Electronic Ignition

Older engines used contact breaker points, opened by a cam, to trigger the ignition coil. Electronic ignition replaces them with a pickup sensor that reads the crankshaft position and an electronic module (CDI or transistorised ignition, or the ECU) that fires the coil at the right moment.

With no wearing contacts, timing stays accurate, the spark is stronger and maintenance is minimal. Modern systems also vary ignition advance with revs and load, and on fuel-injected bikes the ECU controls ignition and fuel together.

Typical faults are a damaged pickup, broken wiring, a failed coil or a cracked plug cap. Electronic ignition kits are popular upgrades for classic bikes still running points.