The reason I'm so intimate with my bikes electrical wiring is due to the hack job the previous owner did.
I was forced to replaced all the wiring harnesses on the bike.
Here's what greeted my eyes when I first glanced inside the tail section.
Pretty huh? If you look closely you'll see several wires that have been cut with bare ends just dying to short out somewhere.
Also loose relays, a PCIIIr flopping around, and the quality trim job on the fender for the undertail was right out of a Saw movie.
I also had to replace all the bodywork as well due.
It's been a labor of love, and I'm glad I had a job that afforded me the ability to do what needed to be done.
The bike never had a problem running, and continues to be stone cold reliable today.
Here's a before photo right after I bought it.
And a photo after I refurbished it.
And it's current state during my latest round of improvements.
And I've been a gearhead since I was a kid.
I've owned bikes since I was 15 and I always worked on my own bikes and cars (at least when you could work on cars).
I actually enjoy working on my bike. I takes my mind off work and and channels my creativity.
I'd probably go nuts if I didn't.
And as a side note:
Submarine qualification can involve months of intense study of every system on a boat.
Plus you have to memorize every detail since your qualification board does not allow any written notes.
And that board can last for quite a while since each member has a turn fielding questions.
And each member is a specialist on a particular system.
Here's an example of a typical qual card.
http://boomer.user-services.com/documents/qualcard.html
Each topic only touches the main point. It's the details of each system that takes a long time to note and remember.
Also, during the board, you have to hand draw each system diagram and list every valve by number and color code as this is the diagram they will use to question you on.
This is how one earns their shipmates respect since they're lives are literally, in your hands.