After trying to start the bike for about 30 seconds to no avail, I found that the screws attached to the battery had become hot to the touch. Taking the battery out and testing it with a voltmeter sparks began to fly off the battery. Needless to say I need a new battery.
I see 2 possible culprits for the battery overheating. 1: There's a short in some wires on the bike. 2: The battery itself has gone bad.
To support theory 1, the bike's been sitting under an awning for a while, with some parts unplugged. Covered it with a tarp but that isn't perfect protection from the elements. In addition, the front fairing of the bike as well as one of the horns, are not currently plugged in. Could these unplugged wires cause a problem with the battery?
As for theory 2, the battery is over 2 years old and I've charged it with a battery tender quite a few times. I'm hoping my problem can be fixed as easily as buying a new battery.
Some might suggest that the problem could be with the R&R but I doubt this. I had it replaced very recently and it showed no problems, plus I've successfully tested it with a voltmeter.