Spark Plug Wire Type

I have a 1982 GPZ1100 that I just finished putting back together after replacing the bent valve on #3 intake. I got it running after a lot of cranking and it ran rough. I know it is cold and the gas is probably a little old - I had put seafoam in it, but I am thinking the spark plug wires are shot. They sparked before when it rained and the one wire appears twisted inside the insulation.

I would like to replace the coils with pencil coils (stick coils, coil on plugs) as a general upgrade to eliminate all the wires but I cannot locate any short/right angle coil on plugs that will work for the #1 and #4 cylinders and I am confused as to what wires I should get. Suppression vs. Copper Core. The GPZ has electronic ignition do I need suppression wires? Has anyone seen right angle/compact coil on plug coils that might work for #1 and 4 cylinders? Used coil on plugs from modern bikes can be gotten for the price of a set of decent wires off of eBay, which would upgrade the coils and wires in one move. Any help here would be appreciated.

If you replace the coils be careful to match the primary resistance of the new with the old. Modern electronics typically use lower resistance circuits than the older type so pay attention here.

Typically you want either suppression wires with non resistor spark plug caps, or visa versa. You don't want both suppression wires, which are higher resistance than copper core wires, along with resistor type spark plug caps.

What was stock on the bikes? suppression or copper core? Do I need suppression due to having the electronic ignition? I believe the plugs I have in it are BR8ES which is a resistor type. I know the stock was B8ES. The first thing I did when I bought it 12 years ago was change the plugs and that is what the Kawisaki dealer gave me.

nessism is talking about the primary resistance... that is the low voltage resistance not the high voltage side. The ohmic value of your new coils needs to match the value of your originals... about 3 ohms IIRC

I believe the original wires are copper core, and the plug caps have a resistor.

With the stock ignition, the ohms resistance of replacement coils should match the ohms resistance of the stock coils.

Resistance of stock coils is shown in the Kawasaki Factory Service Manual, among other sources for such information.




It's okay to use copper core plug wires with non-resistor plug caps and with non-R plugs, all simultaneously. Which minimizes resistance in the secondary loop, But leaves no resistance component to subdue radio frequency interference.

As already noted, if resistance is desired in the secondary loop, only ONE resistance component should be fitted (i.e., suppression plugs wires OR resistor plug caps OR "R" spark plugs). But don't combine more than one of these resistance components.





Good Fortune!