ST1100-P - anyone know what these wires are for?

[Dan]

OK, so I spent some time stripping the bodywork yesterday, and figuring out how I can make use of the additional switches for some electrical goodies  electrics aren't my best thing but I got there with help from the forums

Anyway, while going over the bike I found this connector which looks like it was earthed at some point.  Now it just hangs free.  Anyone got any ideas what it's for, and know whether I should reconnect it?  It is located to the top right of the battery.

Thanks in advance...

[Brock]

That earth shoud be bolted down, there must be something not working.

[saaz]

This is one of the main frame ground points, so it definitely needs to be connected up.  The wire goes into the main harness and is used to ground various circuits.  There must be another ground if all systems work, but I think it just came loose when you took off the bodywork.  On mine it sits on the frame, the body panel goes on top, then the bolt goes through.  The body panel is the rear tail light section, and that bolt is the last mounting point towards the front of the bike. There is a grommet below the bolt that the side panel clicks into.

[Brock]

Give that rust a quick hiy with a wire brush before replacing the earth, so it gets a better contact.

[saaz]

Should have mentioned it is the same on standard bikes.  Think I might give mine a clean by the looks of it.

[Dan]

Thanks Gents, appreciate it 

Everything was working fine, there was no bolt holding this earth in either - weird.

Anyway, I'll clean it up and whack a bolt in to re-connect it.

Thanks again 

[Brock]

That earth is secured by the bolt that holds the duck tail on.

[Dan]

That earth is secured by the bolt that holds the duck tail on.

Aha!  Yes you're right!  Nice one Brock  that makes sense now.