Im a new motorcycle owner with a question about starting it up.?

i bought my first motorbike yesterday, the guy i bought it off said the battery is flat so needs to be kickstarted to start it up...thats no problem. But i was wondering how to charge a bike battery?, because i cant even see a battery! (its a chopper/cruiser), also, when its charged, how do i start it up electrically, because the ignition switch on the handle bar doesn't seem to turn over....i dont know if im doing something wrong, or it doesn't turn over because the battery is completley flat.

apart from that, all is good.

help!

to UK people, will a motorcycle pass its m.o.t with a flat battery.

and to the person who said buy a new battery, i was hoping somebody could be a bit more technical...its a renegade 125 custom, its a chinese import.

Starting a motorcycle:
If you do not have feul injection (carborated) then you need to make sure that the Kill switch (Red switch on the right handle bar) is in the "run" position. Next make sure to have the bike in neutral and squeeze the left handle bar to engage the clutch. Now you need to do is push the start button on your right hand under the kill switch. Do not hold the starter button down for too long or you will burn out the starter. Just keep trying and it should start.

NOTE: If you have an Idle screw on your bike make sure that it's turned up high enough to allow the bike to sart. Also non feul injected bikes will have a choke somewhere on the bike (could be on the left handle bar or somewhere near the engine). Like a pull start lawn mower turn the choke to full on and then after it warms up turn the choke to full off.

If you are jumping the bike with a car battery make sure that the car is NOT RUNNING. Attach the jumper cables positive to positive and negative to negative. There is alot of juice in a car battery and your starter will go very fast so it's even more important that you DO NOT hold the start button down very long or your starter will burn out.

Last thing, if your bike is still having trouble starting after being stored for a while you might need to have your carbs cleaned. Refer to a maintenence manual for that.

the battery is probably bad just buy a new one

i think sometimes the battery is under the seat

Depending on the type of bike, the battery is under the seat or under a battery cover which needs to be removed to be charged. ( The battery may be no good and not take a charge in which case you would have to buy a new one and replace it.) No, you cannot charge it with your car You need to buy a battery charger .

The ignition switch (better known as the "kill switch") is different from the the starter button, but again depending on the bike they are usually located close together. The starter button is what you push to turn over the engine not the ignition switch. You also most likely have to have a key turned on on as well to start it.

Update - Now that you posted the type of bike it is under your seat with access through a side cover. If you take the old battery out and wth you to your automotive store. They can replace it for you.

You can usually find a class at a local community college to learn the basics about motorcycles or take a basic riders clas to help you out. Sorry you are learning the hard way.

You have a couple questions. This is not a bike I'm familiar with, but I'm sure you want to get it fixed so I'll try to help.

Charging - Charge a battery with a battery charger. No way around that one. Unless this bike is bizzare, you need a 12 volt charger. Amperage doesn't really matter - higher amps means faster charge, but also more heat and more danger if you overcharge. Most new chargers will have an amperage switch and will automatically switch down as the battery charges. If it makes you feel any better about shelling out, a 12 volt charger will also work on cars and just about any other vehicle out there today.

To start electrically - if the bike has carburetors, you will need to apply the choke, and then push the starter button. If it's fuel-injected, no choke will be present - just push the button. Don't hold the button down for more than 15-20 seconds at a time. Starters move a lot of juice, and the wiring will get hot fast. Give it as much time to cool down as you do pressing it, and if you go through this for more than 5 or 6 attempts, stop, wait 15 minutes, and try again. You may need to apply a little throttle when starting to get the engine to catch.

Locating the battery - If you can't see it, it's probably under the seat, or under some kind of side panel. If you don't find it right away under the seat, look near the kick start for a heavy cable (the electric start should be near the kick) and follow that back to the battery.

an automotive store sells battery chargers, if you can't afford a new battery. and check under the seat or a side cover.

What would posses a person to buy a used Chinese motorcycle....and it's a chopper? And you don't even know how to find the battery.........This is going to be an expensive lesson for you.

You would be much better off to just resell the thing if you can find someone to buy it and save your money for a real bike. In the mean time, learn something about motorcycles.

Sorry to be so harsh but you really need to learn the basics before you go off buying the first piece of trash that catches your eye.

Wow, Chinese motorcycles and HarleyDavidson fishing opposite economic ends of the same pool of impulse buyers.

Hmmm I'm assuming the beast has its battery under the seat, Be a bit careful but your first order of business is to jump start it off a car, careful with the positive cable might take an extra pair of hands here, got it running? ok run the thing for 1/2 an hour minimum drive it around locally and get back to your driveway garage whatever and turn it off, now try to turn it on again, starts? your done! doesn't start? check your ground connection to the frame, starts? your done, still doesn't start? get a new battery. If you got a new battery and you put it in fully charged (buy a battery charger need it or not you will one day) and if it'll run all day from a kickstart, your alternator won't be the problem, check your battery ground connection (very probable reason)

The battery is likely in a compartment under the seat or behind a side cover. You can charge it the same as a car battery however don't use too high of amps. A slow charge would be better.

As far as starting, the electric starts are usually made so that 1)they won't start unless the clutch is pulled in, and 2) if the transmission is in gear you may have to raise the kickstand.

Normally the battereys are under the seat or behind the cover on the side. I would try a trickle charger first. If that doesnt work I would take the batterey in to have it tested.
Good Luck Dennis