battery shorted out while riding, what to check?

[Transam1]

i took my 04 chopper out saturday for a poker run and didnt get far

bike started fine at home, rode it 1 mile to gas station, filled it up, fired right up and went to first stop, about 2 miles. Parked for 20 minutes or so, key was off, when i went to start bike back up it just clicked several times, i turned key off and checked connections and tried again, click click click then it rolled over but did not start, then click click click, then it started. didnt know what was going on so i rode it maybe 1/2 mile when the bike backfired really bad not like im used to either it was loud and violent and it then died at a stop light. i tried to start it and it would roll over but no spark it seemed like and then before i even drained to battery down to where the starter would normally start clicking i just lost 100% power to everything, nothing would turn on.

when i got home, lots of pushing, will never do it again, i hooked my battery tender to it and turned the key on and all my lights came on. i noticed my battery was getting hot after 5 min on the tender though so i unplugged.
so before i slap a new battery in this thing what should i check? stator somehow?

 

[Transam1]

Update: bought a new battery today. put it in, stater clicked maybe 3 times and on the 4th it turned over and started. the clicking is bothering me. i rode it a little bit and stopped once and did the same thing on restart.

when i got home i plugged it up to the charger and tried to start it. zero clicks and stared. unplugged the charger and click click click start. plugged it back in and started right up....

any clues?

 

[HMAN]

Sounds like you bought too small a battery..... Try a Braille B2015. Tons of cranking amps.....I put one in and never had an issue. These bikes need the biggest CCA battery you can get. They are finicky critters.....

 

[Transam1]

its 360 CA

 

[bearman]

About half of all new batteries need to be charged when bought.
Check the battery voltage with no charger and the key off, It should be in the high 12’s like 12.7 or 12.8.
If it is not, then charge that sucker till it is. Then crank it up and check that your voltage regulator is working, you should have around 14 volts at 2000 RPMs.
Remember it takes about 15 to 20 minutes of 2000 RPM driving for the battery to recover from a regular start. Our Dogs use huge amounts of battery power to start. (but I’m glad I don’t have to kick start my 117).