Speedometer
and tachometer types
Click on image
below for large image. |
The external design of the meter housing was the same for all
of them as were the internal mechanics. The differences are to
be found in the design layout of the faces and with the addition
of a stomp lamp feature in the 1974 Z1A and 1975 Z1B models..
|
| 1972 Z1 Meters (MPH version) |
|  With
a small number of the early speedometers (bikes built in 1972),
the position of the 20mph numbers varies - we have only seen
a couple of examples of this, so it is difficult to draw any
firm conclusions about this variant.
|
|
| 1973 Z1 Meters (MPH version) |
 The
1973 Z1 speedometer is identified by the following features.
The numbering on the face is in 20 mph increments. The second
is the ND (for Nippon Denso) on the face is very low down on
the face - right at the very bottom. Lastly the speedometer
goes up to 160 mph.
Like the 1972
Z1 speedometer, the tachometer has the same small ND very low
on the face. The redline starts at 9,000rpm and finishes at
12,000rpm
|
|
| 1974 Z1-A Meters |
|
 At
first glance, the 1974 Z1-A speedometer looks very much like
the 1973 Z1 version. It is another 160mph speedometer with 20mph
increments. One noticeable difference is the ND on the face
has moved slightly higher while the MPH has moved much lower
on the face.
The
1974 version of the tachometer changed to incorporate a red
brake light warning light. This light would come on when the
brake was applied, and would flash in warning if the brake light
bulb failed. Similar to the corresponding 1974 Z1-A speedometer,
the tachometer's x1000 rpm lettering moved down the face while
the ND moved up slightly. The redline remained at 9,000 rpm |
|
| 1975 Z1-B Meters |
 While
still remaining a 160mph speedometer, the markings now showed
the speed in 10mph increments. The ND and MPH letters remained
in relatively the same place as the Z1-A gauge.
The tachometer
was same as the 1974 version. No changes. |
|
| 1976 Z900/ KZ900-A4 Meters |
 Same
as the 1975 Z1-B speedometer. No changes.
With the arrival
of the KZ900-A4, Kawasaki dropped the brake light warning light
in the tachometer. The redline remains at 9,000rpm. So for this
year, the tachometer looks similar to the 1973 gauge except
for the position of the ND and x1000rpm on the face. |
|
| 1977 Z1000/ KZ1000-A1 Meters |
|
Same as the 1976
Z900 speedometer. No changes.
|
|
Z-Resto
Note:Beezeees
would like to thank Bob Harrington of Z-Resto
for his expert guidance. Z-Resto rebuilds and
restores Z1 and KZ gauges.
Click
here to email Z-Resto. |
|
|
| Our thanks to Jeff Saunders for allowing
us to use this informative guide |
