Speedometer Question

What is the deal with my 82 1000csr having a speedometer that says it goes up to 85mph? How come I see other smaller CC bikes and they go over 100mph?

Does my CSR really only go up to 85mph? Or can I get a new speedometer. I know, I know- what do I need it to go faster than that for? Its just for satisfying my ego.

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I believe the reason for the 85 MPH speedometer was an idea by a former NTSB(?) administrator named Joan Claybrook.

She had some really nutso ideas about motorcycle safety.

Cars had the 85 mph spedo also in the early 80's. It's just a stupid big brother thing. I replaced mine with a 140 mph spedo after my accident. You can do the same... (not the accident part! lol)

The CSR probably has a speedo that is unique to the model, so there may be no 140 or 160 version available. I'm not sure on that. The story was Joan Claybrook, a safety freek at the time thinking 85mph would slow down the speeders. It started with the 1980 model year, and in 1983 they went back to higher numbers, so if there is a 1983 model equiv of your CSR chances are it would have a 160mph speedo. Joan had "great ideas" including mandatory crash bars that stuck out like 2 feet each side of the bike with airbag type safety system and even a rear steer motorcycle. We all agree steering the rear wheel would definately help in the safety department.:S Of course all this stuff was on "60 minutes" and all the other roachbag news rags showing "innocent victims" crashing these "deathtrap machines" of the time that had so much power they were uncontrollable. So they lower the speedo and that did wonders. They talked about the ever loved limits of HP at like 25hp or whatever to keep these rockets harnessed.:laugh:

RonKZ650 wrote:

The CSR probably has a speedo that is unique to the model, so there may be no 140 or 160 version available.

Actually, there is. I also have an '82 KZ1000 CSR, and I found a 160 speedo on EBay that was a direct bolt-on. The seller did not know which model it came off of, but it looked right, and I got it so cheap that I was willing to risk it. Lucked out, and it fit perfectly.

So I'm sorry that I cannot tell you which model/yr to look for, but I can confirm that there IS a direct replacement available.

Thank you all. I feel so much better now. I will look for the new speedo.

BTW..why couldn't I put a new speedo on that is not from the
sameyear/ same model? I mean, what would happen, besides maybe it wont have a correct fit?

There's always the chance the cable would not fit/turns the wrong way/can't mount it...............

I'd try the many and various bike salvage yard too. One place to look would be www.oldkawman.com

I remember they also wanted to have the horns and lights start going off if the speed of the car went over 80. I don't think that was ever implemented.

MFolks wrote:

There's always the chance the cable would not fit/turns the wrong way/can't mount it...............

I'd try the many and various bike salvage yard too. One place to look would be www.oldkawman.com

Yeah, I just checked his site. He had some speedometer, but who knows if it is right for my motorcycle. It is a 160mph gauge. Sell for $77 or something like that. I guess I will just have to wait for my manual book to get here and see how they fit on.

Check "Steve's" .... I've done biz with them, have a pretty big inventory and are fairly reasonable, and will will ship.

www.stevescyclesalvage.com/

p.s. Check out the "cool bike picts" :woohoo:

Rae

Hey thanks. Very useful stuff.