Motorcycle batteries vary by brand. Choosing motorcycle batteries involves several important factors. You need to know a good bit about your bike in order to purchase a motorcycle battery.

Motorcycle batteries vary by engine size on any particular motorcycle. Motorcycle engines range in size and are measure by cc. A small engine could be a 260cc for example, where as a larger engine size can be 1200cc or greater. The higher the number, the more powerful the engine.

Motorcycle batteries are specifically designed for specific brands. If you ride a BMW motorcycle, you will purchase a different motorcycle battery than if you rode a Harley-Davidson.

Motorcycle batteries can be purchased in several different ways. Standard type is a spillable battery that requires dry shipment. This means that the battery needs to have acid added to it. The acid must be purchased locally in order to activate the battery. The acid is called electrolyte, which is sulfuric acid, diluted by water. This must be added only to a dry shipped battery.

Normally, acid is not needed to be added to a battery. Once a battery is initially filled with acid, only approved "distilled" water should be added.

Another way batteries can be purchased is sealed maintenance free or Sealed MF.

Sealed MF is a sealed maintenance free battery that comes ready to install and is nonspillable. Other options when purchasing motorcycles batteries include high performance, AGM types, and Odyssey. All motorcycle batteries are lead acid batteries.

These are completely recyclable and should never be thrown away with regular waste. Motorcycle batteries are easy to check charge with a voltmeter. If you notice that your battery is always flat, then you probably have a problem in your charging system.

Always make sure that you use a proper "trickle" charger, so that you do not over charge the battery. This can cause a shortened life to the battery and could even cause an explosion.

Charles Baldwin
20 October 2009

Charles Baldwin has been a biking enthusiast for over 50 years. He has been a motorcycle mechanic, racer and builder of custom motorcycles. He has traveled extensively by motorcycle, and if he recommends it, then you can believe that he has been there, done that, and got the T shirt!

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