Automotive batteries come in many shapes and sizes, but your motorcycle requires a particular type to run properly. If this essential equipment dies, you will want to know how to charge a motorcycle battery.
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Common Causes of Motorcycle Battery Failure
The majority of battery failure is related to one of these causes:
By taking care of your bike, you won’t have to worry about how to charge a dead motorcycle battery.
Ways of Charging a Motorcycle Battery
Using Motorcycle Battery Charger
With the best motorcycle battery charger, you can top off the levels anytime. It’s simple to learn how to hook up a battery charger to a motorcycle. Simply attach the positive and negative cable to the appropriate terminal and turn on the unit. You just need to make sure you have the right type of battery charger for your equipment.
Jumper Cables
You can also learn how to charge a motorcycle battery without a charger, as long as you have jumper cables. While there are portable jump starters on the market, many drivers still carry these essential cables in their vehicles. If you find someone with a set of jumper cables, they can use their car or motorcycle to get the battery going again.
Push Starting the Motorcycle
You can also learn how to charge a gel cell motorcycle battery by push-starting the bike. Here are the steps to follow.
- 1Turn on the ignition.
- 2Put the bike in second gear.
- 3Have someone push the bike until it reaches five mph.
- 4Once you reach speed, drop the clutch.
- 5Give it some gas and keep the RPMs up.
- 6Ride the bike for at least thirty minutes.
If you don’t have someone to push you, it’s possible to do this while going downhill instead.
Helpful Tips for Recharging Your Motorcycle Battery
To keep your battery charged, you want to follow these simple maintenance tips.
Overcharging a Motorcycle Battery
It’s possible to overcharge the motorcycle battery. If this occurs, the electrolyte can boil, causing the battery to overheat. In the most extreme cases, it could cause the battery to blow up.
Ideally, you don’t want to charge the battery more than one-tenth of its rating in amp hours. Many battery chargers shut off automatically to prevent this.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
What happens to a motorcycle battery if not used for a long time?
Over time, the motorcycle battery will lose its charge and die, unless you have it receiving a trickle charge. To learn how to trickle charge a motorcycle battery, simply follow the instructions with your equipment.
Can a completely dead motorcycle battery be recharged?
Yes, you can use a jump starter, jumper cables with another vehicle, or try the push start method.
Do I need to disconnect my motorcycle battery before charging?
Generally, it’s best to disconnect the battery before charging it, just to add another level of safety.
How long does it take to charge a motorcycle battery with a charger?
It depends on the power offered by the charger and how dead the motorcycle battery is. If you want to know how long to charge a motorcycle battery at 10 amps, you are looking at anywhere between three and 12 hours.
What amp should I charge my motorcycle battery at?
Don’t charge the battery at more than a tenth of an amp rating in amp hours. For example, if you have a 20-amp battery, you wouldn’t want to charge it more than two amps during a ten-hour period.
How often should I charge a motorcycle battery?
Most batteries require a full charge at least once a month to remain in good working order.
When do I need to replace my motorcycle battery?
It’s ideal to replace your motorcycle battery as soon as it stops holding a charge. You can perform a load test to see when it is failing.
Are there different ways of charging different types of motorcycle battery?
As you look at how to charge a 6V motorcycle battery, you will see that the methods are the same as with a 12V battery. The only difference is the type of charger you might use.
Can I use a car battery charger on a motorcycle?
It’s best to use a motorcycle battery charger with your bike. However, some car chargers will also work, just check the compatibility.
Conclusion
If you are just learning how to charge a motorcycle battery for the first time, we hope you found the answers you needed. With all of the options listed above, there’s no reason to have a dead battery again.