10.5 Volts at the tail light

I assume it's supposed to be 12v, right?
I need to go through my system with contact cleaner and clean everything up. I was trying to hook up a 6 inch LED strip that I want to use to light my license plate, but it won't light hooked to the tail light wire. Across the battery terminals it will though. At least with the key on, but motor off it won't turn on.

Maybe it would with the alternator doing work, but either way my system needs cleaned.

I am going to be doing a lot of riding next weekend and I was hoping to have this done by them. Hopefully I can find the time next week.

ya, sounds like a bad wire, connection or ground.

a good connection cleaning, check for bad, cracked or frayed wires.

check the wires with a volt meter. go from a tail light and move back checking for good voltage.

always check out ground.

I guess you have good voltage at other items on bike?

Print,and keep this in your toolbox:

Color Codes On Most Kawasaki’s (written for 1980’s bikes)

HEADLIGHT
RED with BLACK stripe, High Beam.
RED with YELLOW stripe, Low Beam.
BLACK with YELLOW stripe, the ground circuit.

BRAKE/TAIL LIGHT Can be an # 1157 dual filament bulb
RED, Running or Tail Light.
BLUE,(sometimes with a Red stripe) Brake Light Circuit.
BLACK with YELLOW stripe, the ground circuit.

LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL Can be an #1157 dual filament bulb
GREEN, Left front turn signal circuit.
BLUE, Left front running light circuit.
BLACK with YELLOW stripe, the ground circuit.

RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL Can be an # 1157 dual filament bulb
GREY, Right front turn signal circuit.
BLUE, Right front running light circuit.
BLACK with YELLOW stripe, the ground circuit.

LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL Can be an #1156 single filament bulb
GREEN, Left rear turn signal circuit.
BLACK with YELLOW stripe, the ground circuit.

RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL Can be an #1156 single filament bulb
GREY, Right rear turn signal circuit.
BLACK with YELLOW stripe, the ground circuit.

Battery water was low. I filled with distilled and it's on trickle charger now. I went through and sprayed all the connections behind the battery box and inside the headlight bucket. I'll find out tomorrow if any off this made a difference. Thanks

Make sure to check your ground ,from the battery to the frame ,or engine !!
Pete