Check These Signs To Know When To Buy A New Motorcycle Battery

Motorcycle batteries are highly crucial in having smooth driving experience with your vehicle. It provides the power your vehicle needs to start up all the electrical components inside as well as the engine. So the moment the battery of your motorcycle dies, you obviously can’t use your vehicle, unless you buy a new battery. This is why it’s important to keep track of your motorcycle battery to know exactly what you need to buy when you have to replace it.

If you aren't sure when to replace your motorcycle battery, below are some signs you should consider and convince you to buy a new one.

Starting problems

On modern bikes, some conditions disallow the motorcycle to start if, for example, you haven’t pulled the clutch in or the side stand isn’t up. You should check for the key and if it is in the ignition position. These small details can mimic more significant problems with your bike, like a dead battery. If your engine is turning over at the appropriate speed when you twist the key, then you probably don’t have a battery problem. But if you discovered that it’s a cranking problem, then it may be due to a battery issue.

Headlights and horn

A quick way to check your small motorcycle battery is to turn your key on and look at the bike's headlight. In case you see your beam dim and flickering, then a battery issue may be at fault. Additionally, if you tap your horn and it doesn't seem to have as much volume as it used to, or if it doesn't make any noise, this is another indicator that your battery needs to be replaced.

Uncertain millimetre readings

A millimetre measures different electrical parameters, such as current, voltage or resistance, and motorcycle owners should own one. So you can utilise this millimetre to check on your battery reading every now and then. If you get readings below 12volts, something is probably wrong with your battery, as 12volts signifies perfectly functional motorcycle batteries.

Age

Age affects the condition of your small motorcycle battery. The older it gets, the more likely it would fail. To this effect, the average lifespan of standard motorcycles battery is four years. After this, your battery can start exhibiting signs of failure, such as fast discharge or incomplete recharge, among others. Sometimes, these can begin to occur even before the four-year deadline. While a good battery can last longer, this can still reach it’s the end of the operation. Therefore, you should consider its age, then decide whether it’s still reliable or need some replacement already.

Battery engages but doesn't start the motor

There are times when you'll turn the ignition switch and hear the battery activate but will not hear the motor crank over. Issues with the battery are sometimes mechanical in nature. If this is the case, the issue may be due to the gears connected to the flywheel. Either the gear has stripped or become dislodged against the flywheel. In either case, the engine won't turn over and will require new motorcycle batteries.

Smell or smoke when starting the motor

Most of the time, the battery will heat up due to maximised usage or difficult road trip activities. If this occurs, you'll most likely see or smell smoke coming from underneath the engine. This problem may be caused by a short circuit, blown a fuse, or a problem with the battery itself. In any case, these mean you have to replace it with a new motorcycle battery.

Sporadic starting issues

If there’s some dirty and loose wiring in the battery, it’s likely that the motorbike would start irregularly and can be hard to repair. It could also be caused by a damaged or failing electrical component. Even if starting problems only happen occasionally, you should get your battery inspected or even replaced to avoid being stuck in an unfamiliar area.

Now that you have reached the end of this article, it would be easier for you to check whether your motorcycle battery needs to be replaced or just needs servicing. You surely don’t want to have your ride adding to your worries and even get stranded in an unsafe place due to a failing battery. Hence, when you notice that your battery needs a new one, make sure to find the best motorcycle battery shop online to purchase from. This would guarantee you quality and efficiency.

I’m Theodore White, a car enthusiast. I love everything about automobiles, from car racing to collecting luxury toy car models.