How to Charge Your Motorcycle Battery Before The Riding Season Picks Up

As apposed to a car, the alternator that charges the battery on a motorcycle is not quite strong enough to fully charge your lead-acid battery. Motorcycles batteries tend to run their course faster than those in a car. The stronger alternator in a car will have a much easier time keeping the lead-acid batteries charged and prevent them from getting deeply discharged. Because of the difference between car batteries and motorcycle batteries, one must use a motorcycle-specific battery charger when charging their motorcycle battery as a car battery charger will put out too much charge and possible damage the battery.

When a battery loses it’s charge completely, even when recharged, you run the risk of reducing the calendar life of the battery. Although under ideal conditions, and with proper maintenance, a motorcycle battery should last its full manufacturer life expectancy. Keep in mind though, many factors can play a role in your batteries life such as weather and temperature. If riding in hot desert areas, you may find yourself replacing your battery more than someone who drives the same motorcycle but lives in a fairer climate.

Now the you have an overview of motorcycle battery specifics, these simple steps bellow will show you how easy it is to charge your battery:

1. You will need to start by wearing a safety goggles and protective gloves as the fluids in the battery are highly acidic and toxic. Also, Make sure you perform the task in a well-ventilated area. Handling the battery without these precautions is a major hazard.
2. Remove the battery from your motorcycle (see your owners manual for bike specific instructions to do this) and place it on the floor or any flat surface you to do your work.
3. Remove the chamber caps and fill the chamber with distilled or deionized water. DO NOT use regular tap water because it contains chemicals that can harm your battery.
4. Now it is time to connect your charger cables to the battery. Just like charging a car, connect the positive cable to the positive terminal and the negative cable to the negative terminal.
5. Plug in the charger and turn it on. It may be necessarily to charge the battery for a shorter or longer duration depending on how depleted the battery is.
6. When the battery is fully charged, turn off the charger and disconnect it from the battery. To finish, Replace the caps of the fluid chambers and reconnect the battery to the motorcycle.