Battery Problems. Possible electrical leak.

[Dry Ice]

I am continually having battery problems. I am on my third battery in 1 year. (fourth if my current battery is truly shot.) Replaced battery march 4, 2009. Old battery would not hold a charge and the motorcycle mech said it was shot. Bought a new battery, charged it over 24 hours initially with a yusa tender/charger before install. Worked fine for weeks. Last time I rode was April 28. Now less than two weeks later the batt is COMPLETELY dead. When I went to turn the key no lights came on, didn't click, Nothing. The batt was not on the tender those two weeks, but it should not have completely died in only two weeks. Charged the batt for 48 hours. Turned the key and the lights came on but were very very dim. Tried to start it clicked a couple times, and then nothing. Taking the battery to get tested today.

My only guess is that there is an electrical leak somewhere. Anyone know what the most likely places to check would be?
Thanks for any help that anyone can Provide. 

[bigfatcat]

Get yourself a multimeter something like -

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103176

and check for current flow while bike is off.  Takes the guesswork out, and will come in handy later on for other problems.

btw What brand batteries are you buying ? 

[jeremy_nash]

Your battery may not be charging have you checked that? they can test that for you at advance auto if you dont have a multimeter

[simoniz]

Probably a bad generator. Does the headlight get brighter when you rev the engine up? If not, the generator is probably toast.

[Dry Ice]

The battery is charging. Yes the lights get brighter when you rev. All but the one I got with the bike have been Bike Master batteries.

I do have a multimeter, but what/how exactly am I looking for to see if there is current flow when the bike is off?

[dohabee]

maybe you could disconnect the positive lead from the battery and measure voltage.

With the multimeter still connected watch it as you reconnect the positive lead and look for a voltage change.

[bigfatcat]

The battery is charging. Yes the lights get brighter when you rev. All but the one I got with the bike have been Bike Master batteries.

I do have a multimeter, but what/how exactly am I looking for to see if there is current flow when the bike is off?

Disconnect negative batt lead. Set up your multimeter to read amps (usually means moving the + test lead to a different jack on the meter);

Touch the negative test lead to the unconnected negative battery terminal while touching the + lead to the unconnected negative lead to the cycle wiring harness.  Read the meter. Ideally should be zero, ie no current flowing (with the key off, no lights on etc)

Basically you're just disconnecting the battery from the bike, then bridging the gap with your multimeter (ammeter function) to see if current is flowing when it shouldn't be.

If the meter shows current, then you've got a minor short to ground somewhere, or maybe something weird in the alternator or some other component.

[sledge]

Reg/rect is favourite, if somthing inside it has blown it wont charge the battery effectively and could cause a ground fault. In your case it sounds like you have both issues. Disconnect it at the plugs/sockets when the bike is not being used and see if the battery stays up.