Tri-Spark and Podtronics

kommando said:

On a starter equipped bike a second thin gauge earth will release smoke if the heavy gauge one fails and the starter is used. Don't see an issue with a second heavy gauge earth.

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The same could be said of any automobile - if the battery to engine block wire comes loose the minor grounds will smoke. Don't let it come loose!

MexicoMike said:

While I agree that the red wire makes a welcome appearance at several critical points, it's missing a critical one - a connection bolted directly to the engine.

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The MKIII did just that:
(Photo credit to @p400)

maylar said:

Don't let it come loose!

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Good advice.

In fact, don’t ever have anything come loose, break or stop working!

maylar said:

The MKIII did just that:

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As does the Alton and (I assume) the CNW starter mod.

On a MKIII that heavy ground wire is great for starting but improves nothing otherwise. The other ground wires still do what they did before. If you only had that ground wire, only the engine would have a good ground. If you have that ground and no other wire to the battery positive, the red wires to the head would do the job quite well, but as said before they should, IMHO, attach to the head, not the head steady.

MexicoMike said:

As does the Alton and (I assume) the CNW starter mod.

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The cNw e-start comes with a 6 ga ground wire attached to the inner primary. That bolts to the engine with 3 Loctited screws. I have no idea how effective that is for an engine ground.

I have a cNw head steady which uses the frame as a mounting point. My ground harness attaches to that and is jumpered to the head with 14 ga. wire. The original ground to the coil bracket is there too.