Odd Neutral Warning light behaviour

My 1250S Bandit's neutral warning light is displaying odd behaviour. At start up it is fine but after a while it stops working. This is not really a problem as I have the Healtech ATRE Gear indicator showing a big ZERO. The odd thing is though that if I depress the sidestand slightly the neutral light comes on again!

I have searched through my Online copy of the workshop manual but can find nothing useful regarding the Neutral switch and/or the sidestand switch. As the Gear Indicator shows ZERO when in Neutral there must be another Neutral light switch rather than the gear position sender which feeds the ECU. The Healtech device intercepts the ECU feed.

I am guessing that the Neutral Light Indicator and the Sidestand switch are somehow connected as if you put the sidestand down in gear the ignition is cut. I have yet to physically investigate but has anyone any ideas?

By the way, I found no advantage in engaging the ATRE function, I could feel no performance improvement and a slight vibration appeared, so I reverted to the Suzuki default setting. Perhaps on the track it might have value, but, for me on the road, I find no value in this function.

I also run a speedohealer to correct the speedo, which reads 10% fast as standard, and after lowering the gearing by one tooth on the gearbox sprocket I decided I needed a speedohealer to avoid complex mental arithmetic!

I second the aTRE function doing nothing on the Bandit. As for the weird neutral light?? I don't know, maybe a dodgy side stand switch.

I also run 17 tooth countershaft sprocket and speedohealer. 1 less tooth = bigger smile

I had a similar problem with a gsx650f with a Healtech speedo healer. Where the speedo healer plugs into the bikes speed sensor wiring, just unclip the couplers and check that there is no oxidation of the pins. If there is just clean them and spray them with a very small amount of wd40, wipe and reassemble. See if it works. It worked for me.

There is a problem with oil getting into some GP sensors on bandits (and some other suzuki's) and making them do funny things. could be what you are experiencing

Yes, had something similar happen. Neutral light would operate normally for the first 20-25mins of riding, after that it wouldn't show neutral from 2nd to N, but would show Neutral from 1st to N. Pulled the GPS plugs apart, checked for any shit in there - reconnected - has been fine now for over a week so have considered it fixed.
Also as a side note about TRE's, whilst trying to look at why my N light was playing up, I took off the X-TRE I had fitted ages ago (this is on a B650) and fiddled with the plugs etc and left the X-TRE off for the purposes of fault finding. Next day on the ride to work I had totally forgotten about taking the X-TRE off. Noticed that the bike was just that little bit doughy at low revs / speeds in the lower gears - just not as snappy. Thought nothing of it the whole day and riding home that night thought the bike felt different. Then I remembered the X-TRE wasn't there. Refitted and the instant throttle response was back again. So from the perspective of a 650, the X-TRE seems to work, but it certainly doesn't give you tyre smoking HP increases. Must be different on the 1250's - I don't think I'll bother with one on my 1250F.

I had that issue. I have a GiPro ATRE fitted and noticed that it was getting erratic showing 5th and 6th gear, often reading "0". The neutral light was also getting variable, in that it would only illuminate when the side stand was down, and it was clear that the gear position switch was playing up. Ordered one from the US and replaced it and all is good again. It seems to be a common fault as it's not well sealed and oily crap builds up in it. Some people have used contact cleaner with some success.

It's part 40 below (part number 37730-18H01), and I suggest a new O-Ring (09280-26007)

New on the site but glad found this post. Have 2001 1200S and have been having this problem for about a year. Going to try some of the remedies and see how I go.

Hello ALL...
I've added 5K mi. on my "Black Bandit" since I was on the forum last.
Thanks again to the SBA Forum for all your help breathing life back into my 1250S !!

My "Neutral Light" has been acting up lately.
It won't come on when I know it's in neutral.
Sometimes it comes on when I start to lower the sidestand, but some times it kills the motor also.

I will remove the cover and clean the switch.

It sure feels good knowing you guys are here, even if "here" is half a world away.

Best to ALL,
Ride Safe,
captbruce

captbruce wrote:Hello ALL...
I've added 5K mi. on my "Black Bandit" since I was on the forum last.
Thanks again to the SBA Forum for all your help breathing life back into my 1250S !!

My "Neutral Light" has been acting up lately.
It won't come on when I know it's in neutral.
Sometimes it comes on when I start to lower the sidestand, but some times it kills the motor also.

I will remove the cover and clean the switch.

It sure feels good knowing you guys are here, even if "here" is half a world away.

Best to ALL,
Ride Safe,
captbruce

Cleaning had limited success with mine , so I replaced it ...................no more problems since 

Thanks, Paul.
I'll keep it in mind.

captbruce

Cleaning mine sorted it out, it collects a lot of chain lube other crap in there. I've had to do it 3 times in 24000km

I took the cover off and cleaned under it and all the wires including the Neutral light switch, bnut I did not remove it from the gearbox.
It is a little better now, but not perfect.

Do you think I need to remove the switch from the gearbox and clean it better, or should I consider getting a new switch ??

I cleaned the sidestand switch also.

Working better but not perfect.
The bike has 15k mi. on it now

Thanks, Capt. Bruce

Yep , remove it and clean it with spray electrical contact cleaner.I got mine from Jcar........... ( I eventually got a new switch & no more problems, I  think the replacement one is the later model GSX one )

 If you do replace it , tie a cord to the plug end before you pull the wire out to assist feeding the new one in ..........it's a bit fiddly otherwise

Thanks, Paul.
It's not really a problem, and it is acting better now that I cleaned under the big cover.

I will consider a new one.
I have to think about and maybe scour the Web for the best deal.
Thanks for the idea of the "pull wire".

It's always a pleasure to hear from the SBA Forum.
Best to all !!
captbruce

Hello,
SBA Forum,

After removing and cleaning the original GP Sensor I got a NEW one on eBay, and installed it.
Suzuki part# 37730-18H02 Gear Position Sensor.

Easy fix I hope it lasts.

Ride Safe !!
captbruce

captbruce wrote:Hello,
SBA Forum,

After removing and cleaning the original GP Sensor I got a NEW one on eBay, and installed it.
Suzuki part# 37730-18H02 Gear Position Sensor.

Easy fix I hope it lasts.

Ride Safe !!
captbruce

captbruce wrote:Hello,
SBA Forum,

After removing and cleaning the original GP Sensor I got a NEW one on eBay, and installed it.
Suzuki part# 37730-18H02 Gear Position Sensor.

Easy fix I hope it lasts.

Ride Safe !!
captbruce

I am led to believe the replacement ones are the upgraded GSX ones ..................I have had no problems since replacing mine 

Paul,
Thanks for the reply.

I've had the problem for quite a while and searched the Forum about it.
Lots of members felt the new part was an "upgraded" version with the "02" designation.

As far as the installation...
Pulling the new wire with the connector on it was the hardest part.
I taped a "pull wire" on the old connector, but I finally had to loosen the bracket the Rectifier/Regulator was perched on (three 8mm bolts) and pull the bracket out away from the block, to finally get the new connector and wire to fit thru. Oddly the wire goes forward of the Sensor, before it turns back toward a connector on the harness under the seat, although you don't have to remove the seat, just the fairing under the seat on the left side.
That routing probably keeps  the wire away from the gear shifter's linkage movements.

Anyway, The "Black Bandit" is still going strong.
I've had it just over 3 years after having "Resurrected" it from a Mad "Artist", who "Ratted" it out, to look like it came from the "Thunder Dome".

All with the help of the SBA Forum !!

Thanks, captbruce