spark plugs interval

[elvis]

How often do you change the spark plugs?

The books says every 12000 km and for imperial units it goes like this: 7500 miles, 15000 miles, 24000 miles and 30000 miles.

Thanks,

Elvis

[ringadingh]

I have almost 30,000 miles on my plugs and I just looked at them the other day. They are still ok and the bike is running well.
I'll probably replace them sometime in the fall.

[Cajunrider]

I replaced mine after 10,000 miles. They looked so good that I kept them just in case. I now have 16,000 on the replacements and haven't looked at them since putting them in. Thanks for the reminder though.

[macmac]

I pulled mine on day 3 to anti seize em, ain't looked again and got 17,ooo miles. In the next 3,ooo I might look again.

Well that isn't exactly true, since setting up the TFI I looked again but not for the same things.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

I have 9930 miles on my Nomad and haven't even pulled any of the plugs. Bike runs great but I do need to look at them.

[elvis]

Thanks guys, that gives me piece of mind for the upcoming trip.
E.

[dank]

I ran the plugs inn my Nomad for 36,000 miles. Seemed to be running well. Still good mpg. Then I put new ones in. And WOW!!!!! MPG went up 2-3 mpg and the smoothness and performance were dramatically better, even though I hadn't noticed any lack in either before. It really was a noticeable difference. My son didn't know I had changed the plugs and commented that it seemed like I was accelerating faster when we rode together. So I'd say if you are above 20,000 count it good and put a new set in. The old ones will keep working ok, no question, so if you just cant' afford the new ones right now, keep the old ones in, but you are really missing out on the best the bike can offer by not changing the plugs. I'm at a little over 19,000 on my ST1300 and just bought a new set I'll install this week. I'll be interested to see If I can tell in the performance.

[Blue Rebel]

10.2k miles on original plugs. Probably should look them over though.

[dhodges]

I checked mine at 12,000 miles and they are the correct color, no deposits and correct gap. In order to lose performance one of those has to change IMO.

[dank]

Originally Posted by BCNUL8R

I checked mine at 12,000 miles and they are the correct color, no deposits and correct gap. In order to lose performance one of those has to change IMO.

I'm not a spark plug expert in any way, but mine looked good and had proper gaps at 36,000 miles. But the new ones were definitely better. Plugs do wear out: the coatings wear off of the electrodes as they fire. Not sure how fast, but they do wear off. Which of course can also change the gap. It can then be reset, but that doesn't restore the metal that was lost.

[rickyboy]

I don't mean to hijack the thread "E", but I did pick up some new plugs the other day in Bellingham.
I have been concerned on just how the bike has been running since I got back from Medicine Hat. The motor seemed to run fine at an idle but when the RPM's were increased it had a .......ah???? ....rough feel to it. When I first really noticed it, I was riding the bike and wondered if there was a U-joint issue. The roughness seemed to be under my butt. I pulled the clutch in at speed and let off the fuel and it seemed fine. then I did that again and revved the motor and the roughness seemed to return. I took it into my local shop {"HoleShot" for you Vancouver west coast guys}.
I had, who the service guy said was their "go to guy" with puzzeling issues such as mine have a look and a ride only to have him rtn. to tell me it seemed just fine with him. ....OK !! if you say so I thought. I road back to the cabin with the same feeling as before,..... "something just ain't right here." Then I thought I'd ride over to Kawasaki in Bellingham and buy some plugs and change them out to see if maybe, just maybe I had a bad plug. I bought them and went back to the bike to go home {the cabin} and for some reason pushed the plug cap on the cylinders on the left side. The frt. was fine, the rear cyl. plug didn't seem to be on tight. Hey wait!!! the cap is ice cold. .....it's not even attached to the plug. I took the plug off the wire and noticed it was corroded. I got the pocket knife out and chipped some of it off as best I could and got the plug cap to go on the plug. Started it up and wouldn't you know it,.....it ran "slicker than snot on a door knob". Needless to say I'll be going back to HoleShot to let them know their "go to guy" might not be the one "to go to". I bought some new plugs anyway and thought I might just change them out for the heck of it. It's been a while since I changed them and the price was right at $12.00 for the 4 of them.

I just saw the thread and thought I'd tell my story.

[elvis]

rickyboy>>
Started it up and wouldn't you know it,.....it ran "slicker than snot on a door knob".
<<

Good to hear from you Rick and thanks for sharing your experience. I'll inspect my plugs.

Cheers,

Elvis

[metricman]

i changed mine at every 10.000 miles need it or not i just do it,like changing oil.
why give it chance to mess up, that's what preventive maintenance is all about.