An overview of each type is below.
You can also use the product comparison feature, by clicking the compare icon next to each product listing.
This allows you to compare the features and specifications of up to four products at a time.

Sure Fire systems

• lowest price
• analogue technology
• simplest in terms of features and operation
• only available for classic British singles & twins
• available in 6 & 12 volt versions (see product list: Sure Fire ignitions)
• best suited to road bikes, but can be used for competition

Altair systems

• mid price
• fully digital technology
• extra features, including static timing light & tachometer output
• static timing light on the trigger assembly, makes setting up the ignition timing easier
• very low speed triggering (fires at lower cranking speed)
• work at lower supply voltages, particularly important with electric starters (these often suffer from large battery voltage drops when starting)
• mapped advance curve, with some applications featuring idle stabilisation
• available in 6 & 12 volt versions - for some bikes (see product list: Altair ignitions)
• resistor plug caps included
• best suited to road bikes, but can be used for competition

Smart Fire systems

• higher price
• fully digital technology
• extra features, including small high performance coil(s), static timing light, tachometer output, kill switch input, rev-limiter button
• static timing light on the trigger assembly, makes setting up the ignition timing easier
• very low speed triggering (fires at lower cranking speed)
• work at lower supply voltages, particularly important with electric starters (these often suffer from large battery voltage drops when starting)
• mapped advance curve, with some applications featuring idle stabilisation
• available for 12 volt electrics only (see product list: Smart Fire ignitions)
• higher spark energy & low power consumption, so ideally suited to total-loss (battery only) competition bikes
• plug leads and resistor plug caps included
• best suited to competition and highly tuned bikes, but can be used with standard road bikes

Sure Fire systems:

• single cylinder 6 volt: original points type coil, Lucas 6 volt coil (17P6/17M6) or equivalent
• single cylinder 12 volt: original points type coil, Lucas 12 volt coil (17P12/17M12) or equivalent
• twin cylinder 6 volt: original points type coils can be used, two x Lucas 6 volt coils (17P6/17M6) or equivalent

Altair systems:

• single cylinder 6 volt (AL18D1-6) : original points type coil, Lucas 6 volt coil (17P6/17M6) or equivalent
• single cylinder 12 volt (AL18D1, ALB) : original points type coil, Lucas 12 volt coil (17P12/17M12) or equivalent
• twin cylinder 12 volt (AL2) : two x Lucas 6 volt coils (17P6/17M6) or equivalent,
  or one 12 volt dual output coil, 3 to 5 ohms primary resistance (3 ohms recommended for best performance, e.g. our IC33 coil)
• twin cylinder AL18D2/AL18D2-6 : dual output coil, as supplied with the system
• twin cylinder two stroke 12 volt (ALA) : two x Lucas 6 volt coils (17P6/17M6) or equivalent,
  or one 12 volt dual output coil, 3 ohms primary resistance recommended for best performance, e.g. our IC33 coil
• twin cylinder two stroke 6 volt (ALA-6) : 6 volt dual output coil, as supplied with the system
• three cylinder 12 volt (AL3) : three 3 volt coils, as supplied with the system

Smart Fire systems:

• these should be run with the special digital coils, supplied with the system.
  Note: the digital coils (IC21/IC22) should not be run with our Sure Fire or Altair systems

We don’t make any ignition systems specifically designed for battery-less running (or purely alternator powered).
On British twins and small capacity singles, the Sure Fire and Altair systems can be powered via the alternator and charging system (electronic regulator or original rectifier/zener diode).
Sometimes kick-starting without a battery can be more difficult (this depends on various factors).
However, this is normally only an issue with big singles, e.g. BSA 441 Victor, and sometimes the B50, where high compression and poor kick-start ratio can result in slow cranking speeds.
Note: the Sure Fire system has a minimum cranking speed before sparks are produced, typically 100-150rpm.

