Lost fire 1987 KZ1000p

I have owned this 87 KZ1000p for a year and a half. Ride it often, went to ride it about a week ago it wouldnt start. No fire, have done the usual test check main wiring and connectors found nothing out of normal in the process of seaching for the problem I removed the siren wiring. I have owned several bikes first time I have ran into this. It has 28000 miles on it and has had one coil and plug wires replaced

Do a resistance check of the pick up coils, they are behind a CD sized right engine cover(assuming your bike has the Kawasaki supplied electronic ignition):

Ohm Checking Pickup(Pulsing) Coils

The pickup(Pulsing) coils on the Kawasaki’s with the factory supplied electronic ignition can sometimes fail or become intermittent due to heat and vibration.

1.Trace back from where the pick up coils are mounted,(BEHIND A RIGHT SIDE, CD SIZED COVER) locate and disconnect a small 4 pin connector. Using a multi-meter set on OHMS and range of 2K, check between the BLUE and BLACK wires(#1 and #4 sparkplug wires) for between 360- 540 OHMS.

2.For #2 and #3 sparkplugs the wire colors will be YELLOW and RED, again 360-540 OHMS. The 550’s,650’s & 750’s may be backwards to the Z1’s,Kz900’s,Kz1000’s & Kz1100’s.

3.If the pickup coils are suspect of failing due to heat, they can be stressed using a hair dryer without the need of the engine running.

4.A replacement set of pickup coils might be obtained from a dealer who serviced the police Kawasaki’s.

5. If replacement pickup coils are not available, your next choice would be to order a Dyna “S” electronic ignition system from www.z1enterprises.com It replaces the IC igniter with a smaller module located where the mechanical ignition advancer was mounted.

6. Checking with Kawasaki.com website has determined that the Pick up(pulsing) coils are available . The pulsing coil # is 59026-1133 and replaces the older # 1002, 1012 which were used from the MKII motors until the 2005 P24.

7.Check the small 4 pin connector that the pickup coils connect to for corrosion/loose pins too.


If you suspect the IC igniter has died(it give the coils their grounds), locate a forum member named "Loudhvx", and see if he will post how to make a replacement using off the shelf GM ignition modules.

Here's a wiring diagram: www.cyclepsycho.com/kz1000p/kz1000p.html