Dyna S / DynaCoil / DynaLeads / IRIDIUM Plugs - Worth While?

[Uncle Bob]

Hi,

I fancy spending some money on my Katana (1100 SD) for Christmas! At present it's standard, including 4-2 exhausts. I was tempted by some Dyna kit and just wondered if it was worth while or not. It was on http://www.dynoman.net and until Wed 28th Nov they are doing a package deal of:

DYNA S ELECTRONIC IGNITION
DYNA COIL SET DC1-1
DYNA SPARK PLUG WIRES DW200
NGK IRIDIUM SPARK PLUGS

for $285 + $69 shipping to UK. Even with the 20% VAT that's still only about £266.

I'll be looking at a new 4-1 pipe later to keep my 4-2 nice, plus get a bit better sound out of the old girl.

Anyone got any views on that?

Cheers

Rob

[sparki]

IMO if all works right now there's no point in changing it. Dyna s is still a mechanical ignition so won't be any improvement over the stock item. Coils and wires ditto, std are fine unless rea,ing down and not reliable. If you want to spend ££ then aim for a big bore IMO... 1074 motors love an 1166 to really pep them up. Add larger carbs to that and youll see a huge difference...

[Katgeezer]

Agree with Sparki, spend out on a big bore for max effect. Dyna's will make the bike run a bit cleaner thro' the range but you'll not get any extra oomph particularly.
However, if you start down the road of modding/tuning then you'll probably decide the head needs a refresh, then bigger carbs and a pipe to match, then brakes and suspension, then this....and that....then......£££££'s. Good fun tho'!!!!

[Pedda]

No point in spending so much money in those parts. I'd go for some decent shocks plus a fork update if I were you.

If the engine runs strong enough I would not even open it until it starts drinking oil.


Ah - and welcome to the site!

[bobster]

If I were you I would save your money and I'd send the Cylinder head off to Roger Upperton to work his magic on the ports.
I was there recently at his house with FBJ and he recons he can squeeze another 10-15 BHP out of the standard engine by just flowing the Cylinder head. Also fitting a set of later EF cams will help th old girl breath more easily!

As you have already said if you fit a different and lighter exhaust system which will allow the engine to breath more easily and shed some of the weight of the standard 4 into 2.

I Cant really recommend an exhaust system as my Kat is still running standard exhausts.

Racecraft up in Cumbria are in the process of manufacturing some tasty looking exhausts.............but they arnt cheap!

Oh and BIG WELCOME by the way!

[johnr]

its your money, spend it on what you want. the dyna stuff is good tackle, iridium plugs have a bit of a hit and miss reputation, sometimes they work ok for thousands of miles but ive had a couple of instances where theyve failed quite quickly. ok you can spend money on the head or a big bore kit, but when yo do, your tuner will most likely reccomend you to get some decent ignition kit fitted to help keep the performance tip top. so if you will be buying it eventually, then why not now. its worth remembering that even the newest kat 1100 ignition components are getting on for 25 to 30 years old now, so why not swap them for something better. there is a long list of stuff that you can buy to make the kat go better, but whatever way you go, the ignition is eventually going to be in need of upgrading, so feel free to spend if you like.

[sparki]

Issue with upgrading to a dyna s over a stock ignition is that it uses the 30 yrs old mechanical advance.... If you want to change the ignition that's your call.... But a dyna s on a 1074 isn't the best use of your hard earned imo

IMO Efe would be better as it doesn't use the mechanical advance but then you'd need the black box too. Seems a hassle if its all working.

[Uncle Bob]

Thanks for all the feedback. It is a little temperamental on starting. I got this one about 2.5 years ago and after about 6 months it wouldn't start. I did a carb strip down and pilot jets were just about blocked, so did a clean and new jets, then valve clearances and balance, new plugs and caps. It's a lot better now but it still isn't 100% on starting - I think it's only on 3 cylinders until it gets warm and then all is OK. It doesn't seem to have the poke my first 1100 had (both were Italian imports). I had read on another post about some 4-2 systems being restricted, though I hadn't heard that before. I'll get the numbers off and have a check on the net.

Anyway I joined up today so will post some more info about me and the Kat once I get it all confirmed.

Cheers

Rob

[FBJ]

Rob. Wen u stripped the carbs did you clear the cboke jets in the float bowels. Everyone forgets them . Welcome aboard

[bobster]

You beat me to it John..........sounds like one of the choke passage ways in one of the carb float bowls is blocked, and the cylinder only starts to fire once the engine has warmed up a bit!