How do I charge a motorcycle battery?

Motorcycle batteries do not have to withstand harsh winters or extended periods of disuse. This article will show you how to charge your motorcycle battery and other tips. This is an essential element for the proper functioning of your 2 wheels.

When the weather is cold or the bike is not used much, the battery will drain naturally. If you let the battery drain for too long, you risk damaging it. It is recommended not to wait until the battery is completely discharged before recharging.

In case of prolonged inactivity, the battery loses 50% of its capacity after 3-4 months. The cold drops by 1% every -2 ° C below 20 ° C. 

Unloading can be expected if you are not planning on using your winter motorcycle. You will need to disconnect the battery and store it in a dry place. If you want to use your motorcycle again, you can charge the battery before putting it back. I recommend you check the battery charge every two months. 

It is very important to use the correct charger. 

Attention : Do not use a car charger. The intensity is too high and may damage the battery.

A suitable charger provides the required current. It will slowly charge your battery. I recommend that you read the manual carefully before using it. Some chargers allow you to maintain a charge. This keeps the battery charged while the motorcycle is stopped.

Attention : Do not try to restart the motorcycle with cables (as we used to do with cars). On the contrary, it can damage the battery.

Here different steps to charge your motorcycle battery :

• Disconnect the battery from the motorcycle: first disconnect the - terminal, then the + terminal.
• If it is a lead acid battery, remove the covers.
• Adjust the intensity of the charger if possible, ideally we adjust to 1/10 of the battery capacity.
• Then plug in the charger.
• Wait patiently for the battery to charge slowly.
• Once the battery is charged, disconnect the charger.
• Remove the clamps starting from the - terminal.
• Connect the battery. 

Here's a guide that shows you how to charge your motorcycle battery.

Before charging the battery, as a precautionary measure, I advise you touse a multimeter check its condition. Switch on the 20V DC section. Perform the test with the motorcycle completely off. The black wire must be connected to the negative terminal of the battery. And a red wire for the other terminal. Then just check the voltage to make sure your battery is dead.

Also recommended check the acid level between the min and max marks what you find on your battery (lead). Please note that it should only be supplemented with distilled (or demineralized) water. Other water should only be used for troubleshooting purposes. 

Charger extends battery life... This is a very profitable investment. There are a lot of chargers on the market, we have a choice between several brands: FACOM, EXCEL, Easy Start, Optimate 3. The price is about 60 euros. It is similar to (adaptable) batteries, so a single use can already make your purchase profitable. For example, the Yahama Fazer battery costs 170 euros.

Some batteries are maintenance-free. No need to add cash or anything else. However, the charge level must be regularly monitored or at least maintained. Gel batteries are more resistant to deep discharges. Even completely discharging it will not be difficult. An advantage for those who do not want to carry out regular checks. A warning, it supports strong charging currents much worse.

The battery is something to take care of. Hope this article answers your questions. Do you service your motorcycle regularly? The simple solution is to replace the battery as soon as it stops working, but it will be more expensive.