Motorcycle Repair: motorcycle batery, starter solenoid, electrical diagnosis

Question
HI MARK, I HAVE A HONDA XL600V TRANSALP 1989, IVE PUT A NEW BATTERY ON THE BIKE AS A START, THE BIKE STARTS FINE WHEN COLD, IF THE BIKE IS THEN RUN FOR A SHORT TIME AND TURNED OFFTHE BIKE STRUGGLES TO START OR JUST DOESNT! WHEN TRYING TO RESTART IT GIVES THE IMPRESSION OF THE BATTERY BE FLAT AND STRUGGLES TO TURN THE ENGINE OVER, IVE MESSURED THE VOLTAGE INTO THE BATTERY AND ITS 13.2V AT 4000RPM, BUT IF I TAKE THE BATTERY OFF AND PUT IT ONTO MY 650 DOMMINATOR IT THROWS IT OVER NO PROBLEM.IVE ALSO LOST MY NEUTRAL AND OIL LIGHT AND TEMP GADGE,ALSO BATTERY SEEMS TO BE GETTING HOT AFTER 10 MINITS RUNNING , COULD IT BE A RECT/REG PROBLEM OR STARTER MOTOR?  I DO HAVE ANOTHER TRANSALP TO SWOP PARTS FROM BUT NOT SURE AS TO WHAT TO SWOP, ANY IDEAS WOULD BE A GRATEFULLY EXCEPTED...THANKS SPIKE

Answer
Hi Spike,

Perform electrical diagnosis to verify the integrity of electrical systems components. I believe the charging system is working properly.

I suspect the starter motor is sluggish due to worn brushes and/or build up of carbon powder.

Other possible causes include: loose battery lead, starter motor clutch, or starter solenoid.

Respectfully,
Mark Shively