If I put a Boyer ignition in my '74 R75/6, setting aside the reduced maintenance of electronic over point ignition, what differences in performance, driveability, starting and fuel economy can I realistically expect? My guess is that there's going to be no noticeable difference. Any replies based on personal experience will be appreciated.
I have run a Boyer digital for the last 2-1/2 years. I love the thing.
Did have some initial trouble because I installed the digital (red box) versus the standard (black box) version. The computer in the digital version reboots each time power is lost, so ignition is lost for about 10 seconds. If you loose power for 1/100th of a second the computer has to reboot. My bike would stop running suddenly about once every 250 miles. It always restarted immediately.
I went all over my harness treating each connector with No-Ox-Id corrosion inhibiting ointment. That cured most of it. The final cure was replacing the original spark plug wires and spark plug caps. Knowing that now, those are a couple of things I'd install at the same time as the Boyer.
With any EI you can expect...
• a slower advance curve to fit modern fuels (an end to "pinging")
• better, more steady idle
• a spark that's impervious to water
► You'll want set the ignition timing at FULL ADVANCE (high RPM) using the "F" mark rather than at idle. Boyer specifies an RPM range for this. They also specify an optimal coil internal resistance. Measure your coils with a digital VOM to be sure.
Hope this helps.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
Thanks for filling me in on the red box and the setup for the system. I now know why the Boyer ignition was removed from my friends '75 airhead. I'd have scratched a hole in my head had I installed it. Points worked for me on my British twins, my Bultacos, my Beezers, Vespas........etc. And now they offer some EMP protection to boot.
unkilmal
Please don't judge the Boyer by the issues I had. My bike sat for 10 years before I picked it up. It had to be gone over from stem to stern to get it to even run with points. The issues I had weren't Boyer issues, simply my inexperience with BMWs.
The issue a lot of people have with any Boyer installation is that they follow the instructions for the static install and then stop. They never time the ignition with a strobe. Then when the bike doesn't run correctly they blame it on Boyer, when in reality it's their own fault for being too cheap to buy a strobe lamp.
If you have one, then you should install it.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
I’m running a Boyer red box on my ‘73 75/5 and very happy with it. I just rebuilt the top end on my bike, including dual plugged heads. Boyer now offers an EI system with timing curves for dual plugs, not sure how different it is since I’m happy with the red box curve for now.
Like Wobbly said, I think Boyer gets a bad rap due to incomplete set up. I’m totally satisfied with mine.
Your input plus Wobbly's tells me to install it this winter. Wobbly's account of his experience with the red Boyer box included everything that could have been contributing to his problems with it. There was a lot of it due to the original condition of the bike. That's probably what he's saying to me. Thanks
New copper core plug wires and NGK 5K Ohm plug caps are the cheapest upgrade you can make. All totaled the bill was something like $15. If had started there instead of ending there, it would have reduced my effort by months and increased my enjoyment ten fold.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
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