Which ignition?

Iwould choose the tri spark, all the electrics fit in the points cover,easy to fit, and runs a lot smoother. expensive but the best .

Previously roger_johnson wrote:

I have a trashed Mk3 Boyer fitted tyo my 1974 850, R/Holder has recently run an article on electronic Ignitions butfrom your experience which system should I replace the Mk 3 with?

Please keep us informed on this, I for one will certainly be interested in what you decide upon and the sort of results you get from a new set-up.

Possessing two 850 Commandos, a Mk1A with original points ignition and a Mk3 with Boyer 3 , hate to say this but I prefer the original contact breaker points system. No problem with the Boyer setup but it gives a different engine characteristic - more ponderous and less crisp than properly adjusted contact points. Of course you need to make occasional timing checks and adjustments with points but once you've done this a couple of times it's an easy routine - and there's the advantage of simple home fixing in the event of a problem rather than being faced with possible mysterious electronic faults. You may not have wanted to hear this !

My standard Pazon Surefire works well. First one failed after 20 mins but was replaced next day. One of the trigger coils went open circuit. No more trouble in 7 years.

Pazon Altair here, starts easily, idle is very stable. Very happy.

Removed a sort of serviceable older Boyer due to poor starting unless battery was 100%, as current draw unacceptable. Fitted a TriSpark + new twin output coil + NGK Iridium plugs and did nothing else, never looked back. Starts easily, smooth tick-over which the Boyer did not support and receive excellent performance. Also no "Black-Box" to stash away somewhere, but your call!

Good luck!

I don't have any experience with Tri sparks, but there is some evidence that inside a bike engine might not be the best of places to put electronics, however well potted, for the long term health of said components. Inside a Commandos timing chest is a pretty harsh environment.

so I would fit a Modern Boyer(low voltage issues sorted) or a Pazon.

I've had two Trisparks go wrong on my Commando and have just gone back to Boyer micro iv as I know it is generally reliable, and so concur with Charles comments and suspect that this could be the problem but can't be sure. I could not tell any significant improvement between my original Boyer micro 111 and the Trispark but I did like the neat fit all in the points cover. I also didn't like having to go home in a breakdown truck when the first Trispark failed!

Having said this I have a Trispark on my T160 which is a remotely mounted black box type and this is excellent.

Just thought I would add to the discussion. I recently had some problems with a previously very reliable boyer mk3 unit and reinstalled the points setup. It takes a little time to setup correctly but the bike runs much better with this arrangement than it ever did with the boyer. It revs much better and smoother. So I would be in agreement with James on this one, but does anyone know why it runs better with the points setup?