Motorcycle Batteries

No matter whether you own an old or a new motorcycle, you will not crank it up without a battery. It’s one of the most overlooked yet critical parts of a bike, which, in the event of a failure, makes the vehicle unable to run. Along with its primary function to provide electrical power activating the engine, a motorcycle battery also acts as a voltage stabilizer for your bike’s charging system and supplies additional current when the alternator can’t keep up with the electrical demand. It also powers all the electrical systems of your bike that continue to operate when you shut off the engine.

What is a battery? How does it work? In a word, it is an energy converter that transforms chemical energy into electricity. The motorcycle batteries can be classified as 12V and 6V ones according to the amount of current they provide. While most modern-day bike batteries are 12V units, you may still find their 6V counterparts designed for older model motorcycles. Both types of batteries feature a case divided into cells, and each cell emits just over 2 volts. A typical 12V battery has 6 cells with the total voltage of about 12,6V, while most 6V units feature only 3 cells.

When shopping for a battery for your iron horse, most likely you’ll need to choose between two basic battery types, namely conventional and absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries. Both operate the same way and have a similar construction, yet are made with different materials to produce electricity. Conventional and AGM motorcycle batteries contain groups of positively and negatively charged plates insulated from each other with a permeable, non-conductive separator providing the transfer of ions. The bigger the size and the greater the number of plates in a cell are, the more current and energy capacity a battery has, and therefore, more power it can deliver.

Conventional batteries are the most common type of motorcycle batteries found on the market today. Such batteries are typically more budget-friendly than any of their counterparts. They contain a certain amount of liquid electrolyte that needs to be measured from time to time to ensure efficient performance of the battery. When properly maintained, these batteries can serve reliably for a rather long time. Yet, it should be considered that due to the huge amount of water contained in the electrolyte, extreme temperatures may have a great effect on the life a conventional battery, causing the electrolyte to evaporate or freeze, which may lead to the failure of the battery.

Unlike the conventional battery, the AGM one does not contain free electrolyte. It is maintained in glass mat and is filled only once when the battery is made. This technology allows for manufacturing more compact units with a greater power output and provides plenty of benefits over traditional batteries. AGM batteries do not require vent tubes to maintain a safe pressure during the charging process and are not vulnerable to freezing or evaporating under extreme temperatures. AGM batteries are maintenance-free and will never spill electrolyte if get damaged, which makes them an ideal solution for just about any application.