Spark Plug question

[silvergoose]

Why are manufacturers calling for such short distance between gap checks? I own many bikes, no brag, just lucky that way. I thought the Moto Guzzi maintenance schedule was one of the worst, Yamaha may edge MG out of first place.

Yamaha calls for gap check and inspection every 4000 miles. MG calls for replacement every 6250 miles. BMW calls for inspection every 24,000 miles. My Ram pickup says 50,000 miles. MG also calls for the front forks to have the seals and fluid changes every 12,500 miles yet the rear shock can run until it leaks. I have not found the maintenance mileage for Yamaha as far as the front forks go.

My point is this, how many people follow the maintenance schedule to the letter? I do not, I change oil approx 4500-5000 miles along with the filter. Rear drive after the first 600 miles, is every other oil change. My system may not work for every one, but so far (50 years) of riding it has worked for me.

My old English bikes received a de facto oil change about every 1500 miles, or once a year which ever came first.

Good Luck

 

[Pterodactyl]

Some of Yamaha's maintenance checks and replacements are just silly. In some cases they aren't even consistent from one country to the other. I maintain my bikes on an annual schedule. That is one advantage of having a winter. I'd have no problem running spark plugs 15-20,000 miles.

 

[Juan]

I change my engine oil twice as often as required by Yamaha (every 5000 km instead of 10000 km) since I believe this has a great impact on the life of an engine. However, other things like spark plugs I don't bother to replace as often, since the worst think that can happen is an engine failing to start.

 

[silvergoose]

Thanks for the replies. The oil/filter and final drive are the most important maintenance items on my list.

Thanks, again