The catalogue that you have put a link to gives the wrong plugs for the 2008 to 2010 R1200GS it says they are the same as the TC !!! ???
Spark Plug Hunt
- Thread starter Baza 07
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that would come under their incompetence... but the model range was a bit confusing
the pig ugly facelift of 2008 can be the old or new engine
just as you can get a GSA with all the later parts of a twin cam but with the older engine...
how many plugs does a TC get ?- do they mean twin cam not twin spark...
the pig ugly facelift of 2008 can be the old or new engine
just as you can get a GSA with all the later parts of a twin cam but with the older engine...
how many plugs does a TC get ?- do they mean twin cam not twin spark...
For an expert you do talk some shite 
my July 2007 build 307 is near the end of the original's - then the pig ugly 2008 303 will have been in first production after the then usual summer cross over reset at the factory from Sept 2007 as a 2008 model year bike...
whilst the parts bit claims the 11 month overlap - not sure it didn't stop Sept 08 and become the TC from Oct 2008 (which probably means Oct 2009 and the parts list is "interesting")
rather than being obtuse - why not confirm how many plugs they put on the Twin Cam?
K25 (R 1200 GS) R 1200 GS 08 (0303,0313)
the engine with a more suitable power curve allegedly went until sept 2009K25 (R 1200 GS) R 1200 GS 10 (0450,0460)
the TC says its from Oct 2008whilst the parts bit claims the 11 month overlap - not sure it didn't stop Sept 08 and become the TC from Oct 2008 (which probably means Oct 2009 and the parts list is "interesting")
rather than being obtuse - why not confirm how many plugs they put on the Twin Cam?
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The Twin cam has 4 (2 per cylinder) spark plugs, they are NGK MAR8B-JDS.
The life seems be be about 12K miles before going out of tolerance.
I have not been able to find any direct replacements, especially iridium plugs.
The only Iridium plugs that have been close are Denso plugs which needed 2 threads machining from them.
The electrode on the Denso is 0.5mm Diameter and break down by 18K miles. ( tested on 2 sets)
Pre twin cam bikes got a lot better plug life especially with the replacement NGK Iridium plugs ( these had a centre electrode of 2mm diameter) and after 40K miles still looked good.
The life seems be be about 12K miles before going out of tolerance.
I have not been able to find any direct replacements, especially iridium plugs.
The only Iridium plugs that have been close are Denso plugs which needed 2 threads machining from them.
The electrode on the Denso is 0.5mm Diameter and break down by 18K miles. ( tested on 2 sets)
Pre twin cam bikes got a lot better plug life especially with the replacement NGK Iridium plugs ( these had a centre electrode of 2mm diameter) and after 40K miles still looked good.
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No need to hunt the Sparkplug
Last seen on his driveway fixing up his new camper somewhere in Cambridgeshire
Last seen on his driveway fixing up his new camper somewhere in Cambridgeshire
I have no idea what you refer to as pig ugly. At a glance they look exactly the same.
A list of the models in this link.
You tell me what exactly changed to make the 2008 pig ugly compared with the 2006.
BMW GS Series - a brief history
BMW GS Series – a brief history See also:History of the BMW Roundel BMW Motorcycle Name History BMW Boxer Twins History BMW R 1200 GS – The most successful BMW of all time R1200GS:R1200GS Model Changes 2004 to 2007 R1200GS Model Changes 2008 / 2009 2010 R1200GS / R1200 DOHC The GS timeline...
motorcycleinfo.co.uk
the bit of rubbish at the leading edge of the petrol tank (not the GSAs they always looked normal - but seeing what a disgusting a mess they've made of the R1300GS, goodness know if they'll be able to make that GSA bearable)
Interested you got a figure of roughly 12k miles, but yes, it sort of matches my experience - they don't last so long, and now I know, I'm checking them much sooner (tho not often enough if your mileage is about right - I'm checking at around 20-25k and they're always finished).
I've realised they idle is very smooth with the new plugs. I took it out for a run to check it all over before I drag it out for the run to Italy in the next days and I'm thinking that with new plugs, it's all smoother in general. I must remember this as a clue for when they need replacing!
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It's funny that you don't mind trashing the look of a bike that so many people who frequent this forum.
And tbh I really didn't realise that that chang occured from 2008.
Anyway as you said I can't see the difference in the GSA 's
If your bike is now running so much better with fresh plugs, is there a chance that the old plugs were knock-offs?
The reason I ask is that I watched a very good Youtube video a few days ago demonstrating how close the knock off copies look/feel, but how their resistances are all over the place. In the particular video I saw, he cured a bad misfire on his car and you could hardly tell the difference between legit and bootleg plugs unless you knew exactly what to look for and used a meter to measure their resistance.
The reason I ask is that I watched a very good Youtube video a few days ago demonstrating how close the knock off copies look/feel, but how their resistances are all over the place. In the particular video I saw, he cured a bad misfire on his car and you could hardly tell the difference between legit and bootleg plugs unless you knew exactly what to look for and used a meter to measure their resistance.
Is there a link to video of testing the resistance of copy plugs.
I am always careful to try and buy from reputable dealers but you never know.
I remove the plugs every 6K miles when I service the bike ( makes it easier to turn the engine over when checking valve clearances). Hence knowing they go out of tolerance after 12K miles.
When I purchased the bike (private buy) at just over 12k miles it had just had the 12K main dealer service. The chap I purchased it from gave me the invoices for the 6K and 12K service £394.70 and £495.80 back in 2015.
The plugs were the originals and were just about out of tolerance . Incidentally nothing that they stated on the invoice had been done except change the engine oil and filter. I was glad that it was not me that had been robbed.
The bike has now done over 93K miles so lots of sets of plugs.
I am always careful to try and buy from reputable dealers but you never know.
I remove the plugs every 6K miles when I service the bike ( makes it easier to turn the engine over when checking valve clearances). Hence knowing they go out of tolerance after 12K miles.
When I purchased the bike (private buy) at just over 12k miles it had just had the 12K main dealer service. The chap I purchased it from gave me the invoices for the 6K and 12K service £394.70 and £495.80 back in 2015.
The plugs were the originals and were just about out of tolerance . Incidentally nothing that they stated on the invoice had been done except change the engine oil and filter. I was glad that it was not me that had been robbed.
The bike has now done over 93K miles so lots of sets of plugs.
It's funny that you don't mind trashing the look of a bike that so many people who frequent this forum.
And tbh I really didn't realise that that chang occured from 2008.
Anyway as you said I can't see the difference in the GSA 's
that model was the first one I ever rode - this ex press demo was bonkers fast - no power off idle, hence really easy to stall and the world's most hopeless rear shock, were the bits I remember, they offered it 1k less than it was worth, but I couldn't bring my self to own such a pig ugly mess
months later they offered the older one with all the luggage in better condition for 3k less and I still have it... and its way faster than a TC ever was everywhere, and it's low down grunt is light and day like owning a 1200 vs a 600
I just put the PC3 back on and tried adding way more fuel at places down the bottom and its back the bike I had 11 years ago (its only taken me 5 years ! after the adaption confusion between the original map the new map and an intermittent CAT sensor throwing random confusion in the mix). I did a long ride the other day and the difference in fun is incredible - so much more smooth and flexible its making way more power. The gains that have come back down the bottom are more than a TC makes in total - so it feels like between 1500 to 3500 its making more than double what the TC can at this part in its power curve - and its only power and flexibility in this part of the rev range that makes the bike fast and fun and quicker than most bike you can buy
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