Posted by Tim Schroeder on July 23, 2001 at 06:20:42:
Hey all,
I went from the standard OEM spark plug (NGK DPR8EA9) to one step hotter, a DPR7EA9, and my '96 runs better than it has all summer, probably better than it has since new. Ever since I bought the bike in 7-97, it's never had the power or performance I know it should've, unless the engine was hot, after 10 or so miles of riding. I decided to check the engine a little closer after a round of this summer's quirky engine performance, and after removing the tank and checking the plug I found LOTS of dry, sooty carbon. The local Honda shop mechanic said if everything else was okay in the bike's electrics and in the carb, a hotter plug might do the trick and cure all the ills I'd described to him. Good place to start troubleshooting, cheapest fix if it worked...and damn, it runs great now...remarkably better than before. It starts with no choke, idles and warms up right nicely, and accelerates much more strongly. I was concerned about the hotter plug doing some sort of damage to the engine, but the Honda guy said one heat range difference won't hurt anything, and it was normal "fine tuning."
Thought you'd all like to know this plug info. Give it a try if you aren't getting good acceleration or good engine torque and it seems the engine is "hesitating" when accelerating.
Ride safe,
Tim