Electronic Ign, Comparo.

Hey guys,
It seems there is always a question of... What's best ? This one or that one.
While it is probably only personal opinion, I thought a realistic comparison might help..
What does a new Boyer cost and what do you get for the money..
What does a new Pazon cost and what do you get for the money..
Trispark, etc. etc..
I suppose it would be handy to keep it in American dollars for the comparison.
While both my Commandos in the last 10 years had had Boyer fitted, and can honestly say they
have never let me down in any way at all, If there is something better at the same price or less then
I would certainly consider it.
AC.

Pazon SureFire with 2 - 6V coils, $200USD delivered. Wires extra. If you have a 71 or up, don't need the coils, save about $50. From MAP in FL. Happy so far, but I know hobot had trouble with his.

Dave
69S

I love my Trispark

isn't it made in Australia where you live?

1up3down said:

I love my Trispark - isn't it made in Australia where you live?

Click to expand...

Hmm, sure looks like it, interesting product range:
http://www.trispark.com.au/home/products/

I replaced an older Boyer with Tri-spark. After having just completely gone through the engine to correct some problems from a previous "professional" rebuild I still had a weak and inconsistent idle. It always felt like it was on the verge of stalling and I would always keep a hand on the throttle just in case the idle dropped too low.

Replaced the Boyer with a Tri-Spark based on good reviews on this site and the idle is solid now. I had considered Pazon, but there seemed to just be more feedback on the Tri-Spark. The bike actually feels different at idle, much stronger and never gives the feeling that the next rotation of the crank will be the last before it stalls. Hard to quantify it, but it's noticeably different.

Starting is better as well. With the Boyer, sometimes it would take 3 - 4 kicks when cold, especially when the bike sat for a week. Hot start with the Boyer was generally 1 kick. With the Tri-Spark so far it's a one-kick starter, even after sitting a week. When cold, I need to keep a hand on the throttle for 1 - 2 minutes then it settles into a stable 500 - 600 rpm idle, and after a few minutes of riding the idle is solid at 800 rpm. I occasionally get a slightly lower idle that is accompanied by a lean spit-back through one of the carbs, but that's a carb issue and that's another topic.

I am very pleased with the Tri-Spark. Not inexpensive, but well worth the results IMO.

Yep, made in Oz. (Trispark) Right here in Adelaide as far as I know, by a Canadian guy.
Or so I am lead to believe.
I would certainly consider it, but the basic price ($336.00) is 50% more than a Pazon ($200.00).
Add on his recomendations and it gets a bit out of my price range.
Just wanting to see all the options on one page.
AC.

Hmmm
Wonder if trispark makes a unit for Vincent twins?
Pazon has 4 different units for Vincents. They even make a special special ignition for Vincent twins using high compresssion twin plug Terry Prince heads, which are the type I have for the project bike. Only problem is the cost of this ignition is rather high, $1284nz or about 1,000 US!

Glen

After months of repariing, diagnosing, and screwing around with a Boyer MKIII, I bit the bullet and ordered a Tri-Spark for $330.00 including shipping to the USA. MONEY WELL SPENT......

The bike now starts quite easily, idles smoothly and I am more than pleased. I don't have any comments on the Pazon but any part with a Boyer logo on it will never, I repeat never be attached to any of my motorcycles again! :x

I wonder if Boyer reads this forum or is interested in defending it's products.....probably not.

Pazon Altair is a great ignition, this is in between the basic Sure fire & more expensive Smart fire version. I swapped out a Boyer Mk111 for this, because of the advertised ignition curve. The curve is much kinder to the engine, offering performance without the risk of pinking. The advance curve has a dip in the 1000rpm region to encourage the engine to idle stable, rather than be to fidgity like my engine was with the boyer fitted. It did make the engine run much nicer, so I am very happy, the set up is easy with an LED to help set up the timing accurately without having to set up dynamically. Unlike the Trispark the module is remote mounted, I have had friends have trouble with module failures with the types fitted in the points cavity, hot and oily area.

So check out the Altair version.

Cheers Richard

Thought this might be of interest, its from Paul Goffs site on the page which describes the various changes to his bike the Norbsa. Paul is a dealer for Pazon and other electrical items for British bikes.

" Everything else is as it was before, with a bit more tidying up. Amazingly it started 2nd kick after 4 yrs in the shed. It's got an early Boyer Bransden Micro Digital ign. which looks very like the old BB Mk. III & uses the std coils. I've lots more modern Pazon ignitions around but this works OK so it's staying put."

One other item of interest from thecPazon site description of their Smartfire system for Vincents-
" System developed in conjunction with technical engineer, Kirby Rowbotham.The advance curve developed with technical assistance from the highly regarded Vincent authority, Bob Dunn7½ year warranty"

Bob Dunn certainly knows Vincents and Kirby Rowbotham is very familiar with electronic ignition- he is an electronic engineer and the main man behind Boyer Bransden!
This seems a bit strange in that Boyer and Pazon are direct competitors.

Glen

News to me Kirby Rowbotham works for Boyer. He always did the housings to replace magnetos with electronic ignitions and used to sell them together with Boyer ignitions- when they still had a quasi-monoploy on ignitions- as a complete package. I think I heard he since switched to Pazons but am not 100% certain, since his homepage still shows the Boyer ignitions. Rowbotham is in Rugeley, Boyer in Maidstone.

Hi

ZDF is correct Kirby supplies ignition kits, magneto conversions etc. For many years a Boyer distributer, still is?
However my mate has just priced up a BSA version & it is supplied with a Pazon system.
Kirby is a first class man to deal with & really helpful with any ignition problems & can supply solution & one off models to suit.
At many shows & also all the CRMC race meetings supporting Alan Foster on his Rickman Commando.

all the best Chris

Sorry.should have worded my post differently. I didn't mean that he owned the company rather that he markets (or did) the Boyer Bransden ignition. He is also the man that Boyers sent me to when I had a problem and , as you say, is a first class guy.

In speaking with him then I got the impression that he had been quite involved with the design of the Boyer ignition, so I was surprised to see him listed as consultant on the Pazon site. Perhaps is an "engineer for hire"

Regardless, I think I will go with the Pazon ignition developed for exactly the engine I'm building. It's surprising that they have three separate units for Vincent twins, with the one just for high compression twin plug heads I'm using. To my knowledge there aren't all that many of those out there. Over the years Terry Prince has made a few small run of these heads(15 pr last time) once every three or four years with the last batch being the final one, according to him.
Don't know anyone else making them.

Glen

All I can say is spend the money and put a Joe Hunt Maggie and you never go back to any other system, starts first kick every time, no need for a battery, some say they look horriable sticking out the side of the timing case but I love it, but the 750's they will sit behine the cylinders. I have gone through 3 electronic ignitions in 36 years of ownership and have been caught out in the middle of know where with a dead black box.

Ashley

Y'all have heard my praises regarding the Pazon Surefire...case in fact...been off the bike for 4 weekends until this morning...bike fully sumped, screen showing in flashlight...drained and filled last night...battery at 11.78 volts...thought about putting it on the trickle charge but never got around to hooking it up...this morning fired her up 1st kick and off for a full day of blasting the long way around Tampa Bay...Pazon...great price, easy setup...reliable...rock-steady idle...can't say enough about this EI system.

AC, for what it's worth. Brisbane to Philip Island and back, it rained for 90% of the 2 week trip. The Pazon never missed a beat, starts easily, idles well, and was easy to install. 20k miles later and never had a problem or had to adjust it. Wish they made a kit for Ducati singles.
Graeme