Okay. ready to start the Ortega ride and I get on, turn the key and no lights on. Nothing. Oil/neutral/etc, headlight, taillight, etc all off. I had ridden the bike last weekend and this morning to the start of the ride all was fine. I even ended up stopping at Pkaaso's place, started up fine there. Then stopped for gas a block before the meeting place...all fine there too.

Bump started my bike and it wouldn't hold an idle. Kept trying it and got worse until it wouldn't even bump start.

Swapped batteries and my battery in pkasso's bike started up fine. Checked fuse and it was fine. 2001 with 5300 miles on it.

I have not done any work in the last few days on it or since the last few rides I've done so nothing that I might have screwed up. I'm sure its user error though but can't figure out where to start.

Its currently at pkasso's house, 75 miles from home. It WAS there when yo uwent to pick it up, right paul?  Pkasso has graciously offered to check it out. He'll start by checking the ignition switch, then using a voltmeter to check the current between all the major charging system components.

btw-I cannot begin to express my gratitude to pkasso for all he has done, or to Good_Guy for two-upping me home.

Any suggestions from the peanut gallery?

Check for a bad ground connection. Possibly corrosion at the battery terminals. See Kerry's posts in these other threads.
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=811&highlight=battery
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=920

funny, while you were replying here I was PMing Paul about that possibility. Don't know why it didn't occur to me then.

Thanks.