Motorcycle Repair: vt700 no cooling fan, volt ohm meter, temperature gauge

Question
I have an '84 Shadow vt700.  I just got it running after a long time of sitting.  Everything is working fine, except that I noticed that the temperature gauge was getting close to the red and the cooling fan had not yet turned on.  I know that the fan is good, as I tested it when having the radiator flushed out.  There is a new thermostat.  How do I trouble shoot this?  Thanks a million!

Answer
Lorin, if you connect the two wires going to the temperature sensor on the radiator, the fan should turn on.  If you drop the sensor in a pan of boiling water and check continuity through the switch with a volt ohm meter, the switch should close when it gets up to temperature.  If either or both of those things don't happen, the system won't work.

Regards
Rich