Help, Bike is DEAD! (new owner)

[28003]

i'll make this short, bike ran fine-ish for a while then i started having problems
-low idle
-in the last few days it has had trouble starting
-last night i rode it and the headlights were flickering, especially at lower rpms and sometimes the dash lights would almost go out
-so today i filled up and it almost didn't start, finally it did start and i went home for lunch
-went to head back out, turned key, had power, pressed starter and everything died. so the bike was completely dead
-tried again about a minute later, still dead, then all of a sudden the dials lit up
-pressed starter, completely dead again

i don't even know where to start. i've had the bike a total of 6 days (2003 XB9R)
[mad][confused]

 

[agfish18]

was there a check engine light?

have you tested the battery?

have you checked the battery connections?

May be voltage regulator or stator... or just a battery. Check the simple stuff first.

 

[28003]

no (well sometimes it would come on right after starting then go away after a few seconds)
no, battery is new
yes, they are fine
AH, how do i check the voltage regulator and stator?

 

[dave_xb12r]

Just because your connections feel fine, that doesn't mean they really are. Unhook the connections to your battery, clean the terminals contact points with sandpaper. I'd put $ on that one.

 

[tommygun]

Had my negative come loose on me before did the same thing you are describing except I caught it earlier so my bike did not completely die on me. Hope it is that easy for you too!

 

[brightbuell]

Yea, Its acting like a short.