Should I have a digital ignition installed?

Hello I recently bought a 1982 kz1100 spectre, I'm getting a lot of detonation at low rpm. I talked to a mechanic at a local motorcycle performance shop who told me a digital ignition would be a good fix. His explanation was the counterweight springs get hot and weak, causing a big timing advance at low rpm. I did a search on here and didn't find info on this, so I apologize if it's already discussed on here. Has anyone on here swapped to a digital ignition, and if so, what was your experience with it?

That is BS. You already have an electronic ignition. Find a different mechanic for advice.
What fuel grade are you using? If you are using 87, move up to 89 or 91.
Report your results from the second tank.

And welcome to KZR.

koolaid_kid wrote: That is BS. You already have an electronic ignition. Find a different mechanic for advice.
What fuel grade are you using? If you are using 87, move up to 89 or 91.
Report your results from the second tank.

And welcome to KZR.

Bingo! If he was a real mechanic he would simply hook up a timing light to see if his theory was correct. Using the light you can watch the timing advance as you increase the engine rpm. If you do that and find there really is a problem with it advancing to early (unlikely) you can just replace the advancer. They are still available from Kawasaki and cost about $80 - 90. Ed

Ed, I looked at the parts fiche for that model. The advance is built into the ignitor.

OK I'm glad I asked on here, he tried to sell me an expensive ignition..almost $400. Is the advancer probably what's causing the detonation? I was using 93 octane, but I just changed today to 91 because there's a local gas station that has 91 without ethanol.

IMHO, it can't be the advancer, it is digital and built into the ignitor.
If you were already using 93 octane, there is something else going on.
How many miles are on the bike? What color are the plugs?

It has about 35,000 miles, I haven't looked at the plugs yet. Could dirty carburetors be causing a lean condition? Cold starts are a bit difficult.

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configuration

koolaid_kid wrote: Ed, I looked at the parts fiche for that model. The advance is built into the ignitor.

Here's what I found. The "Governor-Breaker" for the 1982 KZ1100-D1 Spectre is part number 21148-1020 and is still available (first picture). In looking for a picture of part number 21148-1020 I found several on eBay, and they appear to have springs and timing marks (second picture - click on "View & Bid".) So I am left with the impression, although I have no hands-on experience with the KZ1100, that the ignition timing can be adjusted and has springs that control advance. Again, I could be wrong, as I haven't actually touched one. Ed

chiaronate wrote: OK I'm glad I asked on here, he tried to sell me an expensive ignition..almost $400. Is the advancer probably what's causing the detonation? I was using 93 octane, but I just changed today to 91 because there's a local gas station that has 91 without ethanol.

Here's my suggestion. Buy a Kawasaki Service Manual for your year/model bike. You should be able to find one on eBay. NO KZ owner should be without one, as they are worth their weight in gold. Use the instructions in the manual to check the ignition timing and perform other routine maintenance tasks. The small amount of money you will spend on the manual and tools will be a fraction of what you would spend on a mechanic. You bike probably needs only a simple adjustment rather than any parts. Ed

Hmm I imagined it differently, could the spring on that part be what the mechanic was talking about? If so, how is the ignition he recommends different? Can I adjust the governor breaker, or is it not adjustable?

650ed wrote:

chiaronate wrote: OK I'm glad I asked on here, he tried to sell me an expensive ignition..almost $400. Is the advancer probably what's causing the detonation? I was using 93 octane, but I just changed today to 91 because there's a local gas station that has 91 without ethanol.

Here's my suggestion. Buy a Kawasaki Service Manual for your year/model bike. You should be able to find one on eBay. NO KZ owner should be without one, as they are worth their weight in gold. Use the instructions in the manual to check the ignition timing and perform other routine maintenance tasks. The small amount of money you will spend on the manual and tools will be a fraction of what you would spend on a mechanic. You bike probably needs only a simple adjustment rather than any parts. Ed

I stand corrected. That should be easy to check. And fix. And not $400.
Which on-line company do you use, Ed?

The ignition that the mechanic recommended is almost $400, the e-bay part Ed mentioned is about $80 I think.