How often you do spark plugs, valve check and TB sync?

[Fairfax]

The manual specifies:
spark plugs every 7500 miles
Engine vacuum synchronization every 7500 miles
Valve clearance every 15000 miles
I usually follow the manufacture’s maintenance schedule but with OEM iridium plugs, today's engines etc I feel it is a little early. How often you do spark plugs, valve check and TB sync?

[Rhino]

  Almost as contentious as an oil thread. I think most will agree that iridium spark plugs every 7500 miles is ridiculous. My 2010 has 72,000 miles and have never done a TB sync. Has only had one valve check at 30,000 and did the spark plugs at that time because once you get that far, why not. Planning to do all of the above this winter. Also have read that on the same bike in Europe, the manual says 50,000 km for valve check. That's 31,000 miles. Why the disparity between US and EU on the same exact engine is thought to be pollution laws.

But be aware there are people on this forum that have a LOT more knowledge and experience than I who will tell you the valve check every 15,000 miles is imperative.

[VirginiaJim]

Plugs you can disregard until 50k or more unless you want to plan doing that on the 2nd valve check as the bike will be all apart.  Good time to do it.  TB sync unless you are having issues I'd disregard that.  Absolutely do the 15k valve clearance 'check' and have them or you center the clearances.   

[B.D.F.]

Yep, lots of contention on this one.... :-)  But let me start off by saying you cannot be doing the wrong thing following the mfg's instructions- some of us think it is excessive but it will not hurt anything other than your wallet (and maybe time if you do your own work) while going too long between maintenance intervals can, of course, do harm.

There is a lot of labor on this bike to get to the actual spark plug change, the actual valve lash check / adjust, and even getting to the air filter. So what I have done, and it has worked well for me, is to combine all major maintenance parts into one instance: the first one I did at 25K miles, all valves were in spec. (although some at the tight limit), the spark plugs looked like new and gapped w/in 0.001" of spec. so I just put them back and the throttle bodies were so close to equal that I could not improve on it though I did try. The only thing that was really in need of some attention was the air cleaner which was beyond filthy. The second maintenance interval was at 50K miles when I did change the spark plugs but only because I had had new ones since the 25K interval and was sick of storing them, plus the fact that I was going to skip the 75K interval after finding everything w/in spec. again and looking great. Bike is now at 100K but as I have not ridden it in quite a while, I have not done the next intended maintenance interval.

As always, YMMV and to each his / her own.

Brian

The manual specifies:
spark plugs every 7500 miles
Engine vacuum synchronization every 7500 miles
Valve clearance every 15000 miles
I usually follow the manufacture’s maintenance schedule but with OEM iridium plugs, today's engines etc I feel it is a little early. How often you do spark plugs, valve check and TB sync?

[maxtog]

Almost as contentious as an oil thread.

Yep.  Many good past threads to read without having to rehash it all.