How old do these look?

[Speedy1959]

Whilst I had the tank removed for wiring in the heated grips neatly, I decided a new set of plugs wouldnt go amiss.
I am glad I changed them. Just look at the rust !!
Any guesses as to how long they have been in?
Or is rusting "normal"?

[Notty]

OMG - you must be so glad you changed them - when I take my tank off this week I will follow your example even though my 14 has only done 6500 Miles 

[Speedy1959]

I wouldnt be too surprised if they were the original ones !!
Also they were all pretty loose. By that I mean slightly more than finger tight..
I know they have a modest torque setting of 11nm (before anyone points this out) but I reckon they were 3nm at the most !

[Hooli]

Using the bike in the wet or parking it outside when raining makes them look like that. Those covers over the plug holes aren't water tight. I had a spare set of plugs that looked a lot worse than that, still run fine though.

[Speedy1959]

Thanks Hooli..
On the subject of the rubber protector caps..
I push all mine down the plug cap to just below the raised ring on the plug cap..
I don't know if they are supposed to be like that but mine were not!
This meant there was a gap between the protector cap and the head of the engine.
On my bike there is now no gap at all.
In fact the caps are held down by the connection of the plug caps to the plug..
Sorry if its not clear what I am trying to describe..
In a nut shell my rubber protector caps had a 3 - 5mm gap between them and the engine ..
Now there is no gap at all !

[loadshifter]

Might have a look at my plugs next year I suppose still running with the originals on a K3 model 

[Hooli]

I put the 3rd set of plugs mine's ever had in at 100k. I thought it needed spoiling 

[seth]

they look old enough to be changed and now you know there done properly.
sound like the caps weren't on totally correct and now they are you should notice the bike runs a little smoother  now.
did you check the airfilter as I'd bet its been in as ling as the plugs

[Speedy1959]

Hi Seth..
Yes mate I changed the air filter..
Though to be honest it wasnt in as bad a state as the plugs.

[seth]

oil and filter in the spring and your all sorted 

[Kiwifruit]

After seeing those.......
Don't think l'll tell anyone but l might pull mine and lube the threads.