K11 Owners Group

OldJerry · Joined: 22 May 2010 Posts: 21 Location: West Michigan

Has anyone here "di-sected" the spark plug wires on our K1100s? I know that some Honda cycles have copper wires with a 5K resistor molded into the plug "cap". I can buy these "plug caps" from NGK. Many auto use "composite" wire with no resistor in the caps. The composite material has resistance. SO ... do our K1100s use composite wires or copper wires? Is there a built-in resistor in the "plug cap"? Just measuring the plug wire from end-to-end, will give the total resistance. Has anyone measured the plug wire from where it enters the plug cap to the end that plugs into the coil? Has anyone CUT the plug wire in half to see for sure that it is stranded copper of composite? I am about to dig into mine, but I thought someone probably has already gone through this. Thanks for any information.
Jerry
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1997 K1100-LT
Special Edition

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:36 pm Post subject:

If you are looking for replacement wires, there are 2 options aftermarket.

http://www.realmengineering.com/ram%20power%20leads.html
and
http://www.magnecor.com/magnecor1/main.htm

I have 1 set of the Realm's on my '95 with a 2nd set coming for my '97.
I like them, the fit good, and easier to remove/install if needed.

Drake has used some of the Magnecor leads. I think if you search the site here you can find his reviews.
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Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:46 pm Post subject:

Yep, I've been running the Magnecor 8.5mm (red) on the RS and 8mm (blue) on the LT and am quite happy with them. Beemered

I also have a set that I'm going to try on my K75 when I put some NGK iridium plugs in it.
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

OldJerry · Joined: 22 May 2010 Posts: 21 Location: West Michigan

On the Magnecor wire set, are the "plug caps" made of silicon and can they be removed from the spark plugs pretty easily? I doubt if they have the metal housings that the OEM plug wires have. I was planing to make my own set up .... but maybe getting the "pre-made" set would be the way to go.
Thanks ....
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1997 K1100-LT
Special Edition

Flying Duck · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 11:21 am Post subject:

No, the Magnecor plug caps are not metal and difficult to get on and off like the OEM buggers. I think they're rubber or whatever. In fact, when I installed my first set I thought they fit kind of loosely. So much so that I called their tech support to have a chat with them. The guy told me no worries so I took his word for it. Between the two bikes I've now got several thousand miles and both bikes run like a champ.
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Beachcomber · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 6:53 am Post subject:

Probably Silicone material Duck - that's what our guys recommended for the RAM Power Leads. They did give us specs on how hot they could get before self destructing - VERY hot.
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Beachcomber '93 K1100RS / '93 K1100LT and several K100's

Neiljohn · Joined: 04 Oct 2009 Posts: 24

hfxrzw · Mad Brick Rider Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 78

A lot of people forget that the BMW spark plug caps are for plugs with a thicker contact 'pin'. For this reason you have to fit the little bobbins when you fit NGK plugs. The originally recommended plugs have those standard fitted.
Not having the bobbins fitted will result in bad contact and sparking in the caps, which will foul them.
IIRC the earlier bikes had resistance build in their leads and caps, the later ones (and I think the k11 are all in that group) had resistances build in the plugs; they had recommended types with an 'R' in their type no.
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Cheers, Rene

Greetings from Florida.

BMW K100 '85

Neiljohn · Joined: 04 Oct 2009 Posts: 24

Rene, my BERU original leads (both sets including one bought new in Feb this year) have 5k OHM marked on the cap. The plugs may also have resistance, it makes little difference, except for surpression reasons.

Your right about the terminal adaptor being needed on most NGK plugs for original leads, and on original plugs are they are NOT removable, however I think most of the problem starts with the steel outer preventing the cap being pushed easily fully home onto the plug... And its down hill from there.

NGK actually make 4 versions of most caps, resistor or not, thread (small) connector or full size to suit adaptor fitted size plugs, in addition to different angles and reaches.

More of a problem is sourcing the coil connectors, if like me you prefer to use Copper with PTFE inner and PVC outer insulation cable to make your own leads.
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Southern Hampshire, England.

'95 K1100LTIC (ex-police) my first road bike after 20 years without a road bike! Now backed up by an F650GS (800 twin) and a Deauville. The '52 G80C isn't a road bike so doesn't count...