Difference between spark plugs

Rickyisms
Edited Date/Time 12/9/2020 3:55pm
I usually run the stock plug for my KTM 125 which is on the right in the photos (BR9ECMVX). On the left is the recommended replacement from NGK (BR8ECM). I know it’s a different heat range but the electrodes look slightly different and the KTM plug has three blue lines compared to the Non KTM plug having one.

Anyone educated enough to tell me the differences between the two and if the different electrodes actually make a difference?


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Broseph
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Broseph 12/8/2020 12:37pm
12/8/2020 12:37pm Edited Date/Time 12/8/2020 12:59pm
The BR9ECMVX looks a lot like a BR9ECMIX, which has an iridium electrode. Iridium is less prone to fowling and lasts nearly forever. Not real sure why the PN ends in VX instead of an IX though.

Edit: Maverick with the facts below. The VX is platinum. The replacement you bought has the standard center electrode.
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TheGetFresh 12/8/2020 12:55pm
12/8/2020 12:55pm
The right side is a wire type electrode and they're designed for 2 strokes because they are less likely to foul or do so more slowly. Because of the smaller, more delicate electrode the wire types are usually made with iridium or some other type of exotic material. In the case of the BR9ECMVX the core is made of platinum.

The BR9ECMIX should be the aftermarket replacement replacement to the BR9ECMVX.

The VX is branded as a stock spark plug from KTM, but the IX iridium version is available through NGK. KTM Group stock spark plugs are the only versions of the VX available whereas they've been superseded by the IX via NGK.
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Rickyisms 12/8/2020 12:58pm
12/8/2020 12:58pm
TheGetFresh wrote:
The right side is a wire type electrode and they're designed for 2 strokes because they are less likely to foul or do so more slowly...
The right side is a wire type electrode and they're designed for 2 strokes because they are less likely to foul or do so more slowly. Because of the smaller, more delicate electrode the wire types are usually made with iridium or some other type of exotic material. In the case of the BR9ECMVX the core is made of platinum.

The BR9ECMIX should be the aftermarket replacement replacement to the BR9ECMVX.

The VX is branded as a stock spark plug from KTM, but the IX iridium version is available through NGK. KTM Group stock spark plugs are the only versions of the VX available whereas they've been superseded by the IX via NGK.
The IX is the same as the VX then, correct? The VX is just KTM's way of branding the plug?
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Rickyisms 12/8/2020 12:59pm
12/8/2020 12:59pm
Broseph wrote:
The BR9ECMVX looks a lot like a BR9ECMIX, which has an iridium electrode. Iridium is less prone to fowling and lasts nearly forever. Not real sure...
The BR9ECMVX looks a lot like a BR9ECMIX, which has an iridium electrode. Iridium is less prone to fowling and lasts nearly forever. Not real sure why the PN ends in VX instead of an IX though.

Edit: Maverick with the facts below. The VX is platinum. The replacement you bought has the standard center electrode.
TheGetFresh had some good information as well. I didn't buy the ECM yet, but am just going to order the BR9EIX from Parts Unlimited.
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BobPA
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BobPA 12/8/2020 1:55pm
12/8/2020 1:55pm
Run the ECM, not going to hurt a thing. If your jetting is close, you will not foul a plug anyway. Why spend double the $ for no benefit?
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TheGetFresh 12/8/2020 2:51pm
12/8/2020 2:51pm
TheGetFresh wrote:
The right side is a wire type electrode and they're designed for 2 strokes because they are less likely to foul or do so more slowly...
The right side is a wire type electrode and they're designed for 2 strokes because they are less likely to foul or do so more slowly. Because of the smaller, more delicate electrode the wire types are usually made with iridium or some other type of exotic material. In the case of the BR9ECMVX the core is made of platinum.

The BR9ECMIX should be the aftermarket replacement replacement to the BR9ECMVX.

The VX is branded as a stock spark plug from KTM, but the IX iridium version is available through NGK. KTM Group stock spark plugs are the only versions of the VX available whereas they've been superseded by the IX via NGK.
Rickyisms wrote:
The IX is the same as the VX then, correct? The VX is just KTM's way of branding the plug?
So far as the product code goes, the IX is iridium and the VX is platinum. Otherwise they’re the same.
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Broseph
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Broseph 12/8/2020 3:00pm
12/8/2020 3:00pm
BobPA wrote:
Run the ECM, not going to hurt a thing. If your jetting is close, you will not foul a plug anyway. Why spend double the $...
Run the ECM, not going to hurt a thing. If your jetting is close, you will not foul a plug anyway. Why spend double the $ for no benefit?
Double the price, but the iridium plug will last the life of the bike.
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ratonmacias
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ratonmacias 12/8/2020 8:15pm
12/8/2020 8:15pm
i went with a cheap ngk on a 04 rm 125, the electrode detached from the plug and the cylinder was damaged. expensive mistake for getting a cheap plug. go with the plug that your manual specifies.
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FGR01
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FGR01 12/8/2020 8:29pm
12/8/2020 8:29pm
Rickyisms wrote:
TheGetFresh had some good information as well. I didn't buy the ECM yet, but am just going to order the BR9EIX from Parts Unlimited.


I am running the BR9ECMIX, PU part# 2103-0045, in my Husky 125. They run great. That extra C in there gets you the low angle (recessed) ground electrode. I don't know how close the clearance is on these bikes but I don't want to find out the hard way either. The M gets you the stubby compact top side. It looks like there's plenty of clearance under the tank for a full size plug so this might not be a big deal.
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Rickyisms 12/9/2020 8:51am
12/9/2020 8:51am
Rickyisms wrote:
TheGetFresh had some good information as well. I didn't buy the ECM yet, but am just going to order the BR9EIX from Parts Unlimited.
FGR01 wrote:
I am running the BR9ECMIX, PU part# 2103-0045, in my Husky 125. They run great. That extra C in there gets you the low angle (recessed)...


I am running the BR9ECMIX, PU part# 2103-0045, in my Husky 125. They run great. That extra C in there gets you the low angle (recessed) ground electrode. I don't know how close the clearance is on these bikes but I don't want to find out the hard way either. The M gets you the stubby compact top side. It looks like there's plenty of clearance under the tank for a full size plug so this might not be a big deal.
I run an oversized tank on one bike so the stubby is a good choice. Thanks for the feedback!
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BobPA
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BobPA 12/9/2020 9:03am
12/9/2020 9:03am
BobPA wrote:
Run the ECM, not going to hurt a thing. If your jetting is close, you will not foul a plug anyway. Why spend double the $...
Run the ECM, not going to hurt a thing. If your jetting is close, you will not foul a plug anyway. Why spend double the $ for no benefit?
Broseph wrote:
Double the price, but the iridium plug will last the life of the bike.
Maybe...

Put 120 hours on an ECM in my kx250, still ran like a top. 80 hours on the ECM in my 300, not even going to pull it out over the winter...and it sees all kinds of idle and low RPM riding.

I do not know anyone that will run an old plug after they do a top end, and 125's see them pretty frequently.
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Rickyisms 12/9/2020 9:29am
12/9/2020 9:29am
BobPA wrote:
Run the ECM, not going to hurt a thing. If your jetting is close, you will not foul a plug anyway. Why spend double the $...
Run the ECM, not going to hurt a thing. If your jetting is close, you will not foul a plug anyway. Why spend double the $ for no benefit?
Broseph wrote:
Double the price, but the iridium plug will last the life of the bike.
BobPA wrote:
Maybe... Put 120 hours on an ECM in my kx250, still ran like a top. 80 hours on the ECM in my 300, not even going...
Maybe...

Put 120 hours on an ECM in my kx250, still ran like a top. 80 hours on the ECM in my 300, not even going to pull it out over the winter...and it sees all kinds of idle and low RPM riding.

I do not know anyone that will run an old plug after they do a top end, and 125's see them pretty frequently.
True. I do a new plug every top end.
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WRH
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WRH 12/9/2020 9:43am
12/9/2020 9:43am
Do see the difference in heat range ?
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seth505
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seth505 12/9/2020 10:09am
12/9/2020 10:09am
ratonmacias wrote:
i went with a cheap ngk on a 04 rm 125, the electrode detached from the plug and the cylinder was damaged. expensive mistake for getting...
i went with a cheap ngk on a 04 rm 125, the electrode detached from the plug and the cylinder was damaged. expensive mistake for getting a cheap plug. go with the plug that your manual specifies.
That's an issue specific to that RM, those should always use the plug specified.
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hypermoto
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hypermoto 12/9/2020 10:16am
12/9/2020 10:16am
I always buy Iridium plugs.

