Need to know if my battery or starter is bad, or both. origanal 96 starter, gel battery 6 yrs old. clicks when trying to start, lites do not dim at all just clicks fast . 1996 harley sporster

I would lay odds on the battery if it's six years old but that's guesswork, I prefer mechanics. Take the battery out of the bike and take it to an automotive parts house. Ask them to check the battery with a load test. That will tell the tale.

If the battery is good, what you may be hearing is the starter relay clicking. Since your lights are not dimming, the starter is not even being engaged. The starter relay is a one inch cube device usually black in color. On your '96 model, I think it's on the backside of the oil tank. You must take the seat off to see it. Try to start the bike and see if that's what is making the clicking sound. If so, replace the relay. Check these two things before you go replacing the starter. Starters aren't cheap.