TOPIC:

I took my "new" '80 B2 Touring model into the shop last week for a spring tune, and the owner (an older guy with 50 years of motorcycle mechanics experience who I normally trust) told me that the CDI unit on KZ1300s is prone to failure, and nearly impossible to find a replacement for, if it does fail. Is this true? Enlighten me, oh wise ones . . .

If it's a 1980 B2 the ignitor will be above the regulator behind the right hand side panel. I've not heard of these failing. The weak parts of the ignition are the original HT coils. occasionally one of the pick up coils fails in the ignition pickup housing.

Later models had hall effect pickups on the right hand crank cover. I believe these were troublesome and took the CDI units out.

The ignitors for A1/A2/B2 come up on eBay now and again for around $100

Thanks. I take all my vintage bikes to this guy's shop, but he's primarily a Yamaha guy, so his experience with KZ1300s may be limited. He made my KZ1000P run like a bat out of hell; hopefully he'll do the same for my KZ1300!

I agree with Zed_thirteen, the 79 and 80 igniters are more robust, not as complicated, as the 81 and 82 models.

All is not lost though. There is a source to send in your igniter for testing and repair.

www.carmousa.com I have used them in the past with good results.

Regards.

Todd.

Agree with all above,

The poor old CDI unit on the A1 & A2 quite often gets the blame for many other issues like the coils or leads or plug caps or plugs.......& it is a very well made robust unit so VERY RARELY goes wrong.

The A3 CDI unit is a suspect one & is very rare indeed.

The A4 & A5 were much better & are more readily available.

I would not worry !

Pete F
UK

Thanks. I like your B-52 photo --
I was in the Air Force for 22 years.