Found this on the 1989 frame we are stripping down for our rebuild. Seems there is a factory power outlet. The 1989-1996 parts diagrams show the metal finger sticking up from the battery box that holds the power outlet. The rubber that holds the outlet looks exactly like all other factory rubber parts. anyone ever seen this before?

dealer option?

Maybe a dealer option? But the parts diagrams DO SHOW the piece sticking up from the battery box for it.
One friend thought it might be an optional place to connect a charger. The wires from it are not long enough to go to the fuse. They are only long enough to connect directly to the battery - even has a round spade lug connector for the battery post.

Charger connection does make sense, since it bypasses the fuse.

Has anyone ever seen this before?

Sorta dangerous if its just a wire to the battery, I would totaly keep it (or replace it with a newer one to prevent any problems) and add a fuse inline.

My real interest is in the history of this thing. I have never heard of it ever being mentioned by anyone.
Deciding if and how it would be re-connected will come later after it gets cleaned to see if it hasn't corroeded away.

On the early `89s the fuse and its carrier was mounted on that finger in the resilient block under a cover. Looks like someone has stuck a socket in the block instead.

There is a known anomaly in the fiche. (There is few more but I cant remember them now) Look on the 89 "wiring harness" fiche, you will see the fuse the carrier and its cover as #11. It fits on the finger shown in your pic but its not listed in the part description...... Then look on the "electrical" fiche and you will also see the fuse as part of #1A as per the the latter models 

We can only guess at what what previous owners may have done in the last 22 years but the socket is not OEM.

Interesting. I am aware of the errors in the parts lists - have seen some before.

What is odd is it looks so factory original. The fuse was correctly mounted elsewhere - and the original 89 fuse holder that didn't have a spare.

Also odd is the cast knuckle.  Shock and bones are same as we usually see. Can't imagine anyone changing out just the knuckle.

Is there any way with the VIN to determine what order this bike was in the production line? Possibly it was one of the first ones made, then midway through production they ran out of cast knuckles and 12v outlets and dropped them from the product line.

Oh, the OEM bars even have a screw in EACH end of the bar, where we normally see that only in the grip end and just a plastic cap at the top plate end. Only set of clip ons I have with a screw in each end of the bar. I have even seen 2 different thicknesses of the steel in the bars. I have a couple bars which are 1/2" longer (those those might be from Europe)

(I have yet to measure all aspects of a frame to see why the newer side stands are 3/4" shorter than the older ones. Somehow they changed the frame or suspension.)

It is interesting to have so many different years of bikes and see the subtle differences.

UK spec `89 GS5s went from GM51A-100001 to 103616 and non of them had a factory 12v socket fitted in that location, fuses yes, sockets no. My OEM parts manual includes detailed line drawings and allows me to cross reference frame numbers to years and versions, I think its also mentioned in Haynes.....but as we know there are many different market versions and some countries use their own nomenclature to satisfy local regs.

A friend of mine has access to the genuine Suzuki fiches, if you wish you can send me your numbers and next time I am over at his place we can see if they include any info relevant to USA markets.

Someone added that...  Fuse setup as sledge said is what went there.

The cast "knuckle" was an 89 only thing too- was cheaper to weld them up so they changed to those - the racers that are looking to carve off every ounce they can look for the 89  cast "knuckle" -think it saves a pound or two. I've sold two of them over the years...

The removable frame spar is different on the 89 too- the cross bar part  up  under the triples bolts in the center where the later ones bolt to the side - slightly more room to get the motor in and out.

Sidestand... I'd think suspension changed a touch (maybe it has more  initial sag?).

Yea 89 and 90 had a cast shock linkage I thought.
The fuse is behind the bettery ... yes not under right side cover, which IMHO is dumb late @ night you lose the fuse you will now need to open the side covers to get to it.
The rest are as they have said.
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: The Buddha on August 15, 2011, 06:39:00 AM
Yea 89 and 90 had a cast shock linkage I thought.
The fuse is behind the bettery ... yes not under right side cover, which IMHO is dumb late @ night you lose the fuse you will now need to open the side covers to get to it.
The rest are as they have said.
Cool.
Buddha.

That is why i removed it from that harness and rewired a new fuse holder to the rectifer/engine start switch directly to the positive post of the battery.

Quote from: adidasguy on August 13, 2011, 05:22:06 PM
Found this on the 1989 frame we are stripping down for our rebuild. Seems there is a factory power outlet. The 1989-1996 parts diagrams show the metal finger sticking up from the battery box that holds the power outlet. The rubber that holds the outlet looks exactly like all other factory rubber parts. anyone ever seen this before?

That tab is where the fuse holder is supposed to be on the 89s.My 90 is the same.