Spark Plugs
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 655
Likes: 6
Spark Plugs
What do you use? Why do you use those?
We all want to tweak out as much performance with what we have for as little money as possible... well, at least some of us do. Spark plugs are something that many of us can afford on the fly.
We all know that plugs and oil and tires are discussed often, but I hadn't yet seen the info the help me make a decision. We all like to talk about it anyway, so lets do it.
So the big question is, do your "high performance" plugs give you a little more go when compared to the plain jane, factory plugs?
Currently, i have the same 'ol plugs that came with the bike.
Are Screamin' Eagles worth it? Another brand?
We all want to tweak out as much performance with what we have for as little money as possible... well, at least some of us do. Spark plugs are something that many of us can afford on the fly.
We all know that plugs and oil and tires are discussed often, but I hadn't yet seen the info the help me make a decision. We all like to talk about it anyway, so lets do it.
So the big question is, do your "high performance" plugs give you a little more go when compared to the plain jane, factory plugs?
Currently, i have the same 'ol plugs that came with the bike.
Are Screamin' Eagles worth it? Another brand?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,977
Likes: 85
From: Nevada
I've tried just about all of them. Noticed absolutely no difference. The iridiums last longer but so what. $1.50 Autolites work just as well and will easily last 10K.
Someone will chime in here and say you need to use the stock HD plugs because of the ion sensing that makes timing changes for anti knock.
Someone will chime in here and say you need to use the stock HD plugs because of the ion sensing that makes timing changes for anti knock.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,120
Likes: 17
From: Indiana
Ill be the different guy! I'm not talking about dyno differences because I have no idea, but being that I live in a colder climate area the NGK iridiums work better then stock plugs. Just to see the difference i put the stock plugs back in and I stalled the bike in the morning three days in a row. The stock plugs just didn't fire as good when cold. The stock plugs took a couple blocks before it ran normal, after they warmed up a bit. The iridiums fired the bike up instantly in colder weather and the bike didn't cough and sputter down the road. The stockers coughed and sputtered till they were nice and warmed up. If you live in warmer climates I'm sure stockers would be fine, but being that i live in the northwest I'm not one of those guys that lets my bike idle in the driveway for 5 minutes to warm up the bike in the morning, so the iridiums work better for me!
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 633
Likes: 1
From: Southern Indiana
Ill be the different guy! I'm not talking about dyno differences because I have no idea, but being that I live in a colder climate area the NGK iridiums work better then stock plugs. Just to see the difference i put the stock plugs back in and I stalled the bike in the morning three days in a row. The stock plugs just didn't fire as good when cold. The stock plugs took a couple blocks before it ran normal, after they warmed up a bit. The iridiums fired the bike up instantly in colder weather and the bike didn't cough and sputter down the road. The stockers coughed and sputtered till they were nice and warmed up. If you live in warmer climates I'm sure stockers would be fine, but being that i live in the northwest I'm not one of those guys that lets my bike idle in the driveway for 5 minutes to warm up the bike in the morning, so the iridiums work better for me!
I had researched plugs and came across this mentioned before (maybe by JaronB).
I got the NGK and I do feel it lights-up and settles to a smooth idle/throttle quicker with the Iridiums. For the small amount of money I am very pleased. I will continue with them if they continue to run well.
As far as performance gain.....NOPE
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: St Charles, Missouri
i have SE plugs on my Fat Bob only because the original spark plugs needed a change and i got 25% holiday discount on the SE plugs during the last holiday season.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Louisiana
Over the years I have tried all sorts of plugs in all sorts of motors... Split fires, platinum, so on and so forth ...
Never noticed anything out of any of the fancy plugs but my wallet getting slimmer... Did my 10k service this weekend and used regular NGK's from my local indy. Have used NGK's for years in all my 2 strokers and they work well. Reliable. Cheap. Autolites are just as good
@JarodB - As far as colder climate I would think you could run a 1 step hotter plug and save the extra cost of the Iridiums. Should do the same thing
Never noticed anything out of any of the fancy plugs but my wallet getting slimmer... Did my 10k service this weekend and used regular NGK's from my local indy. Have used NGK's for years in all my 2 strokers and they work well. Reliable. Cheap. Autolites are just as good
@JarodB - As far as colder climate I would think you could run a 1 step hotter plug and save the extra cost of the Iridiums. Should do the same thing
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,138
Likes: 26
From: Southern Oregon
Ill be the different guy! I'm not talking about dyno differences because I have no idea, but being that I live in a colder climate area the NGK iridiums work better then stock plugs. Just to see the difference i put the stock plugs back in and I stalled the bike in the morning three days in a row. The stock plugs just didn't fire as good when cold. The stock plugs took a couple blocks before it ran normal, after they warmed up a bit. The iridiums fired the bike up instantly in colder weather and the bike didn't cough and sputter down the road. The stockers coughed and sputtered till they were nice and warmed up. If you live in warmer climates I'm sure stockers would be fine, but being that i live in the northwest I'm not one of those guys that lets my bike idle in the driveway for 5 minutes to warm up the bike in the morning, so the iridiums work better for me!