplied by each sale, even if it is only 10k unit per year is a lot of money to come directly out of the profits and it is nothing to do with R&D at this stage, it is the company bean counters and if they can save $5 per bike, they will ............. always!!

Back to plugs.

Not saying you MUST use one, but that you would be foolish not to try one for yourself. If you don't you will never know, if you do the worst thing that can happen is you have a working spark plug and the bike runs.

Poke

Old but worth reading, some points agree with what you are saying, but in a racing application.

http://www.strappe.com/plugs.html