Side Stand, Neutral Light

Hi, think I may have a slight problem with this although I am new to modern bikes, having only owned classics before. Sometimes the neutral light doesn't come on although I know it is in neutral. I have shorted the switch to earth and it still doesn't work. When this happens and the side stand is down the starter will not operate, raise the stand and it starts. Other times the neutral light comes on and everything is OK starter wise. If the bike is running in neutral but the light is not on, when I lower the side stand the bike cuts out. I know this is a safety device and the bike thinks it's in gear because the neutral light is out. Any suggestions, is this a common fault ?
Thanks, Barry

Does it happen when the engine is warm? Mine was similar, soon as it warmed up, bye bye neutral light, and the side stand switch cut the engine. I was worried it was the joint earth in the wiring, but changing the neutral switch (under the front sprocket, easy job) did the trick. 

Good luck!

Thanks Louis, just had a read of the manual. Earthing the wire to the neutral switch should bring the light on if switch is faulty but it didn't. Just checked with bike cold and neutral light is still off. Also off is the side stand warning light so it is something more than the neutral switch. The manual says that there is a diode wired into the circuit which may give similar problems, it's under the tank apparently. With it being intermittant that would make sense. Just wondered if others had experienced similar problems. Barry

Not had this particular problem, however it certainly could be the diode that is knackered - it could also be some of the wiring or a connector that has failed, so it might be worth tracing them through if replacing the diode doesn't do the trick.