How to Take Care of Motorcycle Battery
Your motorcycle’s battery serves as a vital energy source. It provides the necessary power to ignite the engine and sustain essential electrical systems. Just like any other component of your bike, motorcycle battery care is crucial to ensure its longevity and reliability.
Whether keeping your motorbike’s battery charged or protecting it from higher temperatures, you must learn ways to maintain the battery. Moreover, set a maintenance schedule to take care of your motorcycle properly.
Here are some essential tips for motorcycle battery care and maintenance that help avoid unexpected breakdowns and extend its life.
How to Extend the Life of Your Motorcycle Battery
A battery is one of the essential motorcycle parts with a function to operate speedometers and lights. Although there are various types of motorcycle engines, a battery plays its part. The primary role of a battery is to keep the headlights and speedometer working and help start the motorcycle.
Let’s go through these maintenance tips for motorcycle batteries and maximising their lifespan.
Choose the Right Battery
When you follow the tips for buying your first motorcycle, ensure that you also learn about its components. For instance, choose the right battery after a certain mileage.
Start by selecting a high-quality battery that matches your motorcycle’s specifications. Consider factors such as size, voltage and cold-cranking amps (CCA) to ensure compatibility. You can also opt for a maintenance-free bike battery since it requires less upkeep.
Regular Inspection
Just like setting car maintenance schedules, you must set an inspection timeline for motorcycle battery maintenance. Make it a habit to visually inspect your battery regularly. For instance, look for signs of corrosion, leakage or damage to the terminals and casing.
Check the battery’s electrolyte levels if it’s not a sealed, maintenance-free type. Also, fill it with distilled water if necessary, following manufacturer guidelines.
Keep it Charged
Motorcycle batteries can drain over time, especially during periods of inactivity. Moreover, invest in a quality battery charger or maintainer and use it during extended storage periods. If the battery drains, you can learn how to jump-start a motorcycle.
Proper Installation and Connections
Ensure the battery is securely installed in its housing to prevent vibrations and movement while riding. Also, clean the terminals regularly as part of your motorcycle battery care to remove any corrosion or buildup. Use a mixture of baking soda and water to clean terminals and a wire brush to scrub away corrosion gently.
Avoid Overloading
Be mindful of the electrical accessories you add to your motorcycle, as they can put additional strain on the battery and charging system. Moreover, if you frequently use heated grips, auxiliary lights or other accessories, consider upgrading to a higher-output battery or alternator.
Warm-Up Before Riding
For motorcycle battery care, always perform a mandatory pre-trip inspection. Besides, it is one of the essential tips to ride a motorcycle in summer that you check each and every component alongside the battery.
Monitor Performance
Pay attention to signs that indicate your battery may be reaching the end of its life, such as slow cranking, dim lights or frequent jump starts. If you notice any of these symptoms, it may be time to replace the battery to avoid getting stranded unexpectedly.
FAQs
How do I keep my motorcycle battery alive?
Keep it charged regularly, avoid deep discharges and store it properly during long periods of inactivity.
What damages a motorcycle battery?
Overcharging, undercharging, extreme temperatures, vibration and sulfation can damage motorcycle batteries.
How do I know if my motorcycle battery is weak?
Signs include slow engine cranking, dim lights, difficulty starting and needing frequent jump starts. Besides, you can use various motorcycle tools to check if the battery is weak or damaged.
Do motorcycle batteries go bad if not used?
Yes, without regular charging or maintenance, motorcycle batteries can deteriorate over time, especially if left unused for extended periods. That’s why motorcycle battery maintenance is essential.
These were all the details about motorcycle battery care. When you buy a used motorcycle in the UAE, maintain each part of the bike properly. Also, follow the motorcycle maintenance tips to avoid a bigger problem.
Stay tuned to the dubizzle Autos blog to find out more about motorcycle culture and maintenance.