Hello FlyNavy, here's what I've done to avoid this kind of frustration:
1) avoid switching the engine off with the on/off button, it'll kill all circuits including the start button (on European bikes, it only kills the coil, the engine turns but won't start)
2)  I am looking at fitting a cigarette lighter plug thing somewhere, fused, so that should I need something (from jumping the battery to recharging my cellphone) I have a plug available;
3) For trickle charging the battery, I have found a 1000 mA 3-12V DC power adapter (the kind you buy 'one size fits all' for recharging anything from Dremel drills to kids' radio controlled toys) just set it on +12V, get the polarity right, and it'll trickle charge at a nominal 800mA (more or less 10W) continuous. Excellent for trickle charging during the long witer months.
 
Maurizio