Manx GP 2012 Result

Success comes in many forms and for the Steve Robins team with rider Mark Parratt and the Tri-Spark sponsored Rocket 3 it came in the form of finishing what can only be considered an endurance race for these classic racers and placing second without any mishaps.
I would emphasise the endurance nature of this race in the following way. The four laps of the 37.7 mile circuit totalling over 150 miles are raced at an average speed of nearly 100 MPH mostly at full throttle. Mark Parratt's time was 1 hour 32 minutes 37 seconds. (Dave Madsen-Mygdal's winning time was 1:31.21.84.) Congratulations to everybody involved in making this a reality.

More about coils

We get asked about coils - a lot! Customers want to know which coils will work with their electronic ignitions and we are happy to help. Each kit has a particular combination of coils that will work best and we also have coils to suit the original contact breaker ignition. The following is a guide to get started:

Electronic Ignition
Engine       Ignition Kit        Tri-Spark Coils to suit       
Unit Twin    TRI-0005         IGC-1006 (2 required)
Unit Twin    TRI-0005         IGC-2012 (1 required)
Unit Single  TRI-0005         IGC-1012 (1 required)
(Commando, BSA, A65, Triumph, T100, T120, T140, TR7RV, RE Interceptor many others)

Triple           TRI-0001         IGC-1006 (3 required)       (ballast required)
Triple           TRI-0001         IGC-1012 (3 required)       (recommended)
(T150 T160 Trident Rocket 3 Hurricane)

Points ignition only
All models with 12 volt electrics on points ignition use IGC-1012 except where a ballast resistor is fitted (for example late Norton and Triumph T160). If there is a ballast resistor use IGC-1006.

 Key specifications
IGC-1006 1.8 Ohm primary resistance
IGC-1012 3.5 Ohm primary resistance
IGC-2012 3.5 Ohm primary resistance

Red Bobber

With the cold winters in Norway, Gudvin has used his time wisely crafting this one-of-a-kind Triumph bobber based on a 1965 machine. He has the Tri-Spark Classic Twin fitted and loves the clean no black box design. The evolution continues with the addition of the Dual output coil - no wonder this machine must be the envy of Triumph fans everywhere!

Rider Fatigue

Many people think that fatigue involves going to sleep, but for motorcyclists the real problem is a lapse in concentration.
Rider fatigue indicators include:
• Running a bit wide on a corner.
• A couple of rough gear changes.
• Not seeing a sign.
• Day dreaming.
• Dry mouth.
• Stiff joints (neck, knees and wrists).
If you have any signs of fatigue stop immediately and rest.
source: NSW government Motorcycle Riders Handbook
Read more in the riders handbook.pdf

Spark plugs and suppression Q and A

We often get asked about spark plugs, caps, HT leads and spark suppression. This question from Andrew in the UK is a good one.

Q: I have fitted a Tri Spark (Classic Twin) to my T140E but suspect that my standard plug caps and leads may no longer be suitable (both the caps and leads are expanding with heat and the caps keep jumping off the plugs)
Please can you confirm which type of plug and lead I should fit?

A: The plug cap must be a good fit or it will continue to fall off. The ones pictured above from the sets we sell are tight fitting and click positively onto the spark plug. The HT wire is simply cut to length and screwed into the socket for easy connection to the cap.

Q: Are resistor plugs (NGK BPR7ES) OK to use instead of a resistor cap? Yes

Q: My plug wires are copper core.  Is this OK or should they be replaced with carbon core?

A: We don't recommend carbon core leads unless both molded end fittings can be retained. Carbon leads are great for cars but no so good for bikes with high vibration and heat. Cutting carbon leads and fitting universal caps is generally not a good practice. Automotive leads are often odd colours and have unsightly printing down the length.

Q: Can I use Iridium plugs with the Tri-Spark ignition?

A: Some people will claim an improvement changing to iridium. There's no harm in it however for the cost you might be better off to buy 2 sets of the standard type to keep on hand for spares.

Q: Do I need spark suppression with the Tri-Spark ignition?  

A: Spark noise is like the electrical equivalent of a Tsunami or Tornado. The electrical noise interferes with all sorts of electronic items including the ignition and charging systems so it's best to have either resistor type plugs or caps (not both) fitted to your engine to reduce the noise and keep things running smoothly. Keeps your GPS happy too! 

Frank Zappia R3



This very fast 930 Rocket 3 Belonging to Frank Zappia was recently spotted at the Broadford Bike Bonanza. He's been fine tuning the details of this very competitive racer for years now - most recently with all new electrical parts from us. Frank knows his bikes and loves to recommend  and install our ignitions for his mates in the Sydney NSW area.

Plastic cover shows off the Tri-Spark

Magni Rocket 3

This one of a kind racer made by Magni and triple Tecs puts out over 90 HP claimed from the highly tuned Rocket 3 power plant. Handcrafted to suit this engine it displays an attention to detail rarely seen in such builds - we love the signature Magni custom exhaust and hand hammered tank. Just Beautiful!
Click to read more