First issue with my 'new' '96...Electrical ????

[birdman561]

Im riding down US1 into Martin Co., Florida, scouting some tail, as in 'SwallowTail Kites' you pervs, and coming up to
a lite the bike dies. F-ME I sez !!! Starts no probelm but as soon as I put it in gear the motor dies like
yer hitting the Kill Swich. OK, US1 in FL is not a great placed to be stranded so I get off and push the bike across
three lanes Frogger stylee....Keep trying to get rolling and keeps dying everytime. OK, be calm and trace wires, lem...
I reach under the shifter and feel some wireage and what feel like a sender unit so I  just grab it and wiggle it
out of desperation and the bike starts and stays running !!!!! I say a few words to Mother Seaton and
continue to my house scared the bike is going to leave me stranded again, but I make it.
I dont know if it was coincidence that jiggling those wires made it start or whatever, but tomorrow I am going over
it when I can see to get it figured out. I hope its not going to turn into a Triumph/Lucas short that you look for
the whole time you have the bike............

[jeremy_nash]

that would be the neutral safety switch.  if the bike is in gear and you put the kickstand down, it kills the engine.  did you happen to go over a bump when it died?  check to make sure both springs are on the sidestand, if they are, maybe its just a fluke.  if it happens again, replace the switch

[birdman561]

that would be the neutral safety switch.  if the bike is in gear and you put the kickstand down, it kills the engine.  did you happen to go over a bump when it died?  check to make sure both springs are on the sidestand, if they are, maybe its just a fluke.  if it happens again, replace the switch

Wow !!  Thanks Jeremy !! I should've known that.
I know I didnt touch the stand riding and its done it once or twice when I
first started it it but I just wrongly assumed it was because the bike is very
cold blooded for about 10 minutes or so. The thing with this bike is,
from the bottom up, its in very nice shape, but from the centerstand on down,
the pipe, kickstand, etc, its very corroded from the Fl salt air and water.
I cleanrd most of it up and am going to VHT paint the pipe but now I will
add the switch onto the 'to do' list. 
Thanks again, you saved me lots of time ! 

[jeremy_nash]

no problem

[birdman561]

Update and hopefully another entry into the archives for someone
who may have the same problem..........

If you are a safety person, stop reading here !

The kickstand switch was indeed the culprit. It was definitely bad.
I think where the wires went into the unit itself, there was a short.
I could jiggle them, and the bike would run but shut off in seconds
from its own vibration, in gear.  To remedy this, I traced them back
to where they plug into the module on the left side of the bike under
the cover and cut the ends off of the switch wires, spliced them together
creating a jumper wire to eliminate the switch all together.  

Ive never left a stand down any bike in 34 years of riding so Im guessing I
will for the first time by monday of nexrt week ?!?!