Own A Motorcycle? How You Can Make Your Battery Life Last Longer
How long your motorcycle battery stays charged depends on the brand of battery you purchase, as the quality of the battery plays a role in how long it will last. It also depends on how much the motorcycle is used. You can, however, do some things on your own to help extend the life of your battery, and below are three tips on how you can do this.
Storing Your Motorcycle
When you put your motorcycle in storage at the end of the riding season, you need to make sure the battery is completely charged before you do. This is because the battery has a much higher chance of losing energy when it is not charged completely. A fully charged battery will likely still be charged when you take your motorcycle out of storage. If you know it will be in storage for a long time each year, purchase a battery charger to ensure the battery stays charged.
Deep Cycling Your Battery
You should not deep cycle your battery, as it will shorten its life. Each time you deep discharge the motorcycle battery, some of the active material falls off the plates and then falls to the bottom of the battery case. Because there is a lower amount of active material, the battery cannot undergo the proper chemical reactions when it is being used.
Over time, a large amount of this material will accumulate at the bottom of the battery case, which will shorten the plates and then kill your battery.
Proper Maintenance
It is important that you give your battery the proper maintenance. The first thing you should do is check with the manufacturer or supplier like Shelton Battery, Inc. to learn what kind of maintenance they recommend.
Make sure you disconnect the negative battery terminal first and then disconnected the right terminal when removing the battery from the motorcycle. Look for corrosion on the battery terminals. If there is corrosion here, use a wire brush to remove it from the terminals.
If you are unsure if the battery is in good condition or not, you can test it with a voltmeter or hydrometer to make sure it is working properly. You can purchase these items at any shop that sells motorcycles and/or motorcycle parts.
If you are unsure about any of this, take your motorcycle to a mechanic. They can check over everything for you and also explain to you how you can do these things on your own in the future.