Champions the plug of choice?

oldrider57

As you may have seen in my previous post I have new Magnecor wires on their way to hopefully fix my rough running motor. With that info,would like to know how many of you run Champion plugs (OEM fitment) or are their many of you who tend to be NGK folks? I tend to run Iridiums in every other bike I own, and they all run smoother....
Guess we could turn this into a poll....
Always asking questions!
Pat

36 coupe

no expert, but i put D9evx in mine.

marvin

I like NGK. Mr.R and others seem to like the Champion suface gap plugs.

Mr.R

I've been a BIG fan of NGK's for close to 30 years, which's around the time that I gave up on Champions,
I did run NGK DCPR9E's in my 851 and was quite happy with them, I tried the Platinum tipped variety but didn't notice any difference by my seat of the pants dyno, or any improvement in start up or low down running.

But a few years ago I got hold of a set of Champion QA55V Surface discharge Race plugs for very little money, (they were the recommended fitment for the 916SP/SPS's) they used to cost a small fortune from Ducati!!
I tried them in my mildly tuned 851/916 for a dyno day, as there isn't any need to work out what gap to use as there isn't one...
They've been fantastic, they last a long while and I've never had any problems with them, unlike the Champions of yesteryear.

I now need to remove the larger Corse radiator to change the front plug on my bike, but I still now fit the QA55V's as I'm that confident in them.
A couple of weeks ago I set off on a round trip of close to 1,500 miles for my annual IOM TT holiday, the thought of having to drain the coolent system to change a plug whilst away isn't something I'd relish, but I still went with the Champions.

I now pick up any Champions QA55V's that I can when they become available at a good price.

Steve R

mikesps

Yes, the QA55V works very well, but don't pay eBay prices. Cheapest I have found them is here..

http://www.sparkplugs.co.uk/pages/pricing/ccp/Champion-spark-plugs-ccp.asp?offset=200

£3.80 each plus VAT and postage.

Mike

Mr.R

Nice one Mike at that price I'll be ordering at least 10.
Over 10 years ago Ducati wanted £25 each for them.

Steve R

Jasper

Now that is a good deal.Last time I bought some,they were over £10+ each!! In fact I think Mr R bought some off me too.

Nice link.Thanks.

brad black

i use NGK DCPR9EVX in the 4v motors. C is for small hex size.

griff851

The shop uses NGK, because they do the job and are reasonably priced. Can't say I've heard of a failure.

Griff

duck851

FWIW...

http://www.ChampionSparkplugs.com/mo...AAIA=&pid=8908

oldrider57

New plugs are in!!

Thanks for the info. Just installed a new set of Magnecor wires, along with a pair of DCPR9EVs this evening. Really nice to have the 5/8" plug wrench size again. Was able to get them threaded and tightened up just swell. Just somewhat bummed about pulling the Nology wires off. They look cool....Too bad (I think) they weren't working....Will let you know if this combo has smoothed the motor out....Wasn't running anywhere as smooth as what I thought it should be...
Pat

fstntq

Mr.R wroteI now pick up any Champions QA55V's that I can when they become available at a good price. Steve R

Having had the RA59C (from Ducati) in my hand i know it was a 5/8s-16mm socket size. I also know the the NGK plugs currently installed on my 851 are 18mm and a bugger to get out from the horizontal cylinder, at least for me. 2 Champion websites, list the 59C and the QA55V as hex head size 11/16 or 18mm. Is that not the case from those using them? the last thing I want is another 18mm plug that I can't get to.

border888

QA55V's

fstntq wroteHaving had the RA59C (from Ducati) in my hand i know it was a 5/8s-16mm socket size. I also know the the NGK plugs currently installed on my 851 are 18mm and a bugger to get out from the horizontal cylinder, at least for me. 2 Champion websites, list the 59C and the QA55V as hex head size 11/16 or 18mm. Is that not the case from those using them? the last thing I want is another 18mm plug that I can't get to.

I've just put in QA55V's (about £14 each from Aral in Holland) using 16mm plug socket for my 93 888

fstntq

border888 wroteI've just put in QA55V's (about £14 each from Aral in Holland) using 16mm plug socket for my 93 888

Had the eye opening experience of paying $32 per plug for the 59s at my dealer. (before I knew better). Fellow next to me actually paid $100 each for what I think were the QA55s. Thanks to this list I fund the QVs stateside for $8each actually a bit cheaper than the 59s at the same site.

mikesps

www.sparkplugs.co.uk have them for £4.70 inc. VAT

Ssmith

I remember buying the factory OEM replacement Champions back in 1993 for $20 US, and they had to be imported from Italy. My neighbors sure were happy when I finally received them. That meant I could stop "burning" the bad plug clean by riding around the neighborhood at 8000 rpm with my burned out Ferracci CF mufflers. Ah, to be 26 again.....

fstntq

Ssmith wroteI remember buying the factory OEM replacement Champions back in 1993 for $20 US, and they had to be imported from Italy. My neighbors sure were happy when I finally received them. That meant I could stop "burning" the bad plug clean by riding around the neighborhood at 8000 rpm with my burned out Ferracci CF mufflers. Ah, to be 26 again.....

Finally got the NGKs (with the 18mm hex) out. Not that they ran poorly but I did not like the PITA it would be to change plugs with that big a socket in the narrow towers. Got a set of the QVs delivered for about $22. (www.sparkplugs.com). Bike seemed to run ~5%C cooler but I could not tell if it was the plugs or the coolant flush. No cleaning the plugs with 8K RPM flybys as the bike has the competition megaphones and they are pretty loud!

Toni851

i have some newbie questions…
the QA55V's make sense in a stock 851 89' used on public roads or are they just for prepped bikes and race use?
is there any modification needed or can i just buy and plug them in. i noticed they don't have a side electrode (at least on the pic at sparkplug.co.uk) and would 16mm be the correct hex?

thanks for enlighten me

Toni851

i have the qv's in my 851 strada (stock) for one month now and so far they work like a charm, motor runs super smooth and throttle respsonse has improved as well, over all the rpm range.

they probably dont have the best cold start behaviour (i was told) but this doesn't bother me at all since i dont do short hauls anyway.

i can highly recommend the qv's, they are worth the money and aren't that expencive anymore anyway.

bought them from https://www.sparkplugs.co.uk/