hi took battery off for charghing forgot to note connection is it pos earth or negative,cheers

Black is negative, red is positive

Negative will always have continuity to earth. So if you have a multimeter and set it to continuity then you will get a reading from the neg terminal to earth but shouldn't get a reading from the pos. That's how I've always done it. Most bikes just seem to have two black wires but the rubber red cover is on the possie - lose that and you can be left scratching ya head. You can tell by other ways like following the wiring back from each lead or checking the diagram but if you have a multimeter is the easiest way.

Positive goes to the starter motor solenoid.. Earth Goes to the frame as it's negative earthed (like most vehicles since the 60's)

The wires should be the right lengths to reach only the appropriate terminals anyway if their original :)