TOPIC:

I just bought a 1983 KZ1100 with about 22k miles on it. I found it on craig'slist but it was actually listed here as well. The bike is in fantastic shape overall. On my first ride I rode it to work (7 miles) and on the way back home the speedometer, which had been working fine, quit working. The tach side of the guage works fine. The piece looks like it just rolled off the factory floor so I was surprised it failed.

My question: With such relatively low miles what should I look for first in trying to determine why the speedometer quit working?

This is the bike.

Thanks for any comments.

If it is a cable driven unit, check to see if the cable broke. They tend to get brittle with age and corrosion

the most common reason for failure is that the inner cable breaks. The guts of the cable can be replaced seperately with one for a car from you local auto parts store, disconnect both ends of it from the front wheel and from the speedo head,, if its broken you probably have to transfer the end from the wheel end to the new cable. If that's the case I'll explain how to repair it.

I do have a service manual for the bike. Hopefully it should be helpful to me if I have to make the repair. If I get stuck I will definitely be asking for help.

Thanks to the both of you.

I have an 82 KZ1100 Spectre and the speedo is electronic. Have you tried checking the connectors?
Mine don't work either I have to check mine..

Actually it is electronic and has now started working again. My issue is probably a loose connection.

Then I would check all the wiring for a loose connection and fix it. If it is routed along the frame, I usually solder and heat shrink wrap the connection so it doesn't come apart again.