A true rider knows his motorcycle battery well. After all, it’s the part of the bike that allows the engine to start. A typical 12-volt motorcycle battery is encased in plastic and contains six cells. Each cell has a set of negative and positive plates immersed in electrolyte, a sulfuric acid solution. The cells combine to generate about 12.5 volts of electricity.
Most motorcycle batteries are the same despite their different names. For example, a battery may be labeled GTX9-BS or YX9-BS. The first letters usually refer to the manufacturer’s trademark. Many sealed, gel-filled and lead-acid motorcycle battery manufacturers use this system of labeling. However, there are also some companies, like WestCo and Yuasa, that do not use this system.
The lifespan of motorcycle batteries is about three years. They do not last as long as car batteries because they are smaller, which means they have less number of lead plates. A fully charged 12-volt motorcycle battery should have about 12.5 to 13.5 volts, while a 6-volt battery should have 6.5 to 7.2 volts. You can check your battery’s charge using a volt meter.
Motorcycle batteries need a top up charge so they can be used optimally. If you don’t top up a motorcycle battery, its efficiency will only be 80%. To top up the battery, use distilled water. Water evaporates during the chemical reaction inside the battery and the acid is left behind. If the mixture becomes too unbalanced, the acid gets stronger and corrodes the battery’s internal parts. This can cause the battery to lose its power. Distilled water tops up a battery and corrects the mixture’s balance.
Finally, never charge a motorcycle battery with a car battery charger. It cannot take the high voltage of electricity because of its small size. Charging it with a car battery charger can result to permanent damage. Always ask an expert first before topping up or charging your motorcycle battery.