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I know, I know.....I'm guessing it's the coil after reading every post I could find. 1 and 4 are hot, 2+3 are cold. It's new to me, and haven't even looked or tested anything yet. I'm not that sharp when it comes to electrical, but my Clymer's is already under the tree, and I'm ready to learn over the winter. Rode around the neighborhood, absolutely no power whatsoever, but it moved and stopped, even with my #260+ on it.

My real question is.....how does this thing run so smoothly at idle, while goosing the gas, and everywhere in between when it's not hauling me around?

Most likely a bad coil, or at coil is getting no power for some reason. It could also be a bad sparkplug in 2 or 3, preventing a complete circuit. The Clymer is ok, but you can download the basic 1981-83 KZ1000 factory service manual from KZR, and pick up the appropriate P-series supplement from fleabay. The factory supplement will be far more specific than the Clymer when it comes to your specific bike.

Make sure your 2/3 coil is getting 12Vs with the key on. If so, yeah, probably a bad coil although that is not that common.
You could swap the 1/4 and 2/3 coils to see if the dead cylinders follow.

I can't tell you how many times I've ridden home on two cylinders the last 40+ years.
Steve

When I got my KZ1100 it acted the same.
I put new plugs in it and about 6000 miles later, still going strong.

Thanks for all the comebacks - can't wait to hear all 4 purring.

tthunderdan wrote: When I got my KZ1100 it acted the same.
I put new plugs in it and about 6000 miles later, still going strong.

Nailed it - I ordered 4 plugs and 2 cheap coils (before I read the coils weren't worth the postage). Checked spark from old coils to plugs. All plugs were receiving spark. Swapped out the plugs, fired up and rode around the neighborhood. It's going to be a fun spring.

I should probably think about getting the ol' girl legal now.