so I have replaced the battery what a palarver!!!
had to remove both silencers (It's an IoM) and remove the battery tray. Its very tight in there. you can't even get to the screw holding the positive terminal with the battery tray in situ.......
Old battery definitely stuffed it wont hold a charge (charges up to 13v on my optimate but then loses charge to sub 12v in a couple of hours.
Hopefully i'll get 4 or 5 years out of the new battery. I just bought a standard lead acid.