On my way home from riding today, my speedometer started acting very weird. After engine braking when I get back on the throttle my speedometer goes down to zero and bounces between that and my actual speed a few times, then goes back to normal. It also does it when I'm accelerating and going around 85-90 mph. Since it's still reporting my speed most of the time I don't think a cable snapped, what do you think the problem would be?

 

Well the next morning my bike would not start. Also, I noticed there is no speedo gear in the front wheel nor is there a cable, and my front sprocket cover has some type of wire coming out of it. I think my speedo must have been swapped out for a later one with a speed sensor. I'm thinking it may be the regulator/rectifier's gone bad since it was making my speedometer bounce all around before crapping out, but I'm still not sure.

 

Assuming the bike inthe avatar is yours, its a 96-97 model and the speedo is a sensor type; not a front wheel mounted type. Check out some basic things first, is there any vibration or loose nuts around the speedo?, check the sensor cable is hooked tightly to the meter too.

The something that is popping out from the front sprocket is the speedo sensor. Charge your battery (assuming it's still in good condition, and check the output; anything less than 12v and your rectifier had its days..