Spark plugs

[Fastfaz]

Greetings everyone,
     I have a 2017 650 Vstrom which has twin plugs per cylinder, today I was at the supplying dealer checking out the waiting time to book the bikes 12 month service. I also wanted to know (after reading the service check list) when the spark plugs need to be replaced, I was surprised to find out that it's at 7500 miles or 24 months. I nearly fell through the floor when I was told that it's a Suzuki own plug at £32 each I.e. £128.00 for four spark plugs! My handbook says the plugs are NGK MR8E-9 however I was told at the dealership that they are Suzuki LMAR8A-9. Has anyone had a similar issue? I have been on the net and found that NGK do an LMAR8A-9 (various prices from around 8 quid) but need to be sure it's the right plug. Apparently they are a smaller diameter and quite a long thread, help and advice will be greatly appreciated.
       Cheers, Pete

[kwackboy]

You don't need plugs at 7500 miles and it's ridiculous to recommend a Suzuki only plug , they are just trying to milk it . 
Plugs of that quality will top 50000 miles.

[user650]

From some Suzuki dealers
https://www.fowlersparts.co.uk/parts/view/09482-00646
https://www.robinsonsfoundry.co.uk/pages/home/advanced-search.htm?is_posted=1&search=MR8E-9&match=any_word&order=price_d&Submit=Search#tabs|Search:parts

[mr_diver]

My original Varadero plugs are going strong after 40k miles.
But they are supirior Honda plugs 
(All made by NGK)

[pb]

My Suzuki dealer asked me if I wanted the spark plug changed at 24 months     (approx 7000 miles) when I queried it they said they have to ask as it is part of the service schedule, even they realise they don't need changing. Like others have said they go on for years.

[kingmunky]

Suzuki own plug at £32 each I.e. £128.00 for four spark plugs!

£128?!?! That's more than double what I paid for a service kit from Suzuki - inc. oil/air filters, 4 plugs and a new sump plug washer.

For what it's worth as well, when I changed my plugs out I noticed 3 were the same and the odd one was considerably more worn/difficult to remove than the others. After comparing them, it was obvious that the front spark plug (behind the radiator) had NEVER been changed in 63K miles. The bike ran a bit rough previously but is now running smoothly as I could hope for after the service.

[Gassoon]

Crazy!  7,500 miles?!  and price , SMCbikes Sheffield are offering a box of ten MR8-E for 133 quid, though they seem confused if they are iridium or nickel electrodes...

There's a discussion on Stromtroopers HERE

When Suzuki revamped the 2017 engine, they changed position of the spark plugs and adopted new plugs with a longer reach to improve efficiency etc (laughable really - by how much exactly?) So those new MR8E-9 plugs have a longer reach and material (nickel or iridium?) of centre electrode (than the old CR8's). Don't know why your dealer suggests LMAR8A-9    Though, they look very similar, and have an identical reach to the MR8E-9 see NGK info HERE

My bike is 2017 and has the original MR8E-9 plugs in. When 7500 miles comes up I'll have a talk with my non-dealer bloke and I bet he'll suggest leaving them in after checking.

I wonder if it's just to chuff the dealers at service time (make them money); and maybe a requirement of EURO-4 compliance or some such shite? 

[roganjoshing]

Just changed mine at 40,000 miles. No problems and same MPG as when I first bought it.

[paulja]

At the last service, both me and the dealer agreed that the "old" plugs were perfectly fine after 7500 miles.

[stevecro]

You don't need plugs at 7500 miles and it's ridiculous to recommend a Suzuki only plug , they are just trying to milk it . 
Plugs of that quality will top 50000 miles.

I agree. I let the dealer change mine as per schedule (for potential warranty sake) although I don't think they were near the price you were quoted.
He gave me my old ones back looking tip-top. They're cleaned and packed away for when I really need plugs sometime down the track

[Craig380]

In my SV650 AL7 owner's manual, there are two service schedules printed:  one for the US, and one for 'Europe & Oceania countries.'  The US schedule states oil changes every 3,750 miles and spark plug changes at 7,500 miles.  The Europe & Oceania schedule states oil changes every 7,500 miles and plug inspection at the same time;  plug changes are given as every 15,000 miles.  And the last time I checked, the UK is still in Europe until the end of October     so even Suzuki themselves acknowledge the plugs are good for more than 7,500 miles.   

As posted above, Robinsons Foundry is doing an offer on the MR8E-9 plugs at £6 per plug at the moment, although delivery time is a couple of weeks as they are waiting for new stock.

I also asked SparkPlugs.co.uk and they told me they can get them at £5.84+VAT each, plus £1.50 postage. As they are not currently listed on the website, you'd need to call them to make an order.  But they can be bought a LOT cheaper than list price.

 

[RoadWarrior1978]

When I had my Gen 2 Busa, some of the blokes on the forum where running the stock Iridium plugs up to 60k which is the same for most NA cars, oddly though opinions on the Iridium plugs was varied when turbo's became involved, the reasons escape me now.

The plugs in my car are supposed to go for 36k and that is turbocharged, so there my be some thing in it.