Motorcycle Repair: Total electrical failure, honda vt500, electrical failure

Question
I have a 1986 Honda VT500 Shadow.  About 6 weeks ago it stopped completely no electricity anywhere, no lights no starter, no indicators.  I checked fuses all were OK.  I took it to a dealer I know, he got it started by hot wiring, then kept it for around a week to find the problem. He could not find a problem or replicate the failure. Today I was out after about 30 mins of faultless performance it stopped again with no warning, it is back in the shop. Any ideas suggestions?
Tia
John

Answer
John, when the dealer "hotwired" the bike, what exactly did he bypass in order to make it work? If it was the ignition switch, then that is where he should be looking - tracing the power from the positive terminal of the battery over to the ignition switch. Using an electrical schematic of the bike would be mandatory in a situation like this, as it will outline all the components and electrical circuits and make it a lot easier to trace a problem.

From what you've described, I would take a close look at both battery cables to see if they are loose or broken internally. There is also either a main relay or a main fuse - usually located close to the battery on most bikes - that should be tested, too. It is unlikely that your problem lies beyond the ignition switch, so it shouldn't take too long to diagnose the problem.