VT500, No Juice, no nothing

Hi, my friend bought an 84 Honda VT500. it ran great for a while,
then one day at a light, it puttered out and hasn't run since.
battery is charged, fuses are fine, but when he turns the key, no
lights no horn, nothing. he said he checked all the wires and there
was no short or break. can anyone think of what else it might be,
what would stop the power from getting to lighting system? i feel it
must be something very simple. thanks!

 

Starter relay or safety switches, one notorious is under the bike's kick
stand.
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'01 FXDWG, NTXNS
"Happy Hour" starts one twist of the throttle past neutral!
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Thanks. it must be a connection, i'll check the ignition switch. the
battery is/was new when it died on him. i just wasn't sure if
something like a burnt out coil or some other part that i wouldn't
know about could cause it. most likely there is a loose connector or
something. thanks again.

 

Congratulations!
You have aquired an electrical problem which can provide you with
hours and hours of fun and games!

Kidding aside, this is probably a simple 'open`, somewhere at the
'head` of the system.
First, check the ground connection, ('-` of battery to frame).
(Be sure you have voltage '+` of battery - to frame).
It's a commonly ignored 'open` that can disable the whole system as
you describe, and the '+` wiring will 'check out` fine with a
continuity tester.
After that, start at the battery and go point to point, checking for
'+` to frame. You'll find it.
Best of Luck,

Pragmatist.
"Its the little things that hurt. - Ask my wife."