Spark Plug Redux

[phoenixtexoma]

Had a chance to experiment with plugs during our recent cold snap when it got down to 8 degrees for several days. Had been running Denso irridiums, switched over from Brisk DOR14LGS. With the garage door opened earlier to equalize with the outdoor temp at 10 degrees, the bike cranked on the 9th spin with the Denso plugs. The next morning at 11 degrees with the Brisk plugs, the bike fired on the 2nd spin. Next morning, temps were at 13 degrees and the bike again fired on the 2nd spin. Put the Denso plugs back in, fired on the 9th or 10th spin the next morning at 12 degrees. Stone cold idle was perfect with the Brisk both times, a little erratic and lumpy with the Denso until warmer. Note: am using the FRK and other mods. Adios Denso.

[Bob Hancock]

Which bike do you have? R12S?

[phoenixtexoma]

Sorry. Have a 03 BCP. Not trying to start another plug controversy, just that the cold starting thing is pretty impressive with the Brisk vs. Denso irridium. Or, maybe these bikes SHOULD crank on 2-3 spins regardless. Was just curious with the very cold (for n. Texas) temps we were having. I thought that stone cold starting would be the same regardless of plug type, but apparently not.

[Bob Hancock]

Yes....interesting. I had never even heard of Brisk.

[boxercup]

Greetings phoenixtexoma,

Good Observation!

The Denso Iridium is single side electrode with a very small center electrode. Small arc!

The Brisk DOR14LGS has four large side electrodes and a large center electrode.
Opportunity for 1-4 flashes per ignition cycle. Larger Arc

Hook them both up to a homemade test coil and you can easily see the difference.

Brisk has been my choice for consistent tuning results. They can take a rich mixture and turn it into more HP than any other plug that I have tested as by-product of better combustion efficiency.

Note: The Brisk DOR14LGS is a hot plug and they can cause engine damage in lean running engines.

[peter f]

Hmm...wonder why their range is so limited with regard beemers

[HairyHarry]

Taking 10 spins to catch sounds like bike has starting problems besides the bit of iridium no BS. The 4 electrode Brisk plug has plenty of spark shoot metal so when you are cramking cold and the gas is in big globs all round, be a better trigger. A minute or two later and it makes no difference. Hotter plug can camouflage problems with an over-rich or old engine but for modern lean and clean, cold is classier. A plug could have 20 electrodes but there is only one spark each time.

[phoenixtexoma]

Robert: re lean running, I don't think I have an issue with that -- FRK, larger Collins 370 injectors, K-bike fuel pressure regulator. Recall that I did the FRK testing with the Brisk DOR14LGS plugs installed early last year? You noted from photos I posted on the forum that the plug burn was nearly perfect. Looked at the piston crowns with a scope, no carbon build-up with the Brisks. Not claiming these plugs work miracles, but my S likes them. They're just part of my tuning equation. That said, no rap against the high-quality Denso plugs.

[boxercup]

Greetings phoenixtexoma,

I can assure you that your engine is not running lean!

It was a warning not to run them in stock engines or modified applications that are not tuned.

The Brisk DOR14LGS is perfect for your engine.

Read them in a few hundred miles!

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Did you use the faux choke when you tried to start in the cold?

[AndrewA]

Originally Posted by phoenixtexoma

Had a chance to experiment with plugs during our recent cold snap when it got down to 8 degrees for several days. Had been running Denso irridiums, switched over from Brisk DOR14LGS. With the garage door opened earlier to equalize with the outdoor temp at 10 degrees, the bike cranked on the 9th spin with the Denso plugs. The next morning at 11 degrees with the Brisk plugs, the bike fired on the 2nd spin. Next morning, temps were at 13 degrees and the bike again fired on the 2nd spin. Put the Denso plugs back in, fired on the 9th or 10th spin the next morning at 12 degrees. Stone cold idle was perfect with the Brisk both times, a little erratic and lumpy with the Denso until warmer. Note: am using the FRK and other mods. Adios Denso.

In extreme low temperatures the FRK will make the bike run LEANER than a bike not equipt with a FRK.

I'd love to see the results of this plug comparison without the FRK attached.

[phoenixtexoma]

Robert: I use the fake choke when stone cold until temps are below 70 degrees and shut it off immediately when the engine fires. Andrew: don't forget that I have the oversized injectors and K-bike regulator, which might skew the comparison. Harry: lean and clean, and serious valve clatter under load. No thanks.

[pmc847]

phoenixtexoma,

What mpg are you getting with your setup?

You increased your fuel delivery by 24% over stock with injectors and K reg and even more with your FRK.

Currently I'm running the same RC injectors, stock fuel reg, laser chip and NGK iridium. I was using Bosch Plus 4 but bike starts better with the NGK.
Plugs still look a little rich. Currently getting 40 - 42 mpg. Use to get 46-48 with stock injectors. RC injectors did improve smoothness. THe buzz in the bars was very noticable (@ 4500 and up) before RCs

I had the K reg in but bike ran too rich.

