Motorcycle Repair: xs500 troubleshooting, yamaha xs500, plaes

Question
Sorry if you're not the appropriate guy for this, I'm hoping most bikes are
similar enough that you can help.

I just bought a 1975 Yamaha xs500. It's my first bike, and I'm having trouble,
I would appreciate any help you could give.

It won't start with the electric starter, it tries to turn over but never catches. I
can start it with the kickstart, but after I let it warm up, when I put it in gear
and let the clutch out it stalls and won't start. Of course I assumed it was the
battery, so I put a new battery in with the same results. Does it absolutely
have to be charged first, or am I going in the wrong direction?

Any ideas?

Answer
Peter for the good of the battery and the longevity of the battery, all new ones should be charged before use, but it will have an initial charge when you first intal the acid...

As far as the starting issue goes, sounds like if the bike lunges forward when you put it in gear, that means the clutch plaes are frozen together. Otherwise as far as the electric starter goes, sounds like its time for a new one, if its spinning but not catching, it means that is froze uo too..

~Mark