Hey, I just got my fathers hand me down 1990 GS500E last week.   What a great ride!  
Anyway I started having an issue two days ago with the bike dying when I put it in gear.    

Details,  bike is warmed up ,  started in neutral, pull in clutch, put into first gear ..... dies.    Seems like this is NOT a clutch problem since it works fine when it is cold.   I can even make it die without putting it all the way in gear.  As soon as the neutral light goes off the bike dies like I hit the kill switch.     I have ordered a manual today to trace out the wiring but I would appreciate any thoughts.


Collins.

kick stand switch.

I would think that would cause it to die when I put the stand up.  Right now it only dies when I try and put it in first or second.   I will check it out anyway.... hold on a couple of minutes.

Totally sounds like the side-stand switch...

AUURGGG,  What an idiot I am.   Thanks a lot

just admit it to yourself that your a noob, and theings will be better.  then go hug your bike.

great noob question...i've done it once or twice once a upon a time  

Quote from: JetSwinggreat noob question...i've done it once or twice once a upon a time  

I did it in front of other people.

At a bike parts shop.

Now that was embarrasing.

I've done it too...  

That is the sad thing.  I have been riding dirt bikes for 20 years .

Quote from: Chris.t.CollinsI have ordered a manual today to trace out the wiring

In case you need to do any other tracing before the manual arrives, here is a color wiring diagram from the Haynes manual.

(You bought a Clymer, right?   )

Kerry, I'm citing you for excessive helpfulness.  You and your scanner get 2 minutes in the penalty box.

That said, that is a GREAT diagram.  The b/w one in the Clymer is much harder to make sense of.

now go to the box!

Quote from: raylarrabeeKerry, I'm citing you for excessive helpfulness.  You and your scanner get 2 minutes in the penalty box.

That said, that is a GREAT diagram.  The b/w one in the Clymer is much harder to make sense of.

now go to the box!

overruled!  :lol:

Incredible diagram!    Thanks a lot.

You know, this will the my 2nd summer with the gsf and i still do it all the time. I never remember. I do it at times with ppl around, but i really dont care, i am too used to it now. Good thing that switch is there, because i would always drive away with it down  

Yeah... No kidding.  I think half of us would have wrecked at least once for that reason.

i think if the speedometer hits 1mph, it should automatically retract...!

I avoid that potentially embarassing scenario by NEVER using the sidestand! Back in the '60s  when I started riding (1st bike was the ubiquitous Honda 305 scrambler), I scared myself silly several times by being so-o-o cool as to smoothly pull away from a curb, only to hear an unsettling    scraping sound, sometimes accompanied by a slight leveraging upward      of the rear wheel if that first left hander was taken too "hot". Whew! Have THAT happen a couple times and you learn real fast to check things before you motor off. Glad your "fix" was so easy, may they all be so in the future!

Free newb lesson #2 of the day:

That ignition past 'lock' that says 'P'? Don't leave your bike in that position and work for 11 hours. Bikey no startey. Stupid parking lights.

Ok, I feel better now. Had to get that embarrassment off my chest. Long day.

Quote from: Kerry

Quote from: Chris.t.CollinsI have ordered a manual today to trace out the wiring

In case you need to do any other tracing before the manual arrives, here is a color wiring diagram from the Haynes manual.

(You bought a Clymer, right?   )

If you don't endorse the Clymer, why is it the one linked at Amazone under through the "Buy a Repair Manual" link at the top of the forums?