I've read that with today's unleaded fuels with the ethanol, and the efi, that you can't get a plug reading anymore. They all look pretty white because the fuel burns cleaner. True?

 

White because stock bikes are running hot because of the lean conditions necessary to keep the EPA happy

 

Not sure about that. I've seen plugs from bikes that have Power Commanders, Serts, etc. on them and they look pretty white too. Reason I ask is because I had a PC on my last bike, and I see no difference in plug color compared to my current bike. I asked my "indy" about that, and he told me the same thing. Quote------> "Today's fuels make it very hard to tell how rich or lean your bike is by looking at the plugs. Not like it used to be with carbs and the older gasolines. Unless you're running really rich, they all look the same." <------ End Quote...... I've also seen that posted different places on the internet (so you know it has to be true! LOL). Anyway, was just wondering what you all have heard about it.

 

Probably true with EFI machines, carbed bikes still color the plugs enough to get a reading with meaning.

 

Yea, I still have some plugs thrown in my toolbox from my old carbed EVO. Nice and tan color.

EFI has a lot of advantages, but sometimes I think carbs were better.

 

Don't know for sure, but white still means hot, they didn't turn white from snow.

 

I don't check them often, but my plugs are light tan. Before I installed the TMax, they were always white. And that includes running XIED's and later on a Fuelpak. Not sure what it means, just saying they are definitely not white. And the bike runs a whole lot stronger with the TMax.

 

rich or lean can be determined when they are to extremes by the discoloration of the threads near the end of the plugs. More threads discolored usually indicates a leaner condition.

 

I believe that tuning by plug color can be accomplished with aftermarket tuners that allow setting target a/f ratio.
It really depends on how much time one wants to put into it. The autotune function of some tuners will make adjustments (but not change the target a/f ratio). The a/f ratio is imho a best guess. Unless someone wants to run a bike at certain rpm's at certain operating temps and elevations, with various fuels and shut down, coast to a stop and read the plugs would someone know if the a/f ratio target at a given point is optimal. Tuning is truly an art that requires knowledge and practice.
One can get an optimal tune by understanding the bike, it's efi and tuner.
This is also what separates some shops (tuners) from others.