Coils

[Greenman]

I found a company offering a wizbang new COP setup for my bike. They claim increased torque and horsepower, I think it's snake oil.
Is there any benefit to a hotter longer spark?

 

[deadken]

It likely won't help at all. Pretty much every stock ignition system in the last 30 years has done a perfectly adequate job. The newer systems (lost spark and COP) are even better. Unless you do some serious mods, you don't need a better system (WAY more fuel could need a hotter spark).

Personally, I think that a lot of the more recent ignition technologies were introduced to meet tightening emissions requirements over HP & Torque gains.

EDIT: And please someone correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't get a longer spark without getting multiple or capacitive discharges.

 

[Greenman]

Pretty much what I thought, but I've never really looked into it. The outfit I ran across wants $600 for two COP setups. Seemed absurd to me.

 

[deadken]

Pretty much what I thought, but I've never really looked into it. The outfit I ran across wants $600 for two COP setups. Seemed absurd to me.

I would ask for dyno results showing stock vs COP modification results. Of course, you'll need to stress that you want to see the difference with only the ignition components modified.

I think that there are gains to be had with some relatively inexpensive modifications (Exhausts, Intakes, etc...). But the reason for those gains are that the factory chose to go a bit conservative so as to not turn off some customers (from noise, drivability, etc...). I can't see how a simple ignition / coil change would result in any substantial power gain. EXCEPT: If the new ignition removed a rev limiter feature.