People on other forums act like experts and say Iridium plugs run hotter and ruin Nikasil plating. How they came to that conclusion is beyond me 🤣 heat range is a heat range regardless of material... lol
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FGR01
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FGR01 12/9/2020 10:18am
12/9/2020 10:18am
Of course, you could always get the Excalibur/Holy Grail KTM plug which, for almost $70, I assume adds about 5HP.

https://aomc.mx/SXS02125071.html

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Tracktor
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Tracktor 12/9/2020 2:44pm
12/9/2020 2:44pm
I have ran BR9EG's in our Husky 125's many times with zero issues. Not sure why KTM specs a stubby plug when they have more clearance than any other 2-stroke. You aren;t going to notice a performance difference between any of the $$ plugs vs an EG plug. Or an ES for that matter.........
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KVA_536
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KVA_536 12/9/2020 3:22pm
12/9/2020 3:22pm
seth505 wrote:
That's an issue specific to that RM, those should always use the plug specified.
Care to elaborate? Just picked up an ‘03
seth505
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seth505 12/9/2020 3:48pm
12/9/2020 3:48pm Edited Date/Time 12/9/2020 3:54pm
seth505 wrote:
That's an issue specific to that RM, those should always use the plug specified.
KVA_536 wrote:
Care to elaborate? Just picked up an ‘03
Run the plug specified by Suzuki, it’s 20 + dollars or so but you run the risk of the cheaper options coming apart and dingin around your cylinder.
In short, it was developed to not fail in that application.
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motox766
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motox766 3/24/2023 1:39pm
3/24/2023 1:39pm
TheGetFresh wrote:
The right side is a wire type electrode and they're designed for 2 strokes because they are less likely to foul or do so more slowly...
The right side is a wire type electrode and they're designed for 2 strokes because they are less likely to foul or do so more slowly. Because of the smaller, more delicate electrode the wire types are usually made with iridium or some other type of exotic material. In the case of the BR9ECMVX the core is made of platinum.

The BR9ECMIX should be the aftermarket replacement replacement to the BR9ECMVX.

The VX is branded as a stock spark plug from KTM, but the IX iridium version is available through NGK. KTM Group stock spark plugs are the only versions of the VX available whereas they've been superseded by the IX via NGK.

Thank you 🤙

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Falcon
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Falcon 3/24/2023 2:06pm
3/24/2023 2:06pm
ratonmacias wrote:
i went with a cheap ngk on a 04 rm 125, the electrode detached from the plug and the cylinder was damaged. expensive mistake for getting...
i went with a cheap ngk on a 04 rm 125, the electrode detached from the plug and the cylinder was damaged. expensive mistake for getting a cheap plug. go with the plug that your manual specifies.

This was a weird issue specific to Suzukis, though. They had some kind of harmonic interference at common RPMs that rattled the electrode loose when you ran a standard plug.

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Zeke27G
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Zeke27G 3/24/2023 2:14pm
3/24/2023 2:14pm

Not to derail this thread, but I recall Mitch Payton on the PulpMX show once talking about how terrible the Splitfire spark plugs were and that they actually ran NGK spark plugs with a bit of electrical tape covering the NGK logo!  

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bigsal
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bigsal 3/24/2023 3:05pm
3/24/2023 3:05pm

 Too bad rotella doesn't make a spark plug to keep the tards happy!  BR9EG perfect plug always for my RM125's.

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Petro Engineer 3/24/2023 6:48pm
3/24/2023 6:48pm
BobPA wrote:
Run the ECM, not going to hurt a thing. If your jetting is close, you will not foul a plug anyway. Why spend double the $...
Run the ECM, not going to hurt a thing. If your jetting is close, you will not foul a plug anyway. Why spend double the $ for no benefit?

My man. Hell, I'd go even cheaper with a BR9ES.

If you're fouling any plug, it's not the plugs problem unless doing something outside the intended purpose.  Like putting around for an extended time on a 125 set up for pro moto. 

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Goldmember
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Goldmember 3/25/2023 3:01am
3/25/2023 3:01am

I'll bet a $2 NGK B9ES would work just as well in a sound engine.

chuck356
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chuck356 3/25/2023 6:58am
3/25/2023 6:58am

   The big picture to me the heat range jump to a hotter 8 spark plug, this could turn out bad if the bike is jetted on the edge of lean and ridden hard in an upper gear for a very long.

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