There are many people who own motorcycles and love riding them but like everything else there is considerable maintenance required if you want the motorcycle to stay in good condition. There are many things on a bike that are beyond most owners, pulling pistons should be left to the pros but changing oil, sparkplugs and air filters is something that most capable weekend mechanics can deal with.
Taking care of the battery is one of those things that non-mechanics should be able to do. By maintaining the battery you will certainly prolong the life and less money will be spent on buying replacement motorcycle batteries. Every motorcycle owner knows that the battery is needed to start it as well as run the lights and the ignition system. Needless to say a dead battery is a problem.
Motorcycle batteries should last three years minimum; many will last five years when they are cared for. If you don’t look after the battery you may end up buying a replacement when you get the bike ready for the summer riding season. Let’s have a look at ways of extending the life of a battery.
Electrolyte: Motorcycle batteries are lead acid type, the fluid in the battery is called the electrolyte and it needs periodic topping up. When you take the cap off the battery cells you will see there are minimum and maximum fill lines. All that has to be done is to ensure that the electrolyte is filled to the maximum; this is done with the addition of distilled water.
The main reason that batteries fail is lack of use. When a motorcycle is left for some time without being used, often the battery dies and replacement motorcycle batteries must be installed. Knowing this, if you live in a climate which stops you from riding in the winter or you do not plan on riding for any extended period of time, take the battery out and store it properly.
Storage: If you do have to store the battery for any length of time make sure that you store somewhere where the temperature is above freezing. Do not store the battery on a concrete floor or metal surface as it will accelerate the discharge cycle. Store the battery on a piece of wood or thick piece of cardboard just as long as it is non-conductive.
Even though it may be set on the proper surface, it should be charged. A battery when in use constantly charges and discharges, when it is not in use on the motorcycle it will discharge a little every day. The best solution is to keep the battery on a charger that continuously monitors the state of charge, charging it only when it needs it.
With a little bit of thought and preventative maintenance you can avoid buying replacement motorcycle batteries every riding season. Visit Business Name for more information.
