Customer Ride

Ted Stanley's unrestored 1974 850 Commando.

Ted says "I installed the Tri-Spark system about 8000 miles ago and all those have been trouble free miles.

Fuel consumption has been about 48-52 mpg during this time and I didn't even use a timing light on installation - Just used your handy built in timing LED .Bike starts first kick and has a ton of power. Couldn't be more pleased.

The backdrop for picture is the local harbor where I live on Whidbey Island, a smaller island in Puget Sound about an hour north of Seattle, Washington.

Thanks again for a great product which has proved itself over and over."

Cheers.

Ted Stanley, Vice president Northwest Norton Owners Association.

Desert Sled

The June 2012 issue of Classic Bike, which sells around the world, has a feature on a Triumph twin that runs our complete Tri-Spark system.

It's written by Australian motorcycle journalist Hamish Cooper. He bought a wreck of a 1966 Triumph Bonneville chopper from Murray's Britbikes, which stocks our electronic systems. Over 18 months he rebuilt this junker into a "desert sled" using period parts. But there were two areas he didn't cut corners on: the ignition and carburetion. Here's a extract from the feature:

 To ensure clean running I got the Monobloc carbs resleeved and bought an entire ignition system (coils, rectifier, electronic ignition) from the Australian Tri-Spark company.....

..... After a few hours of running in around a farm property I took the Triumph to a Vinduro event and it performed faultlessly. It started easily and chugged from low revs, even with twin carbs. This proves that the decision to fit fully rebuilt carbs and a complete new ignition system was the right one.

Modern fuels often don’t agree with old British engines so you need every bit of help you can find.

Motorcycles Classics: Tri-Spark Installation on the Norton Commando

A must read for Norton owners - Motorcycle Classics contributor Keith Fellenstein of Geezer's Garage in Lawrence Kansas has put together an incredible How to article for the Norton Commando installation. This is one of the best we've seen, complete with clear and accurate photos by Keith and copy written by editor in chief Richard Backus.

click here to read the article

Keith is also the happy owner of a Tri-Spark powered '74 Trident which he claims starts first kick every time with the proper tickling (don't we all!)

Thanks for permission to share this with my readers

Negative Earth (Ground) Q & A

Q- In a recent email Bill Dawson says "the ignition seems to be wired for positive earth with the ring terminal on the red wire going to the pillar bolt for the earth connection".

A- The ignition is wired for positive earth but it will work either way by changing the connections - the wiring diagrams are supplied in the kit for both positive and negative earth.

On this subject we often get asked if the voltage regulators will work for negative earth. The single phase and the three phase regulators are made so that the case is isolated from the internal connections so they can be used on positive or negative earth machines.

We also get the odd email asking if there are any advantages to converting the machine to negative earth. The idea is that this is more common and therefore the better way to go. I feel that keeping the wiring stock is probably the better way to go - that way anyone working on the bike in the future can follow the wiring diagrams in the manuals if they need to make repairs. Either way the machine will run just the same.

Tri-Spark Classic Twin Installation

Watch this and see how easy it is to install the Tri-Spark Classic Twin ignition in a '73 Triumph TR7RV. Note this video is a few years old - colours and finishes are different to our current production parts.

Tri-Spark Starting up T160

Watch this humorous demonstration by one of our New Zealand customers as he fires up the T160 for the first time with Tri-Spark Ignition.

Neitzert Racing Triple

This machine ridden by proud owner Bernd Neitzert is crafted to perfection with only the best components from around the world. The competitive nature of racing means that each part must function at peak performance for the machine as a whole to be out in front - safe - and reliable. We are pleased to play our part in so many success stories in the classic triple racing world.