Don't you just, hate intermittent electrical faults.
Recently developed one and having a nightmare, trying o find it.
While out riding, it cuts out on me or simply won't start.
Get it back in the garage and get the multi-meter out and the damn thing, works every time, it won't go wrong.
:deadhorse: :bugga: :frustrated:
Check the micro-switch up at the clutch perch, this one will cause cut outs if the contacts are dirty or wet. I had this happen after riding through a rain storm, bike just cut out. A quick wiggle of the contacts and she fired right up.
Take the multimeter with you on the next ride - plenty of room under the seat.
Cuts out & won't start as in, the engine stops but the bike is on. Then spins over & doesn't fire or the bike totally dead?
I've seen batteries with internal faults cause the latter when they short internally & kill everything electrical on the bike.
Cuts out and everything is on but won't turn over.
Tried the clutch switch; the fuel relay, side stand switch and relay but as I said when I'm in the garage it all works fine and only plays up, while i'm out riding it.
:frustrated:
Check the loom coming out of the back of the headlamp and along the side of the headstock - not unknown for small splits / cuts / rubbing to occur causing the loom to earth out.
I'd also check your earth wire is clean both coming off the battery and where it earths to the bike itself, maybe add an additional earth wire https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=4828.0
There's a tip over switch located next to the regulator that will also prevent a start if thats faulty, access is from the rhs after removing the side panel and rear brake resevoir out of the way.
Quote from: Mr Gee on Friday, 10 October 2025, 07:41 AMCuts out and everything is on but won't turn over.
Tried the clutch switch; the fuel relay, side stand switch and relay but as I said when I'm in the garage it all works fine and only plays up, while i'm out riding it.
:frustrated:
That sounds rather frustrating, I think the others have covered the places to start looking already.
Years ago on a RF600 I had the broken loom issue, they had a multiplug by the headstock & one wire had broke off cutting the ignition circuit so no spark etc. I found that one in the middle of nowhere when the wire finally fell out of the connector block. Lucky for me it was downhill to the next town & I managed to buy some scotchlocks to bodge it for the trip home.
Thanks for all, the advice guys. Much appreciated. However, the fault remains elusive. Guess, I will just, have to keep on looking and riding until I get lucky or it finally, develops big time and packs up, all together so that I can trace it. :notworthy:
Does anyone out there, know if there is a way, to test the antenna for the immobiliser, short of replacing it ? :confused1:
Is your bike a K5? They had an issue with the antenna, but was fixed for K6 onward. It'd be a very rare thing to have that go bad, never hear of it unless it's a K5, & there was a recall for those affected bikes, fixed FOC.
Mr Gee, have you tried your spare key? If no spare some locksmiths can check key signal. When i worked our local bloke did it for me free.That was my job, fixing broken down cars/ bikes. Prefer now, retired👍
Yes, it is a K5, the first fitted with immobiliser. :onya:
I have tried both keys with the exact same result. :frustrated:
I have tried and tested everything else that I can think of. :deadhorse:
Everything else works perfectly and the bike runs beautifully when it's running but then it will just, cut out. :sad:
Everything electrical still works but the engine will not run or even turn over when it choses not, to work. :thumbs_down: :whatever: :sad:
Tried speaking softly to her yet? Usually works well with the ladies.
Can the immobiliser be removed (after speaking to her nicely), perhaps threatening to remove some parts may help?
Also, the key tumbler does get a lot of crud in there, it can be removed from underneath the head stem, bit of a fiddle and I think you have to drill out two rivets that can be easily replaced with bolts or screws, this allows you to clean out the key tumbler. alternatively to pulling it apart, spray some contact cleaner into the key slot (cover your tank and front mudguard with a towel), let it sit for a minute then blow it out with compressed air, may dislodge and remove some of the crud and clean the contact ring ? just a thought.
Mr Gee .
I have a question for you.
Are the battery cables firmly attached to the battery, especially the live (+)cable. I had a problem with an old car once and that was the cause, the cable no matter how tight you tightened it down it would work loose and cause the fault . The only other reason I can think of is you have a live wire shorting out somewhere on the frame. Good luck with your hunt for that elusive pimpernel :onya:
When the bike cuts out do the needles still sweep if you try to restart?
I had a similar problem with mine and it turned out to be a faulty battery, when I went to check the voltage of the battery, put my meter on the terminal and terminal was broken inside the battery I could physically move it with the probe...strange but kept working for most of the time.
Right, it's a K5, the model that had issues with the antenna. If I recall correctly, Suzuki did a recall on that part for the K5 & you could take it to the dealer & they'd check if the recall had been done using the VIN. If not, they still perform the recall FOC now.
My suggestion is to find out if it's had the recall done or not.
I rung a dealer over here & quoted the reg to find out if the recall had been done on one a couple of years ago. So no need to even drop in if they aren't local.
Quote from: Eric GSX1400K3 on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, 11:41 PMCan the immobiliser be removed (after speaking to her nicely), perhaps threatening to remove some parts may help?
Also, the key tumbler does get a lot of crud in there, it can be removed from underneath the head stem, bit of a fiddle and I think you have to drill out two rivets that can be easily replaced with bolts or screws, this allows you to clean out the key tumbler. alternatively to pulling it apart, spray some contact cleaner into the key slot (cover your tank and front mudguard with a towel), let it sit for a minute then blow it out with compressed air, may dislodge and remove some of the crud and clean the contact ring ? just a thought.
