Hi I am quite sure this has been discussed in great detail 100 times BUT as I am a new member of the Triumph family I am going to throw it out there !! I have recently bought a 2008 Tiger 1050 and I am planning to change the standard CR9EK plugs to Iridium plugs as part of the service I notice there is a couple of options for replacement plugs for the same year something to do with running temp but to be honest its going right over my head all I want to do is replace the plugs to a slightly more efficient plug as I am not sure the last time they were changed !! Any advice would be much appreciated .
I my honest opinion I would stick to the original plug CR9EK, I actually went down the same route as you when I had my Vmax, changed to iridium although I did initially fool myself into thinking it was better I found the plugs didn't last as good as the originals which I put back in. Just my personal opinion but no harm done trying it out for yourself !!!
Thanks Tez I may just leave alone it just feels like rite thing to do when you purchase a 2nd hand bike as part of your servicing as you don't know last time they were replaced. It confused me even more when they stock two different iridium plugs for the same bike same year !!
Agree with TEZ, tried Iridium plugs in the Bonnie and convinced myself it ran better (sure it didn't really) so have always stuck with the standard plug from then on. Good pan to change them though as you don't know how long they've been in there.
As the other guys have said there's nothing wrong with standard parts, keep everything nice and serviced and changed now and again and it'll run fine
As like the rest have already said, keep it safe and standard, some of these 'Carlos Fandango' bits can cause all sorts of problems in later life and usually cost more than they are worth
I look at it this way if Mr Triumph could make a bike run better and faster for an extra couple of quid he would have fitted em
What a product costs to manufacture and what the selling price's is, are not a direct relationship. You think it costs more to make a 2.0L diesel than a 1.4L diesel engine??? Nope, but car manufacturers will charge more for a bigger engine!! It's what we as customers will pay, not the manufacturing cost. The only industry I was an insider was in drills, there was a list price and then we sold them to merchants at 80% discount !!!! The merchant then stuck his bit on and sold them to shop, then shop stuck their bit on and sold it to you at list price. So if Triumph stuck on £100 more expensive shock, it would be £500 more by the time you paid for it !!! (slight exageration, but you get my point ) Look at the price of a R model compared to the standard bike, way more than Triumph pay Ohlins, Brembo etc for the bling bits.
An iridium plug will not give better performance, and not last any longer....and probably wont claim to. But they are proven to offer better starting from cold, quicker warm up, and better fuel economy. And like any plug, the heat range you need will depend on your riding style, and whether it is being used mainly on long motorway speed runs or mainly around town. I can vouch that they definitely make a noticeable difference when fitted to 70's and 80's Bonnie's etc. that have had electronic ignition fitted....but as said you will hardly notice the difference on a modern bike...although the slight mpg improvement should soon return the extra cost?? Graham......(been a while since last on here!!.....long story, for another day)
Thanks Steve, I'm afraid to say I have been "over to the dark side" for couple of months touring around the UK on my BMW F800GS .....lifting a depression, after more than a few traumas at home. Taking the old T140E (yes, it is just old enough at 1980 to qualify) to Bill Targett memorial rally this weekend though....and seriously thinking of digging into remains of pension pot for a new Tiger 800 XRC