We recommend running the Smart Fire system with a battery.
With the Smart Fire system, most bikes will be very difficult (or impossible) to start without a battery, especially large singles.
Some of our systems (e.g. PD3 triple) have been run on race bikes without a battery, but these are generally started via rollers or push start.
For those bikes, power would be supplied via the alternator and electronic regulator.
The Smart Fire system produces short pulses of high current to the coil(s), especially at cranking speeds.
Therefore a good power source is required for starting, and often there will be insufficient power coming purely from the alternator/charging system at these low speeds.

Yes, can run any of our ignition systems with just a battery (sometimes referred to as a total-loss setup).
Note: with a total-loss setup the ignition system will only work whilst the battery has sufficient charge.
When the battery starts to become discharged, the ignition system may start to malfunction, e.g. loss of spark quality, misfiring, etc.

You can use a range of battery types, e.g. sealed lead-acid, AGM (glass mat), L-Ion (Lithium Ion), LiFePO (Lithium Iron Polymer).
We recommend a battery with a 4 to 5Ah or larger capacity. If using lithium type, battery voltage can be in the range 12-16 volts (for 12 volt systems).
You should maintain your battery with a good quality charger that is compatible with your battery type.

Note: Lithium-Ion batteries require a special charger, and are not suitable for use with the motorcycle's charging system.
They can also suffer from thermal issues, especially if subjected to damage and/or incorrect charging.

If possible we recommend carrying a spare fully charged battery as a backup (to change over, if needed).

The Smart Fire draws an average of from around 0.5 Amps to about 1.6+ Amps at high revs.
The Sure Fire draws about 2+ Amps. on average.

For the Smart Fire system, we would normally recommend a battery capacity of at least 4 Ah.
For the Sure Fire system, we would recommend a battery capacity of 5-7 Ah.

As an example a 9Ah battery should give running times of approx. 7-9 hours (Smart Fire system) or approx. 4-5 hours (Sure Fire system).
Note: these figures may differ with some systems, e.g. twin-plug head & special ignition systems.

Yes, fitting one of these is highly recommended.
These units are more efficient and reliable, when compared to the original parts (rectifier & zener diode).
The wiring is simplified, and over-charging is much less likely (this can happen if the zener diode becomes disconnected whilst running).

You can use any good quality regulator, that is suited to your type of alternator (e.g. single-phase or three-phase).
We offer electronic regulators, available at this link: alternator regulators

Copper cored plug leads are recommended for all of our ignition systems. Stainless steel type can also be used.
Carbon fibre (graphite) leads can be unreliable, and should be avoided for long term use (especially on motorcycles).
However, as a short term solution you can use them.
Some resistive plug leads (e.g. Taylor Spiro-Pro spiral wound) can be used, if they have a relatively low resistance (typically 350 ohms/foot).
Note: if using these type of leads that have moulded on plug boot ends, the resistance of the plug leads will likely be insufficient with digital ignition systems.
For these systems we recommend a total resistance in each h.t. circuit (lead/cap/plug) of approx. 5000 ohms (5k).
Therefore you may also need also need to fit resistor spark plugs when fitting these resistive leads, when used with our digital systems (Altair/Smart Fire).

With the Sure Fire system, you can use resistor or non-resistor type plug caps.
Note: we normally supply 5k resistor type, for use with all of our systems (these are included with the Altair & Smart Fire systems, and are available separately for the Sure Fire systems).

If you are using resistor caps we would recommend running non-resistor spark plugs.
Similarly, if you are using resistor spark plugs, we would recommend running non-resistor plug caps.
It won’t do any harm if you run with both resistor caps and plugs, but the extra resistance can reduce the spark energy a little.

Running the ignition system without any suppression (in the plug caps or plugs) can sometimes lead to interference with other electronic devices, e.g. bike alarm, intercom, tacho, etc.
With digital ignition systems (e.g. our Altair or Smart Fire), resistor caps and/or resistor plugs should be fitted for reliable operation.

No, you can use the standard plugs recommend for your bike.
Provided they are the correct type and grade, and have the correct gap, they should work fine.
There are v-groove or u-groove types that may offer improved starting, etc.
Also, Iridium types are good (if cost is not a problem).