BEST MOTORCYCLE BATTERY

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Best Motorcycle Battery for your Bike

What is the most efficient form of transportation? It’s a motorcycle. Need to go from Point A to Point B ASAP? Motorcycles are your answer. 

Yeah, there are safety concerns about motorcycles. But we do not ride like a maniac. Those break all sorts of traffic rules. If you are someone who drives like a criminal on the loose, please stop reading. I do not want such kind of people to read my article. You see because of that 1 percent of reckless riders, the rest of the 99 percent have to deal with the infamy. 

In general, the majority of motorcycle riders follow the traffic rules. The best thing about bikes is they require half the space of a car. Plus, maintaining a bike is more cost-effective than a car. My favorite thing is how motorcycle riders can get through traffic quicker than cars. This is one of the handy things about bikes. They will save you a minimum of 10 to 15 minutes of traffic. 

To enjoy all the benefits of your motorcycle, it is important to have it in perfect condition. It is next to impossible to have your motorcycle running your motorcycle in optimal condition without the best motorcycle battery. Life becomes much easier when you are using the best battery for your motorcycle. 

What is a motorcycle battery? 

Most of us already have a clear understanding of this question. But to some of us who don’t, I got you covered. I will try to simplify the scientific terms as much as possible. 

In simple words, a battery converts chemical energy into electrical energy. In your motorcycle, a battery is the source of electrical energy. Your motorcycle battery uses a reversible chemical reaction between the metal and the acid present in it to preserve the electrical energy. 

There is another key component present in your batteries. It is known as an electrolyte. We know about electrolytes. They are really useful for conducting electricity. 

If you are dealing with batteries long enough, you will know there is a battery acid that you need to refill from time to time. That battery acid is also termed as a battery electrolyte. 

Battery electrolytes are vital in making sure the process of preserving electrical energy in the battery is going according to plan. Most of the time battery acids are comprised of sulfuric acid and distilled water. They work as an electrolyte between the metal and acid in your battery. 

Types of batteries

Over the years with the invention and development of newer technology, the qualities of motorcycle batteries have improved. At present, there are various types of batteries available. They all vary from the manufacturer to the model of your bike. 

We must understand what separates these various types of batteries from each other. Understanding these facts will help you determine which type of motorcycle battery is best for you. In this section of our article you will find all the information required for you to choose your battery type. 

Wet Cell Battery:

An important fact about the wet cell battery is it is the oldest battery type being used in motorcycles. A physicist from France named Gaston Plante invented this form of battery in the 19th century. 

It consists of battery plates, lead, plus a combination of lead oxide with sulfuric acid and water. Exact ratios of these substances are not important for us to know. But if you would like to know more about Wet Cell Batteries then click here.  

You need to maintain Wet Cell batteries by refilling the distilled water. This is important to prevent any harm to the battery plates. 

They are also referred to as flooded batteries. One can guess this name is given because it has such a high percentage of liquid in its composition. The wet cell battery will generate electrical energy using the battery plates and the solutions. The solutions will act as an electrolyte in the process. 

Pros: 

Wet Cell batteries are a great choice for a secondary battery for a vehicle. Wet cell batteries are charged by your motorcycle alternator. They are the second option because, after the initial ignition, you will need the battery to provide constant electrical energy to keep your bike running. This is where the alternator comes in which continuously recharges the battery. 

If you consider the price and the longevity of wet cell batteries, they make a great choice for your motorcycle. Plus, if you take good care you will be able to get a high amount of charge-discharge cycle out of a flooded battery. They are also less prone to damage from overcharging. 

Cons: 

There are highly reactive and combustible liquids inside a wet cell battery. Modern flooded batteries are sealed properly. But still, they need to be transported carefully. Also, the electrolyte produces highly flammable gases. 

Dry Cell Battery: 

Dry Cell Batteries contain pastes that are used to carry on chemical reactions. These chemical reactions cause the potential difference between the terminals of the cell.   

Gel Batteries:

Gel Cell batteries contain a special kind of electrolyte. The electrolyte is combined with sulfuric acid and silica gel. This makes the electrolyte restricted. It disables it from moving freely – unlike the electrolyte solution in a wet cell battery. 

Pros:

Whether you want a 6 Volt Motorcycle battery or a 12 Volt, gel cell batteries are a perfect choice for you. There are no restrictions on how you should place your gel cell batteries. You can keep them upright or downward. They do not have liquids like Wet cell batteries. If you place your wet cell batteries in a downward position then the liquid inside may leak out. The liquid in wet cell batteries is reactive and combustible chemicals. Once they leak they might cause physical harm to the nearby person. But for a Gel Battery you will not need to worry about such things as there is no liquid inside it. 

Gel Cell Batteries do not have any chances of spillage of electrolytes, evaporation, or rust. Problems that are pretty common in Wet Cell Batteries. 

