The Ultimate Guide to Replacing Your Motorcycle Battery in Asia

The global motorcycle market in 2020 was $278 billion, with an increase in demand since the COVID-19 pandemic, with predictions that it will grow to $4885.67 by 2028.If you have either recently acquired a motorcycle or you already own one and want to ensure your vehicle is in excellent condition, keep reading.Keeping your motorcycle fit for practical and adventurous travel is essential to ensure your vehicle's fit for purpose. One of the most important aspects is making sure your motorcycle battery isn't worn off and needs replacing.That said, here’s our ultimate guide to replacing your motorcycle battery in Asia if that is the case.But first:

How Do I Know If My Battery Needs Replacing?

Several signs will tell you that your motorcycle battery needs replacing. These include:Built-up sulfation: Sulfation is the build-up of lead sulfate crystals on the surface of the battery's lead plates. This part of the battery is responsible for carrying the voltage to the rest of the bike.Sulfation occurs when a battery is left without full charge or under high temperatures for long periods. Symptoms of built-up sulfation include:

• Loss of starting power
• Longer charging times
• Increased heat build-up
• Shorter battery life

Lastly, an inability to hold a battery charge is another side-effect worth looking out for.

A Deformed Battery

It is common to see swelling for sealed lead batteries such as gel and AGM batteries because they are recombinant batteries.This means they allow gasses to be reabsorbed during the chemical process within the battery to generate voltage. When this happens, the cell plates expand.Due to the limited space inside the battery, sometimes the cells will put pressure on the battery's walls, resulting in the swollen physique of the battery.Deformed batteries usually happen as a result of overcharging. Overcharging is often the result of incorrect battery chargers. Signs of a deformed battery will be obvious:Firstly, physical bloating or swelling of the battery and the inability to hold a battery charge.

Voltage Drop

This happens when there's a decrease in current flowing through the electric circuit of the bike. This is usually caused by the addition of resistance between the circuit and the battery.Voltage drop can be an indication that your battery terminals have corroded. It will look like a blue or green discharge over your terminals caused when the gas inside the battery reacts with the battery's terminals.This can happen when the water level in your battery is low. Symptoms of voltage drop include:

• • Dimming headlights
  • Terminal cables become excessively hot
  • Fading motorcycle horn
  • Inability to hold a battery charge

Even with the best care, the point will come where you will start to notice the above and other pointers that tell you it’s time for a new motorcycle battery.

First Steps

In the first instance, you must check your battery to see if it needs replacing. This is called load testing, which measures the amperes generated by a battery.Once you've tested your battery, identified some or all of the pointers mentioned above, and know you need a new one, it’s important to note that not all motorcycle batteries are the same.You must buy the correct battery for your motorcycle constructed for your bike and give you the best performance. There are several different things you need to bear in mind before choosing your battery, including:

• Cold-cranking: the number of amps a battery can support at 0 degrees Fahrenheit
• Lithium battery: the lightest but most expensive
• Conventional battery: also known as a lead acid battery
• Gel battery
• AGM (absorbent glass mat) battery

If you’re new to motorcycles, you may not want to go for a gel battery as these are mainly used for deep cycle uses. In this instance, you might want to opt for an AGM battery, reliable and long-lasting.As far as lithium batteries are concerned, they have cutting-edge engineering, hold a full charge over long periods, and have maintenance-free dry cells.

Our Motorcycle Batteries

The RB motorcycle batteries are called MF motorcycle batteries. They are tailored for motorcycles and have superior qualities, including high-quality construction and longevity.They have high charging efficiency and are protected against leaks thanks to their specially designed safety cover. Moreover, thanks to its low self-discharge technology, the battery life is preserved even when not in use.

Best Practice for Battery Maintenance

Once you have a battery, we recommend that to get the best use out of your battery, that you do the following:

• Regularly check your battery water levels and top up with distilled water.
• Ensure you have the correct type of battery charger and that it's high quality - this will save you money in the long run.
• Make sure you don’t under or overcharge your battery. For lead and AGM batteries, you can use a multimeter to check the voltage on your battery. A good rule for motorcycles batteries is:
  • Fully recharging the battery after using it and before storing; this is especially true if you intend to store the motorcycle for an extended period without use to prevent undercharging issues.
  • Charge your battery after each discharge at 50 percent of its total capacity or, better yet, charge your battery over a longer period to prevent overcharging issues.

Before using any of these methods, check which battery you have to ensure you carry out the correct maintenance.

Are You Ready to Replace Your Motorcycle Battery?

With these tips in mind, if you think you need to replace your motorcycle battery, we supply some of the best quality motorcycle batteries on the market.So if you're in Asia and need a long-lasting, high-quality 12v motorcycle battery or other battery types we can deliver what you need. So, why not check out our battery products today!