Antenna has to be there, to connect with immobiliser and immobiliser has to be there, to connect with ECU. :sad:
Have tried cleaning out key barrel but might get my mate, to try stripping it down and reassembling.
The guy is a genius. He has tuned bikes for Mike Rutter (second place at the TT, after leading all the way until the last lap) and other racers too. :notworthy: :onya:
Quote from: Mr Gee on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, 09:45 AMQuote from: Eric GSX1400K3 on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, 11:41 PMCan the immobiliser be removed (after speaking to her nicely), perhaps threatening to remove some parts may help?
Also, the key tumbler does get a lot of crud in there, it can be removed from underneath the head stem, bit of a fiddle and I think you have to drill out two rivets that can be easily replaced with bolts or screws, this allows you to clean out the key tumbler. alternatively to pulling it apart, spray some contact cleaner into the key slot (cover your tank and front mudguard with a towel), let it sit for a minute then blow it out with compressed air, may dislodge and remove some of the crud and clean the contact ring ? just a thought.
Antenna has to be there, to connect with immobiliser and immobiliser has to be there, to connect with ECU. :sad:
Have tried cleaning out key barrel but might get my mate, to try stripping it down and reassembling.
The guy is a genius. He has tuned bikes for Mike Rutter (second place at the TT, after leading all the way until the last lap) and other racers too. :notworthy: :onya:
I bet Rutter never asked him to clean out a key barrel...it may stretch him! :lol:
Symptoms certainly point to immobiliser, especially been a known fault with K5 but no certainty 🤷. Check out your recall, hopefully thats an option🤞🏻
The key barrel & ignition switch aren't too bad to strip & clean, just small fiddly parts.
Barrel - https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=6266.0
Switch under the barrel - https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=6268.0
I'm kinda suspecting a broken wire in the loom where it goes around the headstock though, seen it on some other older bikes.
Quote from: Hooli on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, 06:50 PMThe key barrel & ignition switch aren't too bad to strip & clean, just small fiddly parts.
Barrel - https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=6266.0
Switch under the barrel - https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=6268.0
I'm kinda suspecting a broken wire in the loom where it goes around the headstock though, seen it on some other older bikes.
Thanks for the link that will come in handy. :onya: :cheers:
Does your model light up as soon as you turn the key ? My K5 EU one does, and I had an intermittent electrical issue. Turned out the starter button had a very minor oxidation on the contacts and I only saw it on the second go; was thinking only the start position would influence, but rest position was the problem.
Quote from: Jeykey on Friday, 23 January 2026, 01:11 AMDoes your model light up as soon as you turn the key ? My K5 EU one does, and I had an intermittent electrical issue. Turned out the starter button had a very minor oxidation on the contacts and I only saw it on the second go; was thinking only the start position would influence, but rest position was the problem.
Sorry, missed your post somehow.
Mine lights everything up and the clocks sweep but it is no longer registering the key. The lights on the antenna aren't flashing now and the code reader says check but you can't, because the engine needs to start before the fault registers. :confused1:
Mate, did you check if recall had been done? Sounds like first action to me, if both keys ok, then receiver sounds faulty
Quote from: grog on Sunday, 15 February 2026, 05:09 PMMate, did you check if recall had been done? Sounds like first action to me, if both keys ok, then receiver sounds faulty
Yes the recall was done just after, I first bought her early in 2006
Been running sweet for the last twenty years and still does when it runs.
Quote from: grog on Sunday, 15 February 2026, 05:09 PMMate, did you check if recall had been done? Sounds like first action to me, if both keys ok, then receiver sounds faulty
I suspect the receiver too but how do check it out.
At £256 plus, can't afford to simply fit one and it not, be the fault. :whatever:
Can understand, lot of bucks to just hope.When I was working used to get lots of cars with faulty key readers. They could be diagnosed thru OBD2, pity our bikes cant. Just been searching, cord available to convert our 6 pin to OBD2,never heard it mentioned before. Anyone used it?
I modestly believe that the intermediate connection cable is on AliExpress
It might be possible to connect that way, but I'd be amazed if the ECU on a 14 provided any OBDII connectivity or so forth. They're just not that advanced.
Quote from: Hooli on Monday, 16 February 2026, 11:58 PMIt might be possible to connect that way, but I'd be amazed if the ECU on a 14 provided any OBDII connectivity or so forth. They're just not that advanced.
When it comes to electrics, I'm a bit, like that too. :whatever: :confused1: :rofl2: :happy1: :onya:
After eight months of getting nowhere, I have bitten the bullet and called in an auto electrician. :frustrated: :sad:
Quote from: Mr Gee on Saturday, 28 February 2026, 11:15 PMAfter eight months of getting nowhere, I have bitten the bullet and called in an auto electrician. :frustrated: :sad:
No shame in doing that Mr Gee, it's not worth the price of sanity to keep struggling, sometimes we all need help.
You will also have the opportunity to learn from him, so keep em peeled.
D.D.
So, auto electrician has just, left.
Three hours and the damn, thing would not, play up. :angry: :sad: :frustrated:
It's shy
It's a f%^*&$%g b&5$£h, is what it is. :furious:
However, it was only what I expected. Knew that it would work perfectly while he was there. :laugh:
Sod's law, isn't it. :happy1: :rofl2:
Put a cardboard cut out of your sparky next to the bike, she'll behave for you then