They have a higher endurance capability. Riding through a bumpy road? Do not worry as gel cell batteries are more durable. They can withstand extreme vibrations and temperatures. 

Cons: 

These batteries can only be charged with Trickle chargers. You will not be able to charge them using a quick charger. 

Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Battery: 

AGM batteries are the most widely used lead-acid batteries in motorcycles. AGM batteries are constructed with Absorbed Glass Mat. This allows the electrolytes to be in close vicinity as the plates. 

Pros: 

Maintaining an AGM motorcycle battery is easy. You do not need to refill the water or worry about placing it in an upright position. They have higher immunity to heat and vibration. This helps them to be more durable. One edge the AGM batteries have over gel cell batteries is affordability. AGM batteries are more affordable than expensive gel cell batteries. Plus, they have similar features. 

Cons: 

AGM motorcycle battery is sensitive to charging. You need to be careful when charging AGM batteries. Charging them over or under the limit can cause permanent damage to the battery. 

What are some of the best Motorcycle batteries?

This article will be incomplete without us telling you about some of the industry’s best motorcycle batteries. So, without any further ado let us unveil our list of best motorcycle batteries. 

  1. MotoBatt MBT6N4 (B007V61Q04):

    Product Description: MotoBatt is known for its excellence in delivering superior quality batteries. They specialize in engineering state of the art Gel and AGM batteries. Especially, because of the fact Gel and AGM batteries do not require maintenance and last for a long time.

    The battery weighs about 3 pounds and has the dimensions 2.8 Length x 2.8 Width x 3.8 Height. It is a 6V and 4Ah battery. It comes with plenty of juice to run your motorcycle. Plus, MotoBatt has a huge variety of motorcycle batteries. Thus, it will be really easy to find and replace your motorcycle battery with a MotoBatt one.

    Pros:
    -It does not have any liquid inside, so less maintenance required.
    -More durable.
    -There is no option for any spillage or leakage.
    -No chances of the battery being corroded.

    Cons:
    -MotoBatt puts quality over everything. This means you will have to spend a little more when buying one of their batteries. This could be a problem if your budget is low.

    -They make Gel and AGM batteries. You need to be mindful when charging Gel or AGM batteries because they are very sensitive. You can damage them by over or undercharging.

  2. Yuasa YUAM620BH (B000MX2ORM):

    Product Description: Looking for a 12 Volt battery for your motorcycle? This battery from Yuasa is the real deal. Let me give you a little bit of a backstory about Yuasa motorcycle batteries. Yuasa is one of the first OEM (original equipment manufacturing) companies. They are being used as the go-to battery for several Japanese bike companies.

    It is an 18 Ah with 310 amperes. Yes, you heard me right 310 amperes. This little guy has a lot of power in it. You do not need to refill water as it is maintenance-free.

    The battery has been completely sealed off to make it spill-proof. You can place it in an upright position without even worrying about spills or leakage. Because all the acid is in the special plates and absorbed glass mats.

    It comes with an advanced lead-calcium technology that allows it to be firm and hold their weights which triple the number of normal batteries.

    Pros:
    -Very easy to maintain.
    -A great power source for your bike.

    Cons:
    -Similar to other Gel and AGM batteries you need to be very attentive when you are charging them.
  1. ACDelco ATX30LBSA (B01BYBPWYM):

    Product Description: ACDelco of the top manufacturers in the motorcycle battery industry. You do not get to be one of the major players in such a competitive market without doing something right. In terms of ACDelco they are doing a lot of things right.

    This particular model is shipped dry. There is one separate acid pack that comes with the battery. Before you go ahead and use it, you will need to charge the battery. See they are not initially charged so that they have a higher shelf life.

    It comes with an acid bottle that helps you use the perfect amount of acid for the battery. This is specifically important as you will not have any acid left to get rid of after the process.

    Pros:
    -It has an absorbed glass design making the battery immune spills and leakage.
    -After installing the vent caps on the battery it becomes fully sealed and maintenance-free.
    -There will be no refilling of liquid required after you have sealed the battery.

    Cons:
    -You will need to charge the battery before use, halting you to use it immediately in case of emergencies.

  2. ADX14 by ThrottleX (B01C4J3SJO):

    Product Description: If you are willing to try something new, try using this battery from the throttle. If you have never heard about ThrottleX before than it is okay. Because there are a lot of us who have not heard about them and it is hard for us to trust a company we do nothing about.
    Throttle X is a new company in the scene of motorcycle batteries. They are a rising star in this market because they are products are of excellent quality. They have not gone mainstream yet and maybe that is a good thing. As you will be able to be one of the first people who put their faith in Throttle X and become a part of their journey.

    Talking about their batteries, I will just say one-word “SUPERIOR”. They make batteries that are fully charged straight out of the gate, so they are ready to install the moment you buy.

