A motorcycle’s battery is essential for lots of key functions, so you need to keep yours charged and in a good condition! Show
While a battery will automatically recharge when you’re riding, it’ll also discharge when left idle for long periods – so it’s important to charge it at regular intervals. Here’s everything you need to know about when and how to charge a motorcycle battery. How often should you charge a motorcycle battery?From lights through to electrical ignitions, motorcycles contain lots of parts that depend on a functioning battery. As many motorcyclists have found out, if you let the battery fully discharge, you’ll be left with a motorcycle that won’t start! Avoiding this situation is easy, and when you’re riding regularly, your motorcycle will take care of recharging the battery automatically for you, with the alternator creating alternating currents that power the electrical system and recharge the battery. However, when left idle for long periods – a common occurrence over the winter months – a motorcycle’s battery will discharge. If left long enough, a battery can fully discharge, something that can’t always be fixed. That’s why it’s important to regularly charge a battery whenever you’re not riding your motorbike for long periods. At a minimum, you should be charging it at least once a month. However, for older batteries where performance will naturally have deteriorated over time, charging may be necessary more frequently. What type of battery charger do you need?Before charging a battery, it’s important to make sure you have the correct type of charger. Here are a few important factors to consider:
There are also a few different types of chargers to choose from:
Charging a motorcycle batteryNow you’ve determined which type of charger you need, it’s time to charge your motorcycle’s battery. Here’s a step-by-step guide: Locate the batteryA simple place to start, but you need to know where your battery is located. On most motorcycles, the battery is housed under the saddle, but there are lots of models where this is different. If you’re unsure, consult your owner’s manual. Where to charge the batteryThis will depend on the length of your charger and where your motorcycle is parked, but you can either remove the battery and charge it or connect the charger with the battery still on the motorcycle. We recommend removing the battery before charging. When doing so, make sure you remove the negative cable (usually black) first, before removing the positive cable (usually red). Top tip: Both red and black cables can be used in negative and positive terminals but are coloured to make differentiating between the two terminals easier. Black cables should be used for negative terminals with red leads connected to positive terminals. However, you can also check for a – or + symbol next to any terminal, in case the wrong-coloured wire has been used. Charging the battery
How long does a motorcycle battery take to charge?Maintaining a battery and keeping it charged to an optimal level can take time – but you can make life much easier with the use of a smart charger! Smart chargers like the Halfords Smart Maintenance Charger 1.0A and the Halfords Advanced Moto Smart Battery Charger will automatically detect the condition of the battery and charge it in an appropriate setting, with the latter designed for use with lithium batteries. There’s also no risk of overcharging as they automatically maintain a battery’s charge at an optimal level. That means you can leave them plugged in permanently without having to worry about how long it’s been sat charging. On the other hand, trickle chargers require more monitoring as they need to be unplugged when the battery is fully charged to prevent overcharging. How long a battery will take to charge will depend on the amp hour of the charger – the higher the amp hour, the quicker it’ll charge. For example:
Although it may be tempting to opt for a more powerful charger, slower charging tends to be better for a battery’s long-term condition, so it’s usually better to opt for a less powerful charger around two amp hours. That’s everything you need to know about charging a motorcycle battery. You can find a full range of motorcycle chargers here. For more motorcycling guidance, head over to our help and advice guides. How long does it take a trickle charger to charge a dead motorcycle battery?A trickle charger can rejuvenate a dead battery and charge it to full capacity within 24 – 48 hours, depending on the charger's amps.
How long does it take to trickle charge a motorcycle battery?Two general classifications are trickle chargers and float chargers. A trickle charger charges the battery continuously and, after about 24 hours, it would have charged the battery fully from flat charge. In this state, the charger could be unplugged at any time and you would find the battery fully charged.
Can you charge a dead motorcycle battery?Can a dead motorcycle battery be recharged? Yes. A dead motorcycle battery, especially a high-quality motorcycle battery, can be recharged several times over. However, your motorcycle battery won't last forever, and letting it drain too much will lead to a premature end of it's serviceable lifespan.
How do you charge a dead bike battery?Read the manual again to find out how to put the battery back in the right way. Attach the positive cable first and then the negative.. Trickle, or fully manual, chargers are the easiest type to use. ... . Float chargers are another common type of charger.. |