possible electrical fault?

[geo28]

can someone help,
i have a R1150gs abs model and my problem is when i put my bike in to neutral with the engine running the battery light comes on, but it goes out as soon as i put it in gear and i have no problems starting the bike even after a week of lying not being used. is this normal or is there a problem?
thanks george

 

[RickG]

If the engine revs are the same when you are in neutral and in then in gear, and the light only comes on in neutral it suggests it's not a problem with the alternator or charging circuit but rather something like a bad earth connection in the instrument light panel which brings the battery light on as a result of the neutral switch operating.

Does the neutral light come on OK in neutral?

 

[unhinged]

Just a possibility. I've had my dash apart and put a couple of the bulbs back in the wrong holes so when I'm low on petrol, my oil light comes on. I don't suppose you or someone else has had it apart?

 

[rubberscrubber]

if you rev the engine in neutral does it still stay on ??

 

[Steptoe]

can someone help,
i have a R1150gs abs model and my problem is when i put my bike in to neutral with the engine running the battery light comes on, but it goes out as soon as i put it in gear and i have no problems starting the bike even after a week of lying not being used. is this normal or is there a problem?
thanks george

How old is the bike, how many miles, and where is it kept.

There have been many cases of strange electrical problems with instrument lights.
And many are due to the corrosion in the loom, the section that leads to the instruments. The wiring is just crimped together under the plastic sheathing, and turns to a pile of green dust due to water ingress, but before failing completely gives all sorts of strange signals on the instruments.

I'm not saying this is definitely your problem, but it's something to bare in mind.

 

[dunnie]

Lighting fault 1998 GS1100

Any ideas.............I have a 98 GS1100 and have just noticed that my sidelights have packed up all of a sudden. They were working the other day but as I put her in the garage tonight I noticed that they are no longer working.
When I put the light switch onto sidelights the dash lights come on but no rear or front sidelight, when I go to put main/dipped beam on the headlight works but not the rear light.
Nothing appears to be loose, it is not the bulbs as the parking lights still work if you lock the steering. I have found some other switch gear on ebay, could it be just the light switch???
Any info would be most appreciated, the bike has done 60k and has done the majority of europe but there is life in the old girl yet.

If nobody can assist then maybe I'll have to fit some dynamo lights

 

[Carl]

Any ideas.............I have a 98 GS1100 and have just noticed that my sidelights have packed up all of a sudden. They were working the other day but as I put her in the garage tonight I noticed that they are no longer working.
When I put the light switch onto sidelights the dash lights come on but no rear or front sidelight, when I go to put main/dipped beam on the headlight works but not the rear light.
Nothing appears to be loose, it is not the bulbs as the parking lights still work if you lock the steering. I have found some other switch gear on ebay, could it be just the light switch???
Any info would be most appreciated, the bike has done 60k and has done the majority of europe but there is life in the old girl yet.

If nobody can assist then maybe I'll have to fit some dynamo lights

Have you checked the fuse? No. 2 I think....

 

[dunnie]

Lighting fault continues

Well.............I have checked the fuse and all appears to be in order. I started her up this morning,side lights working as normal. I get to work, check them again, they are not on..........what the hell is going on.
I leave work this afternoon the light is working, I get home and the lights are still working. It may be a dirty contact in the switch I think so have got the WD40 on the case.....................watch this space.


Dont achieve tomorrow what you can achieve today.

 

[geo28]

i noticed yesterday that when the fuel light came on the battery light came on with it. it seem to be when any light on the instrument panel comes on then the battery light comes on with it, i.e. fuel light - battery light on
abs lights - battery light on neutral light - battery light on.
the bike is a R1150 gs 2001 33 k on the clock
cheers george

 

[jonesai]

Check that all the earth leads are earthed properly. Disconnect,clean off rust and crap with emery paper and reattach with some vaseline.