    Pros:
    -Made in the USA.
    -They offer an 18-month free replacement warranty. So, you can buy them with assurance.
    -It is an AGM battery making it spill-proof.

    Cons:
    -AGM batteries cannot be charged with a quick charger. 

How do you charge a Motorcycle battery?

For every motorcycle owner it is important to know how to charge a motorcycle battery. If you have a motorcycle for long enough you will eventually face a very troublesome situation. What is the troubling situation you ask? It is a dead battery.

A dead battery in a motorcycle is more severe than a car. The first problem you will have with a dead battery is you will not be able to start your motorcycle. This becomes a huge problem. 

Take for instance you immediately need to get to work. It is already time for your work. You go ahead and try to start your bike. But it is not starting. This is probably a dead battery situation. Now, if you have a battery charger with you or at your home. Then you will immediately be able to charge it up.  Here are some tips you can follow to charge your motorcycle battery: 


What is your battery type? 

The first thing you should be aware of is what type of battery you have. There are different varieties of motorcycle batteries. The type of battery charger you need depends on the type of battery you have. To find out about your battery type you can check the manual or try to read the label on your battery. There is the information printed on either side of your battery which will help you choose the right charger. 

There are different types of battery chargers available. Using a trickle, float or a smart charger can work on most of the batteries in modern motorcycles. These chargers work on a certain type of battery. They are Lead-acid, AGM (Absorbed glass mat), or Gel batteries. An important reminder is you should not use any of these chargers on lithium-ion batteries.

Trickle chargers are also referred to as manual chargers. They are the easiest to use. They simply convert the A/C power from your wall to the D/C power your battery needs. But these chargers require constant monitoring. They will keep charging the battery even when it is fully charged. Overcharging a battery can do serious damage. Sometimes the damage can be permanent and irreversible. 

Float chargers are another type of motorcycle battery chargers. They do not require constant monitoring like the trickle chargers as they provide a constant current to the battery. They will keep turning themselves off and on to maintain an optimum rate of charging. 

Smart chargers are the best. They will monitor the charging process. Once it reaches 100% it will automatically turn itself off. But once drawback about Smart chargers is they are unable to charge lithium batteries. 

There are specialized chargers available for lithium batteries. The type of charger you require depends on the manufacturer of the lithium batteries. Just check the manual of your lithium battery and you will be able to see which charger you should use.

Take your motorcycle battery out!

Now that we know which charger we should use, we can now talk about the charging process. Firstly, start by taking your motorcycle battery out of the motorcycle.

It is important to take the battery out of the motorcycle otherwise it can risk harming other parts during the charging process. It is a simple process to remove the battery. Start by disconnecting the negative cable and then disconnect the positive one. Then remove any wires or screws connecting the motorcycle battery to the bike. You can now safely lift the battery and place it down somewhere safe. 

Before you decide to remove your motorcycle battery, you will need to know where it is and how to remove it. There can be some exclusive steps you need to take to remove your motorcycle battery which will only be mentioned in your manual. Plus, it will tell you how you can access the battery, its position, and the process of disconnecting it. We gave a general idea on how to remove a battery but every motorcycle model is different so it is recommended to read the manual. 


How to connect your motorcycle battery to the charger?

Connecting your motorcycle battery charger is very simple. You can attach the cables in any order you like. All you need to make sure is the terminals are properly connected.

You must connect the charger cables to your battery before plugging in the charger to your socket. Our advice is to charge your battery outside or in an area where it is well ventilated.

The charging process will produce hydrogen gas. We all know hydrogen is highly flammable. Also, in cases when your battery is overcharged it will produce hydrogen sulfide which is harmful to humans. 

How long should we charge a motorcycle battery? 

The average time it takes to charge up a motorcycle battery is about 4 hours to a day. The charging time depends highly on the type of battery and charger. The duration you should charge your motorcycle battery is mentioned in your manual. 

How long does a motorcycle battery last? 

The average lifespan of a motorcycle battery is about 4 years. But barely motorcycle batteries complete their lifespan. Most of the batteries die prematurely. One of the reasons for the premature death of motorcycle batteries is maintenance. 



Owners are not maintaining their motorcycle batteries properly. The first thing you can do to increase your battery’s lifespan is to keep them clean. Dirt on your batteries can cause a short in one of the terminals. This could drain the battery within a few hours. All you need to do is wipe your battery with a piece of damp cloth and it will help clean your motorcycle battery.

If you have a wet cell battery then it is important to check the electrolyte level each month. You need to refill the electrolyte with distill water whenever it drops below the add line. 

Conclusion: 

Batteries are a very important part of your motorcycle. It helps keep your motorcycle running in proper condition. So, thank you for spending some of your time to know more about motorcycle batteries. 

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