Pro's/Con's Electronic ignition

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone, I was thinking about switching my points ignition with a new electronic ignition. So I was wondering, what are the pro's and con's of this mod. Also, where would I look to find this, what upgrades to the stock electricals would I need? New coils? Udgraded stator, r/r? All you help is appreciated. thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

All pro's no con's. Don't know of any disadvantages, except geting it hooked up, & that's not a big deal for someone who knows bike ign. systems. I bolted a GS 1100 engine, with electronic ign. in a "78" GS 1000 frame, with points ign. wireing harness. A buddy, who knew bike igns. wired in 1 wire, and made everything work perfectly. Didn't change anything else, coils, R/R, nor anything. Used the stator that was in the 1100 eng.

[mcycle-nut]

Re: Pro's/Con's Electronic ignition

Hi everyone, I was thinking about switching my points ignition with a new electronic ignition. So I was wondering, what are the pro's and con's of this mod. Also, where would I look to find this, what upgrades to the stock electricals would I need? New coils? Udgraded stator, r/r? All you help is appreciated. thanks in advance.

Like he said, all pro, no con. You do have to figure out where to mount "the brain." I have a Boyer Brandsen on my 750, and have had no problem in 14 years with it. 8)

[Don Lobacz]

There is 1 con: if the ignition goes out, it goes all the way. The points are a mechanical system that can be cleaned/fixed enough to limp you home if something goes wrong. The benefits usually win.

[DCrippa]

So I have points on my bike right now ('77 GS 550) and as much as I'd love to put an electronic ignition (Dyna S or Boyer) I don't have the loot for it... but I ran across this and it looks very intriguing to me as I'm trying to figure out the electrical system from scratch - plus I have an old wire harness to work with but am considering abandoning having a bit of a hard time here with it. Anyway, am I reading this correctly that it would replace the need for the stock electrical parts completely? http://www.boyerbransden.com/PBdynamo.html

and could I hook up my 3 phase stator and battery to it and be done with it so to speak?... of course considering correctly set points - pretty cool it mentions you don't even need a battery!

[hampshirehog]

I would have started a new thread but never mind.

The BB powerbox is nothing to do with ignition; it's an 'out of the box' way to get rid of the need for a battery. You won't be able to use the electric start if yuo get rid of the battery.

[Souske]

In the event of nuclear attack the points ignition will continue to work, whereas the electronic will be toast.

Chock up one win for points, while I go put my tinfoil hat back on

[DCrippa]

ah, sorry... maybe so... the way I saw it - was ignition is part of the electrical system... and the reason I posted here was because I ran a search on Boyer Brandsen to learn more about this unit and if anyone is running one - this is one of the only relevant posts that came up...

Thanks for your reply in pointing out the obvious - electronics isn't my forte but I'm not that much of a newb - I do know that the bike's electronic starter system even with this unit wont run with out a battery... I just thought it was really cool that you could do it that way.

For a bike like mine that has a kick start it'd also save some weight not having a battery... I wish I had known that before I bought the battery I have now I would have spent the $ I spent on the battery for this and just run it with the kick start / no battery...

Anyway - the question I do have is - will it work fine with stock points / coils? Or should it compliment an electronic ignition system - I figure it wouldn't matter... but am not sure... it looks like it just simplifies the need for the stock R/R and the other parts.

[hampshirehog]

Yes it will run with points or electronic ignition. Most of these units are sold to BSA and Triumph classic trials boys looking to save weight (or have nowhere to pop a battery). Basically replaces the old rectifier / zener diodes those bike ran.

BB also do electronic ignition. Some folk slam their ei kits but it's actually a good product.

[DCrippa]

In the event of nuclear attack the points ignition will continue to work, whereas the electronic will be toast.

Chock up one win for points, while I go put my tinfoil hat back on

LOL don't forget solar flares...

[DCrippa]

Yes it will run with points or electronic ignition. Most of these units are sold to BSA and Triumph classic trials boys looking to save weight (or have nowhere to pop a battery). Basically replaces the old rectifier / zener diodes those bike ran.

BB also do electronic ignition. Some folk slam their ei kits but it's actually a good product.

Thanks for clearing that up - I've contacted them to see how much it'd set me back... Figure it'd be better than using the thirty year + old R/R etc...

[DCrippa]

So I'm leaning heavily on ordering the power box - but for now will keep the points... Anyone here running it?

Is this the correct one for a '77 550?

http://www.boyerbransden.com/pdf/PBOX106.pdf

[hampshirehog]

For info I had a mate (RIP) who used to knock these up for a couple of beers - I'm not an electrics guy but roughly they contain a capacitor and a rectifier and a couple of other bits that cost pennies. The trick is knowing how to wire them up - somebody on here will know how they work.

I also believe that one of the founders of BB emigrated to Oz and makes the same stuff over there but cheaper. As you're looking at buying internationally that could also be a better deal - one of the Aussies will be able to fill you in better on that.

[DCrippa]

I'm all ears!

[mcycle-nut]

Oh, I did have a problem, but it was my own doing. I missed a shift while racing and it revved to the moon, thereby introducing Mr. Valve to Mr. Piston. With a points system it probably wouldn't have revved that high.