Here's How to Choose the Best Motorcycle Battery
The demand for motorcycles is going up at a CAGR of 8.4% and is expected to reach 223.50 billion USD between 2022-2029. However, no motorcycle is complete without a reliable and high-quality battery.If you have a motorcycle, you know that it's important to take care of it and ensure that it's working at its very best. Thinking carefully about your choice of motorcycle battery is essential. There are many motorcycle battery options out there, so you need to make sure to buy a battery that's reliable and easy to maintain.Fortunately, we're here to help you. In this guide, we'll tell you how to choose the best motorcycle battery.
Understanding Motorcycle Battery Types
The first thing that you'll want to do when choosing a motorcycle battery is to think about the type that you need. Here are the types of motorcycle batteries that you should know about.
Lead Acid Batteries
Also known as flooded cell batteries or wet cell batteries, lead acid batteries are an affordable battery type for motorcycles and offer a lot of power.While these batteries aren't as expensive as other types, their lifespans tend to be shorter, and they do require some maintenance. You'll need to top up these batteries with distilled water to keep them working properly.Keep in mind that these batteries can suffer from spilling, so they can be difficult to deal with compared to other types that are available.
AGM Batteries
Absorbed glass mat batteries (AGM) are another popular battery option for motorcycles. This battery type offers a higher level of quality than lead acid batteries but works in a similar way.Unlike wet cell batteries, however, you won't need to maintain them. The batteries come factory-sealed and are totally leak-proof, so you won't need to worry about spillage. AGM batteries are also fairly affordable compared to other battery options as well.
Gel Cell Batteries
Gel cell batteries are also popular and work a bit differently than the types of motorcycle batteries listed above.Gel cell batteries require no maintenance and are leak-proof, so you won't have to worry too much about them causing problems. Other benefits of these batteries include great vibration resistance, excellent usability in both warm and cold weather, and less gas emission than wet cell batteries.Gel cell batteries are a bit more expensive than AGM and wet cell batteries, however, so keep this in mind. You'll also need to charge the batteries correctly to avoid overcharging and ruining the electrolytes.
Lithium Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries are a great option for motorcycles. They don't require any maintenance and offer reliable performance as well. On top of this, they're lighter than wet cell batteries, so they can be a great option if you want to optimize motorcycle handling.Like with gel cell batteries, you'll want to prevent overcharging lithium motorcycle batteries. These batteries might also run out of power quickly if you have a lot of electronics to power on your bike.
How to Make Your Choice
Aside from choosing a type of battery, there are many more things to consider when choosing a motorcycle battery as well. Here's what you should think about.
Check the Fit and Requirements
One of the most important things to do when buying a motorcycle battery is to check compatibility with your bike. It's important to check the guidelines set by the manufacturer of your motorcycle when choosing a battery so that you can be sure that you'll make an appropriate choice.Verify that the power and the fit will work for your motorcycle. You should learn what the dimensions are for your motorcycle battery and ensure that it will work for the dimensions that your bike allows. You might want to take a look at your current battery before replacing it so that you'll know what your bike can handle.
Determine Power Ratings
There are some power ratings you should understand when choosing a motorcycle battery.Cold-cranking amps (CCA) refer to how well the battery will start your engine and how much power will be provided. If you have a large engine, you'll need to get a battery with a higher CCA number. Be sure to check manufacturer information to determine what CCA rating you should be looking for.The amp-hour (AH) rating of a battery is also important to know. This rating refers to how long the battery will last when in use. For example, a 10Ah battery will be able to supply either 1 amp for 10 hours or 2 amps for 5 hours. Keep in mind that with this number, higher is better.
Consider the Level of Maintenance
When reading about the different types of motorcycle batteries above, you may have noticed that each requires different levels of maintenance.It's a good idea to choose a battery that doesn't require any maintenance and has little to no risk of spillage. This will help ensure that you'll have a stress-free time taking care of your bike. There's a lot to do to maintain your motorcycle properly, but you'll have one less thing to worry about if you have a battery that is maintenance-free.
Check for a Great Warranty
If you want to be fully satisfied with your purchase, make sure that the battery you buy also comes with a good warranty.Remember that manufacturer guarantees can vary in length, so you'll want to find a battery that offers as long of a warranty as possible. Some warranties may only last 6 months, while others may last for 36 months or more.If you have problems with the battery, you'll be covered and can get help from the manufacturer.
Using These Tips to Find a Reliable Motorcycle Battery
If you need to buy a motorcycle battery, make sure that you think carefully about your choice. Be sure to understand the battery types and power ratings and ensure that the battery that you buy is compatible with your bike.Need to purchase a reliable motorcycle battery? Check out our selection of maintenance-free motorcycle batteries now.