Hello all,

I just bought an '89 GS500E track bike that needs a little TLC to get running in tip-top shape.  The previous owner described that he believes that an intermittent electrical issue causes the bike to lose spark in one cylinder and that a new wiring harness may solve the problem.

So...

What I need is a complete, working, non-frankenstein wiring harness to fit my bike.  I'm new to the GS so I'm not familiar if a harness from a different model year will work.  I'm hoping you folks can tell me that.  I'm also interested in a couple of working coils if anyone has a spare or two to sell.  I see the pricing for this stuff vary alot on eBay so I'll let you tell me what it's worth to you.  I am interested in any other electrical/ignition stuff you may think could help me as well.  I have a shop manual for it so at least I look up on the parts you think I need.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Dennis
Oakdale, MN

you can use up to a 2000 wiring harness on it that what i replaced mine with, i just had to replace the starter cilinoyde (no idea how to spell it), but they changed it half way through the year so you might not even have to replace that.

Quote from: knowles on March 30, 2012, 11:17:11 AM
you can use up to a 2000 wiring harness on it that what i replaced mine with, i just had to replace the starter cilinoyde (no idea how to spell it), but they changed it half way through the year so you might not even have to replace that.

Thanks!  That helps quite a bit.  I'm finding more of them on eBay now.  I'd rather buy one from someone on this list though... 

Older bikes had 3 barrel connectors on the stator - not a 3 pin molex type connector. The wiring harness had embedded in it a 2' length of 3 wires that went from 3 barrel connectors to the 3 pin connector for the regulator.
If you need that "adapter", just buy the 3 pin connector and replace the 3 barrel connectors on your stator.

If you're re-wiring the entire bike, consider switching to the newer stuff. The 2004_ CDI's are as low as $19 and are readily available. Wiiring harness has all connections under the tank instead of the headlight bucket. You'd need a single pickup for the timing but otherwise all the newer things can be ignored and the CDI goes into a safe mode working like the older one. You could then upgrade the carbs. It will require changing the handle bar controls to new ones. They're cheap and new so your bike will look newer.

Quote from: adidasguy on March 30, 2012, 01:16:13 PM
Older bikes had 3 barrel connectors on the stator - not a 3 pin molex type connector. The wiring harness had embedded in it a 2' length of 3 wires that went from 3 barrel connectors to the 3 pin connector for the regulator.
If you need that "adapter", just buy the 3 pin connector and replace the 3 barrel connectors on your stator.

If you're re-wiring the entire bike, consider switching to the newer stuff. The 2004_ CDI's are as low as $19 and are readily available. Wiiring harness has all connections under the tank instead of the headlight bucket. You'd need a single pickup for the timing but otherwise all the newer things can be ignored and the CDI goes into a safe mode working like the older one. You could then upgrade the carbs. It will require changing the handle bar controls to new ones. They're cheap and new so your bike will look newer.

When did they switch? like i said i used a 2000 and it was the same except for the starter cilinoide, and now that i think about the blinker flasher was different, but was easy as the colors were the same so i just cut the wires ,and put the old one on being that it worked fine before. If you do the newer style hand controls i think you have to get all new throttle and choke cables. not sure tho adidas would know.

Choke: same. Throttle: depends on your carbs. Newer throttle tube can use just the single cable for old carbs. I'd have to investigate when the stator wiring changed. Might have been after 2000.

Solenoid is how it is spelled.

i have a 89 wiring harness, i cut the starter solenoid off, and the blinker relay. but you can have it for shipping if you want.