Motorcycle Repair: motorcycle troubleshooting, yamaha yzf 600, yamaha service

Question
Mike thanks for the immediate response.  I have another question.  Without taking the bike to the shop, how can I check to see if I have a short in the circuitry or would it be easier for me to pay $75 for a diagnostic?

Thanks.
Alex

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Followup To
Question -
I've had my '96 Yamaha YZF 600 for 3 years and it has been running fine.   I recently had it serviced for 20K maintenance and they had to replaced one of the carburator b/c it sat too long in the winter and it messed it up.  But according to the Yamaha service everything is working fine after repair.  Recently I have shipped my bike to Hawaii and I noticed that after cleaning my bike, when I tried to start her up, there was a loud bang and then it wouldn't start.  So, I waited for a couple of minutes and tried it again, it started fine.  Now, on the way to work one day I rode my bike fine, but when I tried to start her back to go home, it wouldn't even power up.  I was able to kick start the bike by popping it to gear while in motion, but when I tried to accelerate, it wasn't holding the power and it was also backfiring from the exhaust.  A few hours later, trying to figure out whether it was the battery or something else from the bike, I decided to disconnect the battery and reconnect after a few minutes then, when I tried starting it back up, it started up just like as if nothing was wrong with the bike.  To make the long story short, "I want to know based on what I have told you, do you think its a battery issue or could it be something else in the bike that might have a loose wiring of some sort?"

Please let me know if you know what I'm trying to describe to you.

Thank you.

Alex
Answer -
SOunds like you may have a short or the battery connections werent tight. I would keep riding the bike and see if the problem continues or if you fixed it by reconecting the battery. You can have the battery tested to make sure its ok.
Good luck and happy riding
Mike

Answer
First, you will need a test light. When the problem happens again start at the battery and work your way to the key switch, checking each connection. You have to follow the current. You will need a wirign diagram so you know how the wires run. You can find one in a service manual for your bike.
By the time you get a test light and the service manual and put the hours in, you might be better off having a shop do the work for you.
Good luck and happy riding
Mike