Brilliant and noteworthy write up Paul, which will probably prove to be a popular read on here from now on.
Just the one sentence that puzzles me though......"I’ve never changed the fuel filter and never added any coolant or changed it."
Actually, maybe i'm more amazed that the bike hasn't furred up like a kettle and needed the Radflush treatment over all that time, or that you've not lost any coolant in very warm weather!
You must have some seriously good brand and mixture of coolant/antifreeze in the bike for it to not cause any issues over that length of time, but even still i reckon it's time for some new stuff.
And the fuel filter is only £8 and very easy to replace so may as well be changed too while you have the tank up.
I'm probably a bit over sensitive to the functioning of my bike than most people, and have a knack of instantly hearing and feeling things that are right or wrong, but i will say that having tried both before i really do believe that Iridium spark plugs make the bike run just a tad more efficiently than standard ones, a bit like 97 fuel versus 95 fuel does as well. I can't prove or disprove it, but that's the general feeling i got, and for a few extra quid each it hugely increases the lifespan of them, as you have proven, and the 97 fuel just makes the bike feel that noticeably bit more perkier to me.
Just the one sentence that puzzles me though......"I’ve never changed the fuel filter and never added any coolant or changed it."
Actually, maybe i'm more amazed that the bike hasn't furred up like a kettle and needed the Radflush treatment over all that time, or that you've not lost any coolant in very warm weather!
You must have some seriously good brand and mixture of coolant/antifreeze in the bike for it to not cause any issues over that length of time, but even still i reckon it's time for some new stuff.
And the fuel filter is only £8 and very easy to replace so may as well be changed too while you have the tank up.
I'm probably a bit over sensitive to the functioning of my bike than most people, and have a knack of instantly hearing and feeling things that are right or wrong, but i will say that having tried both before i really do believe that Iridium spark plugs make the bike run just a tad more efficiently than standard ones, a bit like 97 fuel versus 95 fuel does as well. I can't prove or disprove it, but that's the general feeling i got, and for a few extra quid each it hugely increases the lifespan of them, as you have proven, and the 97 fuel just makes the bike feel that noticeably bit more perkier to me.
More people are born because of alcohol than will ever die from it.