Care for Motorcycle Batteries
Apart from the feeling of flying and the exhilaration that comes with riding a motorcycle, there is also the mechanical side. To keep them running smoothly, they need to be kept in tip-top condition. This also includes electrical power, and any serious biker knows that they have to maintain their motorcycle battery. Owners have the option of selecting regular (old school} or maintenance free motorcycle batteries. With maintenance free types there is no need to top up the cells up with water on a regular basis.
Contents
Steps
- Visually inspect your battery. All motorcycle batteries should be checked at least once per month.
- Clean the terminals. The terminals should be cleaned to prevent corrosion which can cause problems starting the bike. Cleaning regularly prevents the buildup of dirt and sediments.
- Check the terminals a minimum of once per month to ensure that connectors are not loose. Loose connectors can mean the bike will not start or it will start only intermittently. They should also be checked after minor accidents or spills.
- Inspect your battery for leaks. Regular maintenance also entails looking out for leaks or checking if they are wet. Sometimes water can get inside the casing and cause the metal connectors to rust. Leakage can indicate problems so it should be dealt with immediately.
- If using regular motorcycle batteries, the electrolyte cells should be topped up with distilled water. The water level should be checked at least once every other week. Use the minimum and maximum markers etched inside the cells as a guide. Distilled water is recommended simply because it has no impurities in it. It therefore means that batteries do not need to work as hard to perform and they last longer as a result.
- Keep your battery charged. Motorcycle batteries should be charged once per week. Allowing them to be completely exhausted will only shorten their life and impact their performance. While they can be jump-started like car batteries, it is always better to just take care of them so this will be unnecessary.
Tips
- When it comes to the proper care of and replacing motorcycle batteries, nothing beats getting information from bike lovers like yourself. Many of them have probably seen and done it all in terms of caring for their pride and joy. To the true motorcyclist, they might be as important as the bikes themselves.
- If the bike will be in storage for a while the battery should be disconnected and removed from the bike. They should be stored in a cool place to prolong their life, but try to avoid places that get too cold to prevent freezing. It is important that they be placed on non-heat conducting surfaces such as wood or plastic.
