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Speedo swap

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07 May 2020 15:34 #825194 by uncle nick
Speedo swap was created by uncle nick
Hi all, my ‘81 KZ650CSR is a USA import (I’m in England) and has the standard 4inch 85mph speedo fitted, with low fuel, high beam and oil warning lights, chrome rear cover. Does anyone know if there’s a same size and appearance 120/140 mph replacement with the same warning lights if possible?
I guess fitting a U.K. spec speedo would do the job but they have different idiot lights and look totally different.
Any / all ideas or suggestions gratefully received. :)
Thanks folks, stay safe!

1981 KZ650 CSR

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07 May 2020 17:29 - 07 May 2020 19:04 #825197 by martin_csr
Replied by martin_csr on topic Speedo swap
A higher mph speedo is probably going to be hard to find. Keep searching EB UK & also try the motorcycle salvage yards. Or just learn to live with the 85 mph speedo. Here's a meter assy w 150 mph speedo that appears to be the same as the 650-CSR. from EB UK I think.

Last edit: 07 May 2020 19:04 by martin_csr.
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08 May 2020 03:56 #825217 by uncle nick
Replied by uncle nick on topic Speedo swap
Thanks for your input Martin.
That looks like the standard U.K. set up, if I remember correctly what mine was like back in the day. I think they were pretty standard across the range, with just changes to max mph for bigger or smaller bikes.
I was hoping there was a USA specific model I could use, something like a high speed KZ1000CSR option. Guess I’ll just keep searching. :)

1981 KZ650 CSR

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08 May 2020 06:42 - 09 May 2020 19:00 #825230 by martin_csr
Replied by martin_csr on topic Speedo swap
All of the meters in the USA from the early 80s would be 85 mph. Canada's were in kph (pretty sure).
The 650/750/1000 CSR & 750H Ltd meters are all the same size & larger than most other meters.
I looked into the 750E & 1000P speedos, but they're smaller. I think the 750E & 1000P meters are about the same size as each other.
For a stock type conversion, I considered getting a 750E or 1000P meter assy, and use the police speedo & 750E tachometer.
For a non-stock conversion that's kind of similar to stock, I would consider the ZRX1100/1200 meters. mechanical drive speedo & electronic tach.
Last edit: 09 May 2020 19:00 by martin_csr.
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09 May 2020 05:21 #825290 by uncle nick
Replied by uncle nick on topic Speedo swap
Good idea Martin. I’m not too bothered about it being stock, just wanted to avoid chasing down lots of parts. :whistle:
I wonder if the Zephyr clocks would be a straight swop, did you look into those at all?

1981 KZ650 CSR

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09 May 2020 07:03 - 09 May 2020 11:56 #825296 by martin_csr
Replied by martin_csr on topic Speedo swap
I haven't looked into the Zephyr meters that much, because there weren't very many of those made, plus I like the ZRX meters. Lacking measurements I just decided that the zephyr speedometer wouldn't fit anyway. hee. Fitting them would probably be pretty much the same as the ZRX meters, so you'd probably need to mount the complete meter assy. I have no idea how easy it would be to make the conversion to any non-KZ meters, but at the least a mounting bracket adapter will probably have to be fabbed to make the attachment to the fork holder triple. I try to do stock type stuff that's easy.
Last edit: 09 May 2020 11:56 by martin_csr.
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09 May 2020 11:11 #825314 by uncle nick
Replied by uncle nick on topic Speedo swap
Yes I’m trying to keep the mods as straightforward as possible and fighting the desire to go for a single seat and non CSR tail piece. Difficulty finding rear set foot pegs is helping in the fight! :)

1981 KZ650 CSR

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09 May 2020 11:52 - 10 May 2020 05:31 #825319 by martin_csr
Replied by martin_csr on topic Speedo swap
A good thing about the CSR seat is that it keeps your butt planted under heavy acceleration. Someone on kzrider put a ducktail on his 650-CSR & he kept the stock seat. This was quite a while ago and I don't know what he did & I didn't save a pic. Others have installed a tail cowling as well. A simple way is to make a bolt-on bracket to mate the cowling to the frame & this is probably the easiest. Some guys have probably done some frame welding, then used a matching seat & cowling from a standard model. on most standard models the seat is shaped to fit around the ducktail/cowling. I think someone here on KZR did a full 1000CSR to GPz conversion. It came out pretty nice.
Last edit: 10 May 2020 05:31 by martin_csr.

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12 May 2020 13:04 #825550 by uncle nick
Replied by uncle nick on topic Speedo swap
I do like the contour of the seat. If I had a spare I’d experiment with cutting it short, just after the step, and put the cowling on. The rear mudguard / fender could be shortened to the same length as the cowling and the rear light moved below it. Not sure what to do with the number plate though.

1981 KZ650 CSR

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