I'm thinking about buying a GS500 for my wife and was wondering what ( if any ) electrical issues they have ??.I have a 82 GS850g and am well aware of it's issues and I also have a 2007 DL1000 that has many of the same issues as my 850 does.I'm hopping that the 500 does not have many !!
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only speaking from my thus far limited experience...

had the bike 2 years or so ... few minor problems with headlight flickering due to wiring .. which with a workshop manual, a multimeter and some helpful tips from the lads and lasses on here ... was sorted out relatively easily by my own hand.

if you do a search on 'electrical problem' on this board you will see what appears to be an alarming amount of mentions of electrical issues... HOWEVER ... most of these .. from what i have read on here are relatively easy? to fix/replace/repair .. and if you get stuck with a problem .. mention it in a thread here and usually you will get any number of helpful replies.. there are some seriously tech savvy persons around this place!!

but I would say for the bike overall... and its general simplicity .. just do it... find one you like that has a suitable price for you... possibly post up some info and or photos on here before you buy ... as it could just be someone knows that particular bike... and ... just do it... your missus will love you to pieces for getting her such a worthy steed! 

#5244

There are very few electrical problems.

Most common: Wondering why they get a clicking sound when pressing the starter. Ripping into everything only to finally realize they have a dead battery.

Then comes shorting something out. Saying the fuse is OK only to then learn that fuse out on the open is the spare. The real fuse (the blown one) is under the rubber cover.

Then replacing turn signals with LEDs and wondering why they either do not blink or blink fast. Need the correct flasher relay for LEDs.

And we can't forget destroying the clutch safety switch because they didn't know you have to remove the switch BEFORE you remove the clutch lever.

That's about it. Generally very little ever goes wrong without some kind of human intervention to cause it.

The bike is simple enough that if something does go wrong, you can figure it out with the wiring diagram and a meter (and why people don't think a meter is important I do not know.)

do i detect just the merest hint of ironic and head-slappin exasperation in your observations there adidas?! .. 

i concur with those observations 101% btw .. 

the K.I.S.S. mantra can be applied to most electrical work on the bike ... if not most simple electrical work anywhere ... i know that and have done for over 20 years ... and i'm just a 'bush mechanic' level fixer of things! 

This is what I wanted to know about.My 850 is kinda the same way,now my DL is a whole nether story !!.


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Quote from: Janx101 on August 07, 2012, 08:57:54 PM
do i detect just the merest hint of ironic and head-slappin exasperation in your observations there adidas?! .. 

i concur with those observations 101% btw .. 

Yep. You detected it. 

How many times have people wondered why they hear clicking when they press the starter and want to rip into everything? how many times have we said get out your meter and check the voltage? "What's a meter? How do they work?" 

Gosh, when I was 6 years old I knew what that was when my dad would try to start the old Plymouth with a bad battery or when below freezing. Get the jumper cables: battery is low. 

Doh - forgot the serial number....  #5246

I guess I WILL do a video on the electrical system and how to use a meter.

Quote from: adidasguy on August 07, 2012, 09:37:56 PMHow many times have people wondered why they hear clicking when they press the starter and want to rip into everything? how many times have we said get out your meter and check the voltage? "What's a meter? How do they work?" 

Maybe I've just gotten my hands dirty too many times, but as soon as I hear the starter click, I get out the jumper cables. Its one of the few true situations in which the answer is simply more power.

#5248

Quote from: NortwestRider on August 07, 2012, 09:09:27 PM
This is what I wanted to know about.My 850 is kinda the same way,now my DL is a whole nether story !!.

I know you're going to be looking at purchasing my bike named Trey. Electrically he is great. Upgraded to LiFe battery. MosFet voltage regulator. Brisk high performance spark plugs. All LED indicators. Upgrades were done because I like the best - not because he had any electrical issues.

(FYI: Most of us here name our bikes. We also buy them bobbles so they run better.)

Computers and electrical design are my background and specialty. Probably I know more about tracing wires, building and modifying electrical things than most. Maybe I'm to electrical as Buddha is to carbs?

adidas ..yeah i would hazard a 2nd to your electrical/ carbs-buddha thing ..

Northwestrider ... i have never met adidas .. wrong country for a start .. but i would happily buy Trey off him (if that was my need) without sighting in real life... based on what i have read on here .. and from what others have mentioned over time.. just as i would trust his advice on electrical issues if i couldnt muddle it out myself.

oh and Ross ... come on!! .. every real mans situations can ALWAYS be solved by MORE POWER!! .. urgh urgh urgh!!

and the video on multimeter/voltmeter/testing... yeah!! .. few things i'm not sure of still either .. but dont forget to fully expect "my mouse keeps on going click click click and the video wont play" moments! 

I also name my bikes.
My DL is named Brutus,Taking a 1000 offroad is not much fun and this bike is a BRUT!!.
My GS850 sidecar rig is named Black Sunshine,it's matt black ( bedliner ) and  when I ride it it makes me happy like sunshine ( and I like Rob Zombie!! ).


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