Newbie with battery (hopefully) issues

[embee]

OK, not strictly pertinent but since you've had the bike 3 wks it will be useful for you to know a couple of the bike's foibles.

Reg/rec is prone to failure as you've no doubt picked up. Previous threads give advice on this.

Other things with those of the curvy persuasion, the harnesses can chafe through where the rider seat bolts (both sides) go through and contact the wiring. Also a favourite spot is under the passenger seat where the wiring harness runs past a frame bracket towards the rear of the cubby box on the left side of the bike. Solution is pvc tape or rubber strip held in place with cable ties etc., and either add washers to the seat bolts or shorten them. Some people have reported similar wiring chafing around the headstock area.

Chafed wiring can cause fuses to fail or random intermittent misfiring/cutting out etc.

Also the chokes stick and choke cables corrode. Search for choke sticking or similar, loads of info.

Be aware of the front plug issue in the wet, loads of threads on this, easily sorted.

If you need a battery, the Yuasa YTZ10-S is a good option, excellent cranking current, better spec than the std battery and fractionally smaller too (note the Z spec, important). Honda dealers do them at reasonable prices (not much different to on-line suppliers, I recently got a YTZ12-S for £50 from a Honda main dealer).

Check the drain hole inside the fuel filler recess (hole at 10 o'clock as you sit on the bike). It should be clear right down to the rubber pipe hanging down behind the clutch cover on the right side of the engine.
The tube at the rear of the tank can kink causing the drain to block, which leads to rusting and water geting into the tank. Occasional squirt of WD40 or similar down the hole will help protect it.