Battery installation

[apaiva]

OK this is probably going to be stupidly simple and expose how little I know about vehicles (i haven't had one in 6 years).  I charged my r65 battery and just not sure the orientation to put it back in?
The battery should go in with the positive side on the left side, correct?  That is how it was when I pulled it out, and in the bmw manual (dl'd from here) it looks like that is the orientation in the one photo of the battery being pulled out.  But the ground wire should connect to the negative terminal, correct?  The ground wire I think wants to sit on the left side, where it seems the positive terminal would be.
did that make sense? Just want to make sure I don't do anything stupid for fear of asking a noob question.
thanks,

[k_enn]

The negative terminal should be on the right side, where there is one large negative wire to connect.  

The positive terminal should be on the left side, where there are two large positive wires to connect.

Also, as a secondary confirmation, the terminals should be on top of the battery towards the front, not toward the rear.

k_enn

[apaiva]

ah okay so the third cable is not a ground wire but a second connection to positive terminal.

thanks

[montmil]

ah okay so the third cable is not a ground wire but a second connection to positive terminal.

thanks

If your bike is still all OEM wiring, both cables to the positive battery terminal -a fat one and a thin one- should have red insulation.

The negative cable is a fat black rascal and terminates at the transmission's speedo drive cable lock bolt. Do not overtighten this bolt. It will strip the aluminum threads in the trans case and you will not be, I promise, a happy camper.