New switches on old bike?

[Guest]

Can you put new handle bar switches on an old bike? Yes or No, why not if you can't? I'm new to working on electrics and have too much to learn.
My local dealer sais no you can't, I'm hard headed and would like to do it.
I have a 1980 GS 1000 L and want to rework it to look like a sporty standard UJM. Sachsaca
You can tell the happy biker, he's the one with bugs in his teeth...

[hampshirehog]

Pretty easy to do. Chances are the wiring block connectors won't match up but if you test everything with a meter (or a battery and lightbulb) you can work out which wire does what and swap the wiring around / build up your own blocks (or swap to individual bullet / spade connectors).

[Matchless]

Handlebar switches like anything else electrical are designed to perform some specific special functions and are then designed and wired accordingly. The main wiring harness is also wired to bring or get specific requirements to the handlebar switch. Each side usually plugs into a multiplug in the main harness.

1) It is possible to use newer handlebar switches, but you will have to understand the workings of the switches and the wiring diagram fully.
2) Newer switches may have different functions provided for than the original ones, an additional function i.e. say hazard lights may be provided, but your bikes harness may not be wired for that and you will need additional wiring and maybe extra flasher units and indicator lights to make it work properly.
2) On many bikes there are some rectifiers (diodes) wired in the harness to enable certain functions, these may not be obvious at first glance and you may find things like, kick stand safety, clutch safety and other functions not working properly unless you have inserted same on the older bike.
3) It is sure that the connector plugs to the harness will differ completely and the bundled tail of wires may even be too short.
3) Modern bikes may have drive by wire and other wires running to the ECU that older bikes do not have.
4) The turn signal switches may have different switching positions and not perform all the functions properly, such as cancelling.
5) Light switches may work differently.
6) Kill switch and other switches may go to ECU instead of interupting the spark circuits.
7) Once you start hacking into the existing harness there may be no turning back.

I suggest if you consider this seriously and if have the electrical acumen that you first compare the two wiring diagrams, your old bike and the one of the handlebar switch donor bike and work out each function and note the differences and then decide. It is do-able and a challenge, but needs carefull planning with schematics of changes properly drawn up by yourself beforehand. Finding a close match w.r.t.functions type handle bar switch may make this much easier.

If you go this way please keep the forum informed with pictures etc. other members will also be interested in this.

Good luck.


Edit: .... Hamp you beat me to this while I was typing.

[Old Colt]

The new switches are not a direct install. In order to swap them to your bike you would be best to get a matching wire harness from the bike the donor switches come from and then disassemble both your original harness and the new one and properly splice in what is needed to mate up the new switchgear.
Here is a larger scale of what you will be getting into,

This is a customers car that I am pairing down the wire harness to the bare essentials. Granted a much more intensive job compared to the thirty or so wires on your bike. But it is similar work.

[sachsaca]

Thank you very much. Believe I will try to buy a new switch from the dealer and put the same in place. Great Info. Old Colt it's pictures like that that cause some of to run and hide like a wimpering little puppy. Great info. Thanks

[skidMarkNZ]

Thank you very much. Believe I will try to buy a new switch from the dealer and put the same in place. Great Info. Old Colt it's pictures like that that cause some of to run and hide like a wimpering little puppy. Great info. Thanks

In regards to somebody elses comment regarding the wires being too short, it shouldnt be an issue as most new bikes infact have longer wires as they plug up under the tank unlike old bikes that ran them into the headlight.

Its **** easy to wire in.

[focus frenzy]

the only problem spot would be with the self cancel function, some modern switch pods might be adaptable but the odds are slim.

[Billy Ricks]

I'm using late model GSXR switchgear on my 700. Just takes a little rewiring but not a big deal.