I need to get back on dyno to see what the a/f is doing with this setup.

Philip
"It's a great bike but I can make it better, then blow it up and then make it better again".

04 R1100S BCR # 195
03 R1100S BCR #44 R.I.P. new home with 'onekiwi'
102.3 RWHP and 76.3 Torque
1150 cc cylinders
12:1 SJBMW pistons
BMW 36 mm intake valves
Ported and polished heads (just a little) by SJBMW
'07 R1200R cams
TBs bored +3 mm
RC Engineering Injectors (370 cc/min)
Throttle bodies matched to rubber mounts matched to heads
SJBMW Exhaust Accelerator Kit (modified)
Exhaust pipe welds ground down
Laser Exhaust
Laser 2 spark Chip
InDuct
SJ PowerFilter
K's 3.5 bar regulator back to 3 bar
Ohlins
Sargant Seat
Spiegler SS Brake Lines
LED tail/stop light and turn signals
Aux Fuel Tank (6.8 gallons total)

"The world is too dangerous to live in-not because of the people who do evil, but because of the people who sit and let it happen." (Albert Einstein)

[phoenixtexoma]

Mileage is about the same as yours, i.e., cruising at highway speeds. Less when I get ants in my pants and my throttle arm twitches. Photo included has been posted before, shown to save any looking, with just over 2k miles. The other plug was identical. This is with my current set-up as noted above, plus a SJBMW power filter and full induct with expanded snorkel, Lennie's Rocket Sprockets, SJ exhaust accelerators and cross-over pipe baffle removed. There's no sign of richness saw on either plug.

[turboflyer]

Looks a lot like the race plug for the Ducati. It does not have the scolloped ground, rather closed all around. I have not used them as I have been told they are great for racing but tend to foul out in lesser use. One has to also understand that the spark is not free. If there is more spark/ amperage then it is requiring more from your coils. It certainly is a science for sure.

[phoenixtexoma]

Am also running with the Nology performance coil/hotwire CDI setup for the R1100S that I think JonyRR uses as well. I didn't include it in my list of mods as there is spirited debate about its performance value (some earlier on this forum), so that aside there aren't any coil/spark issues on my S. The Brisk DOR series plugs like I'm running are OEM in Lamborgini, Rolls Royce, the new Mustang Super Snake and others. The Brisks have a pure silver core.

I do a lot of steady highway, farm-to-market twistie-turnies and fairly slow back roads riding, so if there were a richness problem in a particular area of engine operation, it would make itself pretty apparent pretty quickly. That hasn't happened, as the plug shows. I'm not making any claims for the Brisk plugs, just that they work well in my engine with the mods I've done.

[R111S]

Boxer Design in Germany likes these plugs (Brisk) from the Czech Republic as well...
http://www.boxer-design.de/en/detail.asp?ID=47&pID=727

[phoenixtexoma]

The recommended plugs for our boxers is Brisk DOR14LGS-T and the new Brisk DR12ZS, which is one heat range COLDER and looks like the Ducati plug. OK for less modified engines. For info, go to Brisk USA Enterprises, LLC or www.briskracing.com. Call one of the listed Brisk distributors in your area for tech info, the guys there are very helpful and will take time to talk to your about your specific bike and mods, or with no mods. No, I don't work for Brisk and am not plugging them. Just sharing my experience.

Recently, I rode over to the Ford dealership to look at a Mustang Super Snake on a travelling display and talked to one of their tech reps. Guess what they're using as OEM plugs?

[ckcarr]

Originally Posted by phoenixtexoma

Recently, I rode over to the Ford dealership to look at a Mustang Super Snake on a travelling display and talked to one of their tech reps. Guess what they're using as OEM plugs?

Um, let me guess... Champion? No, Autolite... maybe...

Wait! There it is..., only three posts back. By the same guy asking the question!

[phoenixtexoma]

Had seen the Mustang on the Brisk website, so I was just checking to see if it was just hype. Brisk was right there on the spec posters.

[phoenixtexoma]

This e-mail just arrived from the Brisk USA tech support:

Hi Tony,
The spark plug recommendation is correct. The DOR14LGS-T is a variation of the DOR14LGS spark plug but with reduced gap for modified application. When you increase the engine "breathing" ability you increase the pressures in the combustion chamber and engine output. Higher pressures in the combustion chamber require for the spark plug gap to be reduced, or use of high-power ignition system. You have already installed CDI ignition so I am not sure if you would benefit from DOR14LGS-T since the DOR14LGS worked for you. If you like to try the multispark design, the DR12ZS would be the spark plug to use.
You can order directly from us by calling 713 459 6977 or online at:www.BriskRacing.com