Spark Plugs

I did a search - didn't find a lot of recent posts. I'm trying to get my back as MPG efficient as possible. I've put maybe 10k miles on the bike since I got it last year, and I know the plugs have not been replaced in some time. Bike has 27,800 miles on it right now. What spark plugs are you running? OE Honda ones or something aftermarket? If aftermarket, let me know what they are and how you like them. I run NGK in my M3, and have run 'em in other vehicles and do like 'em. I have not run them in a bike before. If I go NGK, there are several options here it seems: http://www.bikebandit.com/ngk-v-power-spark-plug?mg=7479&t=1

 

Almost all Japanese bikes and cars come from the factory with NGK.

 

Thanks. Per NGK's website it says part # CR9EH-9 & stock # 7502. Now, per the link above for Bike Bandit, it is listing several others. Is NGK only listing the OE one then? I find it odd that if BB is saying others fit, why is NGK not listing the same?

 

Other brands of plugs will work IF they are cross referenced. They must be the right part number for that engine.
But the stock NGK's work great.

You can always spend more money. But the NGK's last a long time.
Do not forget to check the gap before installing. DO NOT use a feeler or thickness gage to measure the gap.
Use a spark plug gap WIRE tool ONLY. Or else the gap will be too large.

Stick with the STANDARD heat range plug on a stock motorcycle.

 

Take a magnifying glass and look closely at the electrode on the spark plug.
You will see that the clopped off end curves downward and you will see that a thickness guage will give a false reading. That is WHY they make WIRE gages for spark plugs.

 

My motorcycle/race mechanic buddy here at work has both the wire and the thin sheets of metal that check for gap. I just ordered 4 of these based on a review from SparkPlugs.com that say they produce the most power in a popular brands spark plug comparison:



Yes, it's an SRT-4, but still nice to see these plugs compared:

 

fwiw, I just got a set of Iridiums on amazon -4- for $27.50 for a different bike. I will say that when I changed the plugs on the VFR to iriums I did notice easier starts, smoother operation and slightly better (1-2 mpg) increase. Old plugs were not fouled, but "it was time" - shop around