How to extend the life of your motorcycle battery

tips to extend motorcycle battery life
20 December 2023

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Long story short: Your motorcycle battery is a crucial component of your bike. Learn how to maintain motorcycle battery properly and extend its lifespan with these helpful tips.

Gone are the days when we had to kick start every morning instead of using an electric starter for our motorcycle. Technology has moved a long way, and today, most motorcycles are phasing out kick-start features in most models. Why? There is only one reason behind this: the advancement of motorcycle battery technology. There is no issue whatsoever while starting your motorcycle with an electric start in the early morning. For most motorcycle batteries, there won’t be a single issue for the initial three years; you can expect a lifespan of around five years.

But for a battery to work for its entire lifespan, you need to take care and maintain motorcycle battery regularly to get that extended life. So, in this article, our focus will be on topics like different types of bike batteries, FAQs, and tips on extending your bike battery’s life. So, let’s start our discussion about different types of motorcycle batteries.

Types of motorcycle batteries

Different types of motorcycle battery
Different types of motorcycle battery

Wet Cell Batteries (Lead Acid Batteries / Conventional Batteries / Flooded Cell Batteries)

Lead acid batteries can easily be distinguished from other motorcycle batteries by a row of plastic stoppers on the top. If needed, these batteries need periodic checkups and top-ups to the upper-level mark with distilled water. Wet cell battery costs are lower than other types, but regular maintenance is a disadvantage.

Pros of Lead acid batteries

  1. Cheaper

Cons of Lead acid batteries

  1. Need regular maintenance
  2. Shorter lifespan

Dry cell batteries (Maintenance Free Batteries / Sealed Type Batteries)

Maintenance-free batteries, as the name mentions, do not require any maintenance and are usually supplied with the acid separately; once the battery is filled & the cap is placed on the top, no further monitoring or topping up of the acid is required. Most motorcycle companies now use dry-cell batteries on their models as they are maintenance-free, which is a boon for the customer.

Pros of dry cell batteries

  1. No maintenance at all
  2. Longer lifespan

Cons of dry cell batteries

  1. Costlier

Gel Acid Batteries (Gel Filled Batteries / Gel Motorcycle Batteries)

These batteries come with a gel state acid, are sealed when made, and don’t require any topping up. Gel acid batteries are often used in bikes where the battery has to lie at an angle or on its side. The main USP of Gel motorcycle batteries is that the gel inside will not move around and can be placed at any angle or position inside the vehicle.

Pros of Gel Acid Batteries

  1. No maintenance at all
  2. Longer lifespan

    It can be kept at any angles

Cons of Gel Acid Batteries

  1. Costlier

We hope you got an idea about different types of motorcycle batteries, and now we will discuss tips to extend the life of your motorcycle battery.

How to extend the life of a motorcycle battery?

tips to extend life of your motorcycle battery
Tips to extend life of your motorcycle battery

Check all battery connections regularly.

Have a periodic check for battery connections and faulty wires. Along with that, check the condition of all wires. If left unchecked, it can cause damage to other electrical components in your bike.

Disconnect the battery when not used for a long time.

Disconnect the battery if you aren’t using your two-wheeler for a prolonged time. Disconnecting the battery will prevent power loss and hence extend the battery life. Make sure to store the battery in a dry and warm place.

Don’t overload the battery.

The accessories you attach to your two-wheeler, like high-capacity lights and LED, put a lot of load on the battery. Overloading can cause the power to be drawn out and eventually die out of the battery. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that the accessories you use are within the limit of the battery and don’t overload it.

Don’t harshly use the electric start.

Always use the electric start nicely and smoothly instead of harshly, like pressing the electric start for several seconds when not starting. Always have some time gap between electric start so the battery has less load.

Clean the terminals regularly.

Every battery is made up of two electrical terminals: negative and positive. Some calcium, carbon, and rust get deposited around these terminals over time. Suppose you need to clean the terminals correctly; in that case, it will result in poor performance and improper operation of the various electrical components such as headlights, horns, etc.

Check the battery fuse regularly.

A fuse is a simple and inexpensive component that can help save your battery from undergoing any severe and permanent damage. So check the same regularly.

FAQ about how to maintain motorcycle battery

How long does a motorcycle battery last?

A good quality maintenance-free battery can last up to 5-6 years if the customer regularly checks the battery.

Which motorcycle battery is the best?

Gel-type or dry cell-type batteries are the best as they do not require maintenance and have a longer lifespan.

What are the signs of motorcycle battery ageing?

The motorcycle is not starting even after several attempts; the headlamp light flickering or not powerful enough are the main signs.

When to replace a bike battery?

When the life of a motorcycle battery exceeds five years, it is time to think about a battery replacement. In some cases, like Lead-acid batteries, the lifespan is shorter and needs earlier replacement.

When to charge the motorcycle battery?

Charge the battery once every three months, in case the battery has been kept unused or ideal.

Are all motorcycle batteries the same?

No, there are three types

  1. Wet cell batteries
  2. Dry cell batteries
  3. Gel-type batteries

Are motorcycle batteries 6v or 12v?

A misconception among users is that going from 12v to 6v cuts your amp hours but does give you more power. They are much more robust and can handle heavier loads.

Are motorcycle batteries lead or lithium?

Most motorcycle batteries come with lead-type batteries as they are cost-effective and come in maintenance-free types. Meanwhile, lithium-type batteries are used in electric scooters and bikes as the entire work is purely dependent on the battery.

Are gel motorcycle batteries better?

Yes, the best type of motorcycle battery is available right now.

Conclusion

We have discussed in detail the different types of bike batteries, battery care tips, and some FAQs about how to maintain motorcycle battery. We have yet to cover the technical aspects, like battery working, jump-starting, etc., and it is kept aside for another article. Now let’s summarize the main three types of bike batteries in a nutshell.

  1. Wet cell batteries
  2. Dry cell batteries
  3. Gel-type batteries

If you have any other doubts or queries, email us at bikeleague2017@gmail.com. We are always eager to help and assist you. Also, here are several social media platforms of Bikeleague India to raise your suspicions.