Regulator/rectifier price differences - Are the cheap ones worth getting?

[craik]

Looking on Ebay for a regulator/rectifier unit for a GS 650 Katana, there seem to be a range of prices varying from eg £29 for an MTX brand one to £83 for a 'MOSFET' one. And a range of prices inbetween.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265685989221
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/166614073638

What do you actually get for your money with the more expensive ones?
Are the cheap ones worth getting or a false economy? Anyone any experience of the cheaper ones being reliable?
Thanks in advance for any advice/info.

[fossie]

I have experience of the cheap ones and it's hit and miss to be honest...But that's owt electrical really innit?
Reality is before the www opened up every tom dick and harry able to sell anything it is difficult to know what standard you are actually getting, it could be a 'cheap one' at inflated prices.
I suppose it depends on what you are using the bike for if it's just occassional then the cheap one should last..
Personally I'd go with one that you can have redress with should you need it.
Are you sure its the reg rec and not just the earths to and from the reg rec cdi ..etc ?
Electrix was the go to in the 90's as they are UK based and sorted on site .

[johnr]

electrex, fit and forget quality stuff. buy cheap-buy twice.
and before you fit it, check that your wiring has been updated to ditch the old suzuki failing of running an alternator phase through the headlight switch.

[craik]

Thanks fossie and johnr.
How do I know if the wiring has been updated?
The current reg/rec unit ("12v SH532-12 4.0 041 Shindengen Japan") has 6 wires coming off it:
3 yellow ones join the wiring loom towards the engine, a red one to the loom under the toolbox, a green one to the frame in what appears to be a ground and a black one which isn't connected to anything.
Not sure how to check if it's wired to the headlamp?

[johnr]

Superdream reg rec. Hondas use green as earth. Run all 3 alternator outputs directly to all 3 reg rec inputs, red direct to battery +ive, earth to battery -ive.

[fossie]

Craik you've got a superdream fitted already ..your issue is that black wire ...it is the one that switches the reg rec on in eessenance ...it needs to be connected to a live feed just join it to the red wire of the reg rec...
As johnr said on *onda green is earth ..god knows why ..

Truth is if you bought a new Suzuki item now you'd have to suss the wiring back to original spec.