89 Moto 4-Electrical issue. Where do I start?

[Nate5tory]

I have a 1989 Yamaha Moto 4 250. It starts right up on first pull and runs like a champ. However there is a reason I'm having to pull start it. When the bike is running the lights and the kill switch work but when the bike is off I have no power. The battery is brand new. Do I start with the regulator or maybe the CDI? I wasn't sure if the coil or the starter had anything to do with it. Any feed back would be greatly appreciated.

[sobitthen]

I came on to ask a similar question, take it by responses to yours, zero, that we are on our own here...

My 87 decided to discharge battery when not in use, so I unhook it when she sits, a hassle, until I get a chance to figure out what the common things that go wrong when the key is off and a battery drain, seems to charge well when running. Took out a brand new Gel battery on me.. garden tractor battery strapped to rear grab bar for now, looks ghetto...

[sobitthen]

I would have checked with the ignition switch and followed wires to harness near steering head.

It would start without the neutral light on, or whichever it is, not by my rig and been 5 months since rode it.. but recall a light came on when turned key then it would start, there is a single wire in rear that pigtails off the battery cable, would have looked there as well, easy to get bumped off if you picked up something with tires... hope you had it resolved by now, been over a year... chime in and tell us what it was..