Nothing sounds worse than a click... annnnnnd silence. OK, maybe the rrr, rrr, rrr, sound of the engine trying its best but failing to turn over.
All because of a dead or dying battery.
This happens sometimes after leaving the ignition on but probably more often when a bike sits for long periods of time, i.e. cold weather months, and a trickle charger was not used to keep the battery charged. So, when trying to start your motorcycle and the dreaded sound of a dead battery manifests, you need to charge it.
Before you grab jumper cables and cozy your motorcycle alongside your car, knowing how to properly charge your motorcycle battery saves you time, money, and a bit of frustration. Read on for steps to charging a motorcycle battery. First, we cover the types of batteries, tools needed, proper safety precautions, and the charging process itself.
Motorcycle Battery Types
Several motorcycle batteries exist all of which we sell at MotoSport. Time for a new battery or an upgrade? Consider one of these before trying to recharge your old one. The most common types:
1. Lead-Acid Batteries: Traditional batteries found in many motorcycles. Affordable and reliable but require regular maintenance like checking the electrolyte levels.
2. AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) Batteries: A type of sealed, maintenance free lead-acid battery. Expect to pay more but enjoy better performance and longevity.
3. Lithium-Ion Batteries: These lightweight batteries have a longer lifespan compared to the above two lead-acid batteries. Maintenance-free but more expensive.
Tools for Charging a Motorcycle Battery
To charge your motorcycle battery, get yourself the following:
- A battery charger compatible with your battery type. (We sell lots. Click the link!)
- Jumper Cables - If you have a 12-volt motorcycle battery you can use the jumper cables in the trunk of your car and the car battery just as you would jumping from car to car. Don't try this method for the glass mat or lithium-ion batteries.
- A multimeter (optional, for checking the battery voltage)
- Battery terminal cleaner or a wire brush
Safety Precautions
If you have much experience driving then you probably have experience jumping a dead car battery and you likely did so without much safety precautions. Indeed, batteries contain hazardous chemicals and can produce explosive gases. Therefore, consider these suggestions, just in case...
1. Wear Protective Gear: Wear safety gloves and goggles to protect yourself from acid spills and sparks.
2. Work in a Ventilated Area: Charge the battery in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling harmful gases.
3. Avoid Open Flames: Keep the charging area free from open flames and sparks, as batteries can emit flammable gases. i.e. don't smoke when charging the battery.
How to Charge a Motorcycle Battery With a Charger
Follow these steps to charge your motorcycle battery when using a battery tender or charger:
1. Clean the Terminals: Use a battery terminal cleaner or a wire brush to clean any corrosion or dirt from the battery terminals. This ensures a good connection between the battery and the charger.
2. Check the Battery Voltage: Use a multimeter to check the battery voltage. A fully charged lead-acid battery should read around 12.6 to 12.8 volts, while a lithium-ion battery should read around 13.3 to 13.4 volts. A much lower reading indicates a deeply discharged battery and requires a slow or trickle charge.
3. Connect the Charger: Connect the battery charger/tender to the battery terminals or the tender SAE plug if installed. USE A COMPTIBLE CHARGER! Don't use regular jumper cables for lithium-ion batteries.
4. Set the Charger: Set the charger to the appropriate voltage and current settings. For most motorcycle batteries, use a charging rate of 1-2 amps. Higher charging rates can damage the battery.
5. Monitor the Charging Process: Turn on the charger and monitor the charging process. Most modern chargers have indicators to show the charging status. For lead-acid batteries, charging can take several hours to overnight. Lithium-ion batteries typically charge faster.
6. Check the Battery Voltage Again: Once the charger indicates that the battery is fully charged, use the multimeter to check the voltage again. Ensure it reads within the fully charged range for your battery type.
7. Disconnect the Charger: Turn off the charger/tender and disconnect it from the battery. Reconnect the battery to the motorcycle, starting with the positive terminal and then the negative terminal.
8. Test the Battery: Start your motorcycle to ensure the battery functions properly. If the bike starts easily and the electrical systems work correctly, you have successfully charged the battery.
How to Charge a Motorcycle Battery With a Car
Only use this process when charging a 12-volt battery to a 12-volt battery and you need a running motorcycle sooner than later. Use the same process as you probably have when jump starting from car to car.
1. Turn Off Car and Motorcycle
2. Connect Jumper Cable Positive Terminals: Attach one end of the red (positive) jumper cable to the positive terminal of the dead motorcycle battery, first, then connect the other end of the red cable to the positive terminal of the donor battery.
3. Connect Jumper Cable Negative Terminals: Attach one end of the black (negative) jumper cable to the negative terminal of the donor or car battery. Connect the other end of the black cable to a metal part of the motorcycle's frame (away from the battery) to ground it.
4. Start the Car: Let it run for a few minutes to ensure transfer of charge to the dead battery.
5. Start the Motorcycle: Try to start the motorcycle. If it doesn't start immediately, wait a few more minutes and try again.
6. Disconnect Cables: Once running, carefully disconnect the cables in the reverse order: first the black cable from the motorcycle, then the black cable from the donor vehicle, followed by the red cable from the donor vehicle, and finally the red cable from the motorcycle.
7. Let the Motorcycle Run: Go for a ride! Instead of idling, ride the bike and ramp up the RPMs for a faster charge. Let the motorcycle run for at least 15-30 minutes to ensure the battery gets a good charge.
A battery box or other type of portable power station eliminates the need for battery to battery charging and makes for an easier quick charge of your dead motorcycle battery. MotoSport sells several types of portable power supplies and power stations that revive dead batteries for electronics, motorcycles, cars and trucks.
How Long Does it Take to Charge a Motorcycle Battery
As you can see, charging a motorcycle battery doesn't require too much effort. However, don't expect to ride right away when using a trickle charger as the process takes several hours to even a day or two with a safe, more controlled charge that also helps extends battery life. If you need the motorcycle now, then try the traditional jumper cable route as long as you have a 12-volt battery.
Avoid the hassle and inconvenience of a dead battery by using a trickle charger/battery tender during the off-season that maintains battery charge when not riding. Using a trickle charger when not riding extends the life of your motorcycle battery and when you're ready to ride, the battery is ready to start.