How to Charge a Motorcycle Battery for the First Time – Introduction and Methods

As a motorcycle owner, you are bound to run into problems with your machine. This can be a huge inconvenience when you wake up in the morning with a dead battery. 

Starting a motorbike with a dead battery is much harder than doing the same with a car. Don't panic, though. You can still charge the battery and get on with your business. That should give you some time to get a replacement.

Read this article to find out more information.

How to Charge a Dead Motorcycle Battery

When you buy a new motorcycle battery, it's recommended that you charge it first. This will keep the battery operating with optimum performance.

A new battery can do so much and last much longer, even when running electronics. But as time goes by, your battery starts losing its capacity.

Even before reaching its lifespan, a charged motorcycle battery will not work forever until it's recharged. But do you know what to do when your battery demands more juice? Most people don't know this.

Here are some methods you can use to charge a dead motorcycle battery:

Using a Battery Charger

The first and most common method would be connecting the battery to a charger. Your owner's manual should come with instructions on everything about your bike. Use this to locate the battery and read how to take it out safely.

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Once the battery is out, carefully examine it and understand the type. This information should be in the owner's manual if not indicated on the battery. It could be lead acid, absorbed glass mat (AGM), gel, or lithium-ion battery.

You need to know the battery type in order to pick the right charger. Before connecting to a charger, check to ensure the battery has no leakages.

You can either use a normal charger or a smart charger. We recommend using a smart charger if you are not sure about the battery type and its specifications. Your battery should be fully charged within a few minutes.

Jumpstarting the Battery

If a charger is not the best option, consider using jumper leads. For this method, you will need a battery from another vehicle or motorcycle (the donor battery). You can then connect using the jumper cables to draw enough power to start your motorbike.

This is one method you can use when you are stranded on the road with nowhere to get a charger. All you need are those jumper cables in most cars today.

Here are steps to follow:

Locate the battery on your bike and thoroughly clean the terminals. You need this to be clean because it connects the power directly from the donor, and any dirt could cause serious interference.

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Start the engine of the donor car and keep it running.

Connect the donor vehicle's negative terminal to the dead battery's negative.

Connect the positive terminals, starting from the live battery.

Start the engine of our bike and let it run for a few minutes before disconnecting from the donor vehicle.

Jumpstarting a dead battery does not require any special knowledge. However, following the correct connection procedure is important to avoid damaging battery cells.

Push the Motorcycle to Start

Another easy method to charge a motorbike battery is by pushing it to start. However, ensure your battery is not faulty.

A motorbike can fail to start due to a number of reasons. So, ensure you check the ignition, check the fuel, ensure the bike is not in gear, and check the kickstand or any other feature that could be preventing an ignition. If none of these components are faulty, your battery has an issue.

You can push your motorbike to a steep slope. Engage the first gear, pull the clutch in and then let it roll down. When it peaks some speed, realize the clutch while accelerating at the same time.

Be careful not to accelerate too much as it can cause you to fall down. Once the bike ignites, let the engine run for some time until your battery is fully charged.

How Long to Idle Motorcycle to Charge Battery

There is a lot of information concerning charging a motorbike battery in idling mode. It's recommended that you run your bike for a few kilometers to charge it. However, the idling mode is still a great option. It might not happen as fast as you would, but it's still possible.

Here is what to do:

Start the bike. If the battery is dead, consider the methods we have discussed above to get it running again. Pick a more convenient method.

?Let the engine run for some time. Once the engine starts, it will not automatically charge the battery. It's good to let it run for a few minutes.??

If the battery and other parts are performing well, it should