if i charge the battery the bike will start, if i leave it to idle for 10mins and turn it off then it wont start again the battery is flat. any ideas? thanks

50% - regulator/rectifier
30% - Connector loose/corroded
15% - Generator
5% - Other

Agree with Awynn, sounds like you have some issues in your charging circuits.

hi what connection could be loose because the problem went away for a few days and then started again.this could be the cause.
thanks in advance

On the charging side you will have a 3 pin connection coming out of the engine from the alternator (on the left if I remember corectly). This connector can get filled will oil or gunk. These 3 wire then are hard wired into the rectifier so there shouldn't be a problem here. Coming out of the rectifier will be a 12V and a ground. Check how these are wired back to the chassis/battery. May have become corroded in the connectors.

Still Issues, take a voltmeter, start up the bike and then measure the voltage at the battery if it is measuring above 12V the charging circuit is probably working. Check the voltage before this test and check that it has increased. Someone else might be able to give you a better number of what the voltage should be at idle but at a guess I think it should be 12.5-13.

Hope this is of some help

i replaced the regulator/rectifier still no joy, is it normal for the regulator to get quite hot. cheked the connections cleaned them still no joy any other ideas please!
thanks

Could be a duff battery.

Put the battery on for a full charge, and when it's done put it in the bike and turn the ignition and lights on. If the lights go dim after a short time your battery is knackered.

i just fully charged the battery it wont even start, the battery is dying before it fires up.

I had same issue and ended up replacing the battery

did that sort it. i replaced the reg/rec cheked everywere for loose connections im not experienced i dont no wot else to chek.