Just a note to all those GTR owners who feel that they should follow Kawasakis service schedule regarding spark plugs. My Versys 1000 has just had it's first visit to the the dealers since it was new, it's now done 18,000 miles, and whilst I do most of the servicing myself, some stuff like plugs and valve clearances I leave to the dealer. I decided long ago that the valves would not be checked until the bike had done 50,000 miles, so a long way to go until then, but I thought I would have the plugs changed at just over twice the suggested mileage. The lads saved the plugs for me to see their condition, and they were just like brand NEW. So my advice would be dont even think about changing them until at least 30,000 miles. :wink:
Useful info.
Pity you didn't get them to check the clearances.......just for the hell of it... :mfr_lol: :whistling:
Changed mine at 50k+
Geoff, are they the same plugs which are in the GTR and do you have any photos of them you can post on here so we can have a look at how good their condition is?
Quote from: The Wolf on July 02, 2014, 09:16:49 PM
Geoff, are they the same plugs which are in the GTR and do you have any photos of them you can post on here so we can have a look at how good their condition is?
Steve, You know that I am a numpty regarding putting photos on here. I will take one of them up to Rogers and ask him to do the honours. I'm not sure if they are the same as the GTR, but they are NGK CR9EIA. The tip of the plug that normally wears/burns away is as new, and the colouring is as a manual would show, regarding a plug that is in top condition.
Geoff, out of interest what are the service intervals on that there Versys thing of yours, why have you not had it to the dealer for any scheduled maintenance before 18k miles?
Quote from: The Wolf on July 03, 2014, 01:46:48 PM
Geoff, out of interest what are the service intervals on that there Versys thing of yours, why have you not had it to the dealer for any scheduled maintenance before 18k miles?
I do oil+ filter myself at 4,000 mile intervals, I have also changed the brake fluid, I strip clean and re-lube brake piston rubbers at approx every 2 thousand miles. The chain adjustment and lubing is a doddle to do, and I do that every week. So basically the only things that I ask the dealer to do are the things that I cant do myself. The big V has just had new plugs, air filter, fuel synchronization checked, and the steering head bearings re-greased. I could have done the air filter myself but thought as the mechanic would have to remove that to get at the plugs it would be sensible to let him do it at the same time. They also pulled all the electrical connectors apart, then silicone greased them. So all the stuff done by myself cost next to nowt, and the bill from Orrell (my dealer) was £242.69, air filter was £21.88. plugs £66.28. which equaled£16.57 each :eek: labour was £114 = 2.28 hours, and the VAT was £40.43. So basically the bike has had a full big service to Kawasaki specification for not a great deal of money. :banana: :banana:.. So the answer to your question Steve is there has been nothing on the service schedual that has not been done, Its just experience (I'm 66 ya know) tells me that changing stuff at manufacturers recommended intervals is sometimes bordering on stupid ie (plugs7,500 miles :mfr_lol:). And it's not because i'm a tight wedge, my bike wants for nothing, It's just that over the years I have learned how to do the right things at the right time. :banana: :banana:.
The plugs in the C-14 (GTR) are iridium and typically go 100K + miles in auto use. I pulled the ones from my bike at 25K to change them and they looked new as well as gapped w/in 0.001" of spec. so I put them back in for another 25K. Ended up changing them at 50K more out of guilt than any real reason :-)
Just my opinion and experience but Kawasaki's recommendations for service intervals makes no sense to me at all. Too long on oil changes, far too short on spark plug changes, too short for valve lash checks, too long for air filter changes, etc., etc.
If the owner of the bike is willing to violate the intervals of the service manual and accept a small risk in possible warranty coverage, it makes a lot of sense to do all major maintenance in some reasonable intervals; I use 25K miles on my bike for the first two but skipped the 75K interval. This winter I will be in the 100K range and again ready for a major maintenance cycle. The advantage to this is that the great majority of labor on this bike is in getting to the part where the maintenance actually begins; change the spark plugs takes 10 minutes tops but it is hours getting to that point and then putting all the 'clothes' back on the bike. By combining the maintenance, we can at least use one cycle of labor (or money if having someone else do the work) for all the actual tasks being performed. It makes sense on this bike to combine the spark plug change, valve lash check, throttle body synchronization and air filter change into one service.
Just a thought....
Brian
Quote from: 100milesaway on July 02, 2014, 07:53:21 PM
Just a note to all those GTR owners who feel that they should follow Kawasakis service schedule regarding spark plugs. My Versys 1000 has just had it's first visit to the the dealers since it was new, it's now done 18,000 miles, and whilst I do most of the servicing myself, some stuff like plugs and valve clearances I leave to the dealer. I decided long ago that the valves would not be checked until the bike had done 50,000 miles, so a long way to go until then, but I thought I would have the plugs changed at just over twice the suggested mileage. The lads saved the plugs for me to see their condition, and they were just like brand NEW. So my advice would be dont even think about changing them until at least 30,000 miles. :wink:
Quote from: 100milesaway on July 02, 2014, 10:19:11 PM
Steve, You know that I am a numpty regarding putting photos on here. I will take one of them up to Rogers and ask him to do the honours. I'm not sure if they are the same as the GTR, but they are NGK CR9EIA. The tip of the plug that normally wears/burns away is as new, and the colouring is as a manual would show, regarding a plug that is in top condition.
Here ya go as seen today...in fairness the pictures don't really do justice as the plugs did look extremely good :smiley:
(http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n326/oldeconey/2014-07-06102029_zps6ad60ea2.jpg) (http://s336.photobucket.com/user/oldeconey/media/2014-07-06102029_zps6ad60ea2.jpg.html)
(http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n326/oldeconey/2014-07-06102021_zps3c506256.jpg) (http://s336.photobucket.com/user/oldeconey/media/2014-07-06102021_zps3c506256.jpg.html)
Geoff, not quite what I would describe as "looked brand new"! :mfr_lol:
(http://www.aviciouscycle.ca/images/ProductImages/CR8EIX.jpg)
(http://i2.cdnds.net/13/09/618x323/odd_specsavers2.jpg)
OK, :surrender: If we have to be pedantic A. the photo was perhaps not the best, it is very difficult to get a shot of the very tip of the plug. B if you saw the plug close up you would agree that it looks ALMOST new. It will certainly be staying in my spares drawer, and going back to work sometime in the future. :smiley:
:mfr_lol: @ Andy :clap: :clap:
That made my day :)
I find its wise to read all previous posts within a thread before making your own, and in doing so it can be seen that in my post with the pictures I made it clear that the picture
"don't really do justice as the plugs did look extremely good"
Also you will see that the pictures were taken against the immaculate white background of Geoff's top box thus making the plugs look worse than they actually are. :smartass:
The point is that the plugs are in exceptional condition despite heavy mileage, and thereby dismissing Kawasakis suggestion of the need for more frequent/costly plug changes.
I'm glad that some mirth has been enjoyed within the thread though :yes: :mfr_lol: