I am new to atv's but i have recently been given a Honda Recon ES the previous owner said there were some problems, i think the year is 2004. I have got it started by jumping it, and it will run as long as you dont let off the gas. Right as I let go of the gas it dies, and the battery does not seem to keep charged. Any ideas of what it might be?

 

Id say start off with a good tune up clean the carb new plug and get a new battery see if that works.

 

What Dirtjunkie said.

Can you check the voltage to the battery when it's running? Even if it's within spec, a bad battery won't charge enough to start the engine.