So after getting home this afternoon, I left the key in the "on" position and came back to my bike with a dead battery; almost no headlight dead!

I searched the forums to see if anyone had outlined a good procedure for jumping the bike, but came up empty... So I went at it. Removed the seat, removed the tool kit cover and pulled the battery out a little bit to gain access to the positive terminal.

I put on my little battery jumper and was able to start the bike, left it sit charging for a few moments and then took the bike out for a spin so that it wouldn't overheat just sitting there idling and charging.

Seemed to work ok... But there HAS to be an easier way to jump this thing than to remove a bunch of panels.

What's the trick? Just incase I go to start this thing in the morning, I don't want to have to go through all that if there's an easier way, or if there's a "jump wire" hiding somewhere on me.

One last thing... When I went around on town after putting everything together, it seemed almost like I had a new rattle. I couldn't put my foot on it, because it was raining/drizzling out and I have that dreaded speedo rattle to add to things. When I put the battery back in the box (I pulled it out... an inch maybe? Just enough to gain access to the positive terminal) I just pushed it back in the box as far as it would go... Put the cover back on the side (right side if you're sitting on the bike) and put the tool cover back on. There isn't some sort of clip on the bottom of the battery that I missed or anything, is there?

Thanks guys... What a dumb move on my part for letting the keys hang on the bike... And then to have them ON! Blah!

I got a charge on mine w/o much hassle.Seems the + side is accessable with a small clip & the - is somewhere on the frame.  Maybe a small jumper to go from your charger to the battery? Clip your charger onto a wire with a small enough alligator clip that will reach down thru the top of the battery box & clip on the + side & then hunt up a spot on the frame for - to hook on.

I use a long shank phillips screwdriver with a plastic sleeve over the Shank, I can ease it down on the + terminal w/o arc and sparks. I usually use a booster pak and ground can go anywhere on the engine where it won't matter if it scratches with the clamp jaw teeth. Booster + goes on the bolster just below the SD handle and with some help I can get her running. Just remember if it is flat dead the engine charging system is designed to maintain the battery charge not recharge it from dead. Each time you do this it may (may is the operative word) stress the charging system parts and lead to immediate or premature failure. Best plan is to use a charger to recharge the battery if it is flat, if you do this often install the adapter cables that go under the battery cable bolts that run out to an insulated, indexed SAE connection for the charger leads. These leads are not sized large enough for jumping, just charging.  I guess you could make a set using 8 ga. wire have an appropriate spot for jumping if needed that would also work for charging. Max

  You can charge battery without taking it out put red on the battery and black on the motor fin.

2 ways to charge her up, 1 install a pigtail on the battery for future charging ( the $20.00 motorcycle charger/maintainer at walmart comes with one)
Or 2, Take the seat off and locate the wire that comes from the battery and strip off a little of the plastic to get to the copper center and clamp on. Be careful you dont let the clip touch anything metal. For the ground side just clip it to anything metal on the bike.

I've killed my battery when i was playing with a aux driving light. I did the under the seat charge up and it worked fine, then i bought the $20. charger at wally.
Also I couldn't get mine to push start when the engine was cold.. Got her rollin and dumped the clutch in 2nd gear and left a 2 ft skid mark..  

Depends... can you push start it?  

bikebandit shows the same battery between the 2000 and 2008.

BTW: I have one of those retractable cable clips on the keys and I either have it attached to the bag or my belt.

I ordered a charger/maintainer from Big Crank along with my battery. It includes a set of cables that'll mount on the battery and I can keep it tucked up under the seat for next time (which hopefully won't happen!)

They're listed in WV, so hopefully I'll have the thing by Wednesday, Thursday at the latest (if they fulfil the orders like the site said).

Thanks for the help everyone.