If you are reading this article your motorcycle won't start, and you can't ride for at least a few hours and that makes me sad for you. But hopefully we can get you started quickly. Charging a motorcycle battery is not difficult; but there are some things you can do to make sure you are successful. Let's get to work!
Motorcycle batteries - general information:
Do not hesitate to consult our guide on motorcycle batteries to learn about this essential component in each motorcycle. We discuss in this article the different types of motorcycle batteries that exist, how they work and buying advice if you want to replace your motorcycle batteries.
Before recharging your motorcycle's battery, determine its type
Small batteries, like the one on your motorcycle, do not cope well with being discharged. They really don't like to be unloaded and left like this for a while. Sometimes batteries can be brought back from the dead, but while they can be saved, permanent and irreparable damage has been caused by the discharge and subsequent rapid charge that you are likely to attempt. Expect to have to buy a new battery, and if yours can be saved, consider it a serendipity.
Lead-acid batteries, AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries and gel batteries can all be charged in the conventional way. Lithium-based batteries (lithium ion, lith-iron, lithium phosphate, etc.) require special chargers depending on the manufacturer, which brings us to the next step.
Determine the type of charger you need
There are several types of battery chargers. The simplest type is the trickle charger, which converts AC current coming from your wall into DC current and blindly feeds it into your battery until it's turned off. Note that this type of charger should be monitored throughout the charging process. This expression is no longer very fashionable and you can also see so-called "fully manual" chargers.
“Float loaders” are the next type of loader. Modern floating chargers charge a battery and then turn on and off automatically to keep the battery charge rate at the optimum charge level. (If you don't own and use one, that's probably a big part of why your battery died. A Battery Tender Junior is much cheaper than a new battery in most cases. . I say it like that).
Float charger available on Amazon
Another type of charger is the smart charger, which monitors the progress of the battery charge. Normally, it charges at different speeds to minimize damage to the battery. These chargers often feature a “desulfation” mode, which is typically used to remove sulfur from the lead plates inside the battery. This is usually done using varying voltages and electrical "pulses".
Smart charger available on Amazon
Remove the battery
Removing the battery from a motorcycle is a difficult task. You will see a lot of people plugging a battery charger with the battery into the motorcycle, but I recommend against doing so for several reasons.
First, by removing the battery, you isolate your electrical system. A faulty battery is a minor problem. A blown fuse, a blown wiring harness, or a blown ECU is not. A good electrical tip is all it takes to make this a reality. If the battery is outside the motorcycle, it is not affected by variations in the electrical network.
Removing the battery is also a good idea because the temperature of a battery changes when it is charged. A chemical reaction takes place inside the battery, and this reaction is exothermic: it gives off heat! The solution inside a battery can even boil and melt the battery case under extreme circumstances. The acid that comes out in the form of bubbles wreaks havoc on paint, metal and rubber - almost anything on a motorcycle can be badly damaged by sulfuric acid.
If you are considering the float loader that we talked about earlier, the situation is different. The amount of electricity required to maintain a battery is much less than that required to charge it while it is kaput. In this case, it is quite possible to use the charging cable of your floating charger when it is in the motorcycle.
If you are not sure how to remove your battery, we have an article on how can you recharge a motorcycle battery without charger.
Recharge your motorcycle battery
If your motorcycle is in the garage, take it out or ventilate your workspace. Charging a battery gives off hydrogen, which is super flammable. Overloading, if any, will produce hydrogen sulfide, which is very bad for your health.
Then attach the charger to the terminals. The order is not important. Check three times that they are correctly plugged in! Some new chargers can 'recognize' a poor attachment, but many cannot. If you plug in the charger by connecting it to the wrong terminals, you may break things. Make sure the charger wires are firmly attached to the battery. While electricity can form an “arc” between the terminal and a connected wire, the arcs can damage the terminal and the wires. (They will look like they have solder spatter).
Once you are sure it is properly attached, plug in the charger. If you are using a mute charger, watch this baby and test it every now and then while it is charging. (Pick up the charger to test it properly.) If you are using a smart or floating charger, let it do its job for a few hours.
Mute charger available on Amazon
If it is still “bad”, do not be tempted to start the motorcycle and run it.
It worked well 40 years ago, but modern motorcycles have gas pumps, injectors, computers, sensors… all kinds of delicate electrical equipment. Trying to run them with a faulty battery puts them at risk, damages your charging system and puts you at risk of outage no one knows where. And if you thought a new battery was expensive, see what your mechanic charges to replace your stator and voltage rectifier.
Reinstall the battery
Once your charger tells you you're good to go, unplug it. Reinstall the battery and secure the brackets. Then attach the positive cable, then the negative. (Remember, order is important!)
Our recommended products for recharging a motorcycle battery:
To conclude, here are some recommended products on Amazon:
