Electrical issues

[steven c]

 We all know how people make out how Italian electrics  are prone to be problematic but after 40 years of Guzzi ownership that never has been an issue with my bikes. So at the end of August I bought a lightly crashed 09 Suzuki V Strom 650 for really good price. It's a bike that I has always had an interest in, and always reading how reliable they are and nothing goes wrong with them. I have to say I really enjoy this bike and it works for me, but the other day I was off on a ride up to Granville Mass for some dirt road exploring and while stopped at a light I notice in my reflection I have no headlights! It can't be. They worked fine for the last month. Well it turns out this is a known issue on V Stroms do to light gage wire and to small connectors and no relays. Lots of pages on the web on it. But of course on my bike I can't find the cause ,  so far its not the usual suspects. So that blew my fantasy of Japanese superiority. I just want to ride this bike not work on it. Thats what my old Guzzis are for. Oh my last Japanese bike I bought a couple of years back was my 09 KLX250 which ate a valve on the highway after less then 6 months and few miles of ownership.

[Kiwi_Roy]

My only experience with electrics on Japanese bikes, old Kawasakis, they bind the wires too tight where they flex around the steering stem.
If it looks like power is going into a wire but not coming out the other end, pull each wire really hard, if the copper has broken where it flexes it will stretch.

[80CX100]

     Iirc, the guy that runs Eastern Beaver (electrical accessories) first started out his business with headlight relay kits (excellent) to solve a lighting issue on his personal VStrom.

     You may want to check out his website for info and availability of a nice easy fix for your bike.

      https://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Bike_Specific/VStrom/H4KITS/h4kits.html

     fwiw good luck