Service parts

[GPZ600]

I am going to service my bike and had 4 questions I am hoping somebody will be able to help with.

My bike has done just over 5000 miles, when should the spark plug be replaced and is it worth paying the extra for an Iridium plug?

I have found a site selling the correct oil and air filter but the oil is hard to come by, must be an unusual type. SAE 20/40 W SE or SF.

Brake pads, what does sintered mean? Again is it worth the extra ??

My battery is fine but if I need to charge it can/should I used the same one that I use for my car?

[Itchy]

Iridium plugs make no difference, except the need to change them, for me biggie across Russia I put in an iridium plug so I did not have to carry spares.


Oil? , I just used 10/40w through my entire trip, bike was ok, but by the time it got to Korea it was burning a litre every 1000km. It was fine for 20,000 miles.

Sintered, are IIRC made from powder which are sort of heated until they form a cube, they are supposed to give better braking performance IIRC, however in Russia it was brake pad, da da! , and they took the old pads and glued some new stuff on. The brakes on the XT are weak for the road so I'd probably get the best brake pads you can that work from cold.

A lot of people will say use an optimax, but I'm cheaper I use a 12vdc trickle charger on my CBR at least as my XT was stolen on my return. And just put it on one of those cheapo timers to give it a shunt for a couple hours a day, its fine.
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