NGK plugs and the K12

[Dennis Andress]

In this thread Someone recommended NGK DCPR7E spark plugs for the K12. Here are my observations after using a set for 3,000 or 4,0000 miles (sorry, I don't keep track of mileage very well.)

 

The bike runs smoother with these plugs especially at higher revs. In fact, I now find myself normally running at 5,000 to 6,000 rpm which the K likes but I didn't do with the OEM plugs. The bike does backfire less on de-acceleration. Idle is smoother.

 

On the down side, My #4 plug wire failed and wouldn’t stay tight on the spark plug. The NGK plug immediately began misfiring. I put the OEM plugs back in and the misfire cleared enough to make the bike rideable until the new wire arrived. I contribute this to the NGK plugs .032.

 

I find these plugs a big improvement over the Bosch plugs. You can get them at NAPA.

 

Dennis

[Bruce C]

I second your opinion of the NGK plugs.

I installed NGK's(DCPR7E) at the 600 (yes, six hundred) mile service. The KRS now has 18,100 mi. I change out the plugs every 6,000mi. (for no reason other than the plugs are to be inspected every 6,000mi.(per manual) and the plastic is a pain to remove).

The NGK's are just as good in a K as they are in any other application.

My fuel mileage is consistantly 46-48 mpg.

I purchased the plugs from my neighborhood M/C shop for $3.55ea.

Bruce C

[Dennis Andress]

My fuel mileage is consistantly 46-48 mpg.

 

How do you do that? 32 mpg is my norm.

[JerryMather]

32 mpg is my norm.

 

I can't imagine why you only get 32 MPG.

[Dennis Andress]

I can't imagine why you only get 32 MPG.

 

Damn Loud Handle.....

[Bruce C]

Dennis

On a KRS you are not generally lugging around the side cases(wind resistance) all the time, the shorter windscreen(a big item, I can see a difference when I put the GT shield on this winter) makes a big difference.

The KRS is about 35lbs. lighter than the GT. No power windscreen motor to lug around.

I do have ABS,cruise control and all the junk except a heated seat.

The only time my mileage dips below 40mpg. is on I-10 to Phoenix at 4:00am. After that run It's back up to 46mpg.

Fuel light comes on around the 175-180mi. mark and I have run it to 206mi.(nervous time) between stops.

Aside from that I don't know why all the RS's get noticably better fuel mileage than a GT.

Another thing is that we live within 40mi. of each other. So, we ride the same roads.

To give you an example: On Thursday the 4th. I rode from Hemet to Julian via. Mesa Grande, Santa Ysabel,back around Lk. Henshaw, over Mt. Palomar down to the Pala casino, back road to Temecula. Then I-15-I-215 and Rt# 74 home. Traveled 177mi. consumed 3.675gal. for 48.21avg.mpg.

 

Bruce C

[Dennis Andress]

May I ask what your average speed is out there? I'll admit that when I travel the roads around Julian I'm moving well over 80 mph. Local freeway travel is normally done at 90-100 mph. (That's just a little bit faster than traffic....)

 

Dennis

[Bruce C]

Try dropping it back a peg or two. Then maybe you wouldn't be wondering how I average 46-48mpg. Also I would like to see you running well over 80mph aroung Julian. Actually I should say. "What for"?

 

Bruce C

[ELP_JC]

Dennis, do you need aftermarket wires to properly fit the NGKs? The gap is fine, as 0.8mm is recommended by the factory, and 0.032 is just a hair above that (0.8128mm, to be precise). I just bought new Boschs for my 12K service, but I like having a smoother idle and high-rpm operation. But don't want the wires to come loose.

 

Although mileage has a lot to do with speed, it also has a lot to do with altitude. I just got my best mileage ever on a recent AZ trip (78, 191, and NM 152, etc); a whopping 54 mpg. And I was hauling butt at 90 mph on the flat stuff, and on the twisties as well (no chicken strips).

I was taking care of my tires, but after noticing they wouldn't hit the wear bars on this trip EITHER (went to a Big Bend trip 2 weeks earlier), I sped up to my usual triple digits on the way back, and that logically brought my mileage down into the high 40s; still not bad at all. I live at 4K' of altitude, by the way. And the tires are Conti Road Attacks; awesome tires. Got 5,700 on them (a record for me), and they still have 500 miles left before the wear bars, but will ditch them due to an upcoming week-long trip to CO. Will try Pirelli Stradas sitting in the garage (free front tire from Pirelli; couldn't resist), but most likely will be going back to Contis. Good day.

[Dennis Andress]

No, the stock plug wires work fine. One of mine lost it's grip on the plug; which means I must have damaged it when pressing it onto the plug.

 

My last tank of gas ran noticably further before the light came on. And, I didn't run any less harder than before. I'll keep my eye on it but I'm wondering if the camel p#ss we get for gase in socal just got changed to it's sumertime blend.

 

Dennis