Wiring and connectors appear to be clean/fine. Is there any way to test the sensor?

 

Yes there is.

 

@IDoDirt Thanks! I forgot rule #1 of troubleshooting, read the troubleshooting section in the manual.

Have to love Honda for the placement of the sensor. On a positive note, it doesn't appear that I'll need to replace the sensor, as when I grounded the connector, the gauge did not go all the way up, indicating a faulty gauge. (The gauge just goes to half way and stays there, with wire grounded or not)

 

Sadly not made anymore. Looks like eBay search time. Probably have to buy the whole gauge cluster.

 

FWIW, I had an issue with my temp gauge once, or so I thought. The symptom was very similar to yours. I troubleshot it every which way and couldn't make heads or tails of it. I finally figured it out. I had disassembled my cluster while repairing my trip meter stem. When I put it all back together, I put the temp gauge needle on in the incorrect position. I took it apart, corrected that and all has been right with the world ever since.

 

It doesn't appear that this cluster has been apart, but I will take a look to see if that's the issue. I have a gauge cluster on the way from eBay for $50, and it has all of the mounting tabs intact, so that's a plus.

 

If the needle is in the wrong position, it should still move when the sensor wire is grounded. There's no effect on this gauge, makes me think it's fubar.

*Edit - pulled the cluster apart, changed the needle position after turning on the key, grounded the sensor wire and the needle swept up towards H. So, the gauge might be fine after all, will find out once I'm able to ride it a bit.

 

On a separate note, I've stumbled on some good deals on eBay for some fairings, they're trickling in. A sneak peek of what color the bike will end up being...

 

Nice color... if I do say so myself.

Some trivia, a lot of people don't realize that the graphics on the side of it are a stylized F3.

Central Florida eh? I lived in Altamonte Springs back in the early 80's. What part of Central FL ?

 

that’s great news. Hopefully that’ll do the trick for you.