HiMile14
Expert Class
Posts: 424
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posted July 12, 2006 04:12 AM
Blitzkrieg, That's a great Post. My thinking is the same as yours, My VFR rolls 32,000 miles between replacements and one plug went almost went 50,000 miles with NO ill effect. I really don't ride the ZX-14 any different than I did with the VFR. Clearly the ZX is a hotter engine however after reading your post seems as though heat should not be a big deal for this plug.
The shop says to change them out before the trip but that's not my nature, I want to find the potential of everything. You know what I believe....These plugs will in fact make it 32,000 miles and God willing I'm going to prove this to everyone.
I don't ride a bike super hard but in this case I don't think it matters. I ride 18-21 hours at a time and that can't be easy on a spark plug so I will keep the new 4 pack with me on trips. I'll keep you posted.
Great Post Thanks Again
Rob
  
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blitzkrieg
Needs a job
Road kill = Free lunch.
Posts: 2044
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posted July 12, 2006 03:45 PM
I checked my R1's shop manual and interestingly they say to replace the iridiums at 8K miles which is in step with what Kawasaki is saying for the 14.
In contrast my zx-12r shop manual doesn't specify a replacement interval for the platinum's, they just specify clean and gap every 4K miles.
It will be interesting to see how the iridiums hold up. These are the first I've ever had.
I think you are wise to carry a spare set on your iron butt rides until we've all had a chance to put some time and miles on these plugs to see how they hold up over the long haul.
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"BTW....You need to get a girlfriend who's last name isn't .jpg"
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speedgene
Zone Head
Posts: 996
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posted July 12, 2006 04:15 PM
The article (thanks blitz) even mentions the "short cycle" the plug has living inside a M/C engine. I can think of 3 pluses for early throw: 1. No (head thread pulling) carbon buildup on those tiny plugs. 2. No need for anti-seize = electrolysis would definitely lock the plug in place running a higher mileage. 3. Less chance for fouling because the wording in the shop manual basically warns not to ride with sputtering electrons looking for a place to ground! They might backwash into the "Stick Coils," or ECU. That's goanna $uck when that $hit happens $itting on the $ide of the road with a burnt ECU.
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E-tard
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HiMile14
Expert Class
Posts: 424
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posted July 12, 2006 06:09 PM
Here is a picture of my future plug and a 31,500 mile plug from the VFR. As you can see they look a-like.
I'll bet a dollar our current plug will make 32k. What's the worst that can happen? She just won't fire is what past plugs do or don't when they give up.
Rob
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sands
Expert Class
Posts: 151
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posted July 12, 2006 06:45 PM
I sure wouldn't go 7,500 miles before changing the oil....
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blitzkrieg
Needs a job
Road kill = Free lunch.
Posts: 2044
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posted July 12, 2006 06:53 PM
I'm betting with you on this one. 
Remember the Seinfeld where Kramer test drives a new Saab and he and the salesman end up seeing how far below "E" they could go? LOL
I say we do that with the iridium's!
Now here is the caveat - I've got two bikes and living in Colorado and not using them for commuting I might put on 3K miles a year on each. Hell, my A1 (which I bought new in 06/01) only has 14K miles on it.
So....HiMile, I think this is gonna fall on your shoulders to rack the miles up. I am confident with you mileage (damn bro, you ride ALOT) that will be doable. 
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"BTW....You need to get a girlfriend who's last name isn't .jpg"
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blitzkrieg
Needs a job
Road kill = Free lunch.
Posts: 2044
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posted July 12, 2006 07:01 PM
quote:
I sure wouldn't go 7,500 miles before changing the oil....
Nor would I bro.
Call me old school, whatever, but even with syn I don't run it past 3K miles. Sometimes less.
When the shifting starts getting notchy it's time for fresh blood.
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"BTW....You need to get a girlfriend who's last name isn't .jpg"
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HiMile14
Expert Class
Posts: 424
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posted July 13, 2006 04:40 AM
quote:
I sure wouldn't go 7,500 miles before changing the oil....
I like to figure out what happens if. I do ride a lot so keep in mind 7,500 miles in the summer is done in 3 to 4 months maybe 5 to 6 months in Winter. If Kawasaki says 7500 miles between oil changes I'm good with that.
I work in the Auto industry and I've been lucky enough to speak with some of the sharpest engineers I'm betting in the world. At Honda they believe that oil is a finite resource and build the engines so that 8000-12000 mile oil changes will soon be the norm.
Me well I'm pretty hyper sensitive to the needs of most machines I ride or drive. Here is what I've noted with 8000-mile oil changes.
1. I prefer synthetic; in fact I've never gone more that 4000 miles on traditional oil. Synthetic oil is engineered to prefer hotter areas in the engine thus providing better protection.
Note this information came from my Ams-Oil magazine. I could not begin to explain WHY.
1a. My VFR has one of the worst flat spots of any motorcycle I've owned. When in Marysville, Ohio I asked a tech what could be done? He suggested Synthetic Oil. Make things more slippery in the engine and it should improve. He was right although it did not eliminate the flat spot, it was clearly better than before.
2. As miles are added I suspect contaminates allow the oil to hold heat. I currently have 5000 miles on my oil and I'm starting to notice that the engine is heating up a bit more than when the oil was new. The VFR does the same thing at about 6000 miles.
3. With 84,000 miles on the VFR I don't burn 1 drop of oil. This tells me I'm doing something right.
4. Oil is perishable. After 1 year get some new oil in that puppy.
This is just my opinion, backing with some evidence. Sorry I went so long.
Rob
ZX-14 6,926 miles
VFR 84,101 miles
PS for my trip I will be taking in 2 weeks the 14 will be getting new oil.
Under TMI: I use 20W-50 in summer. For Winter I blend 1 Qt 10W-40 the rest 20W-50 just in case I ride when the temperture falls below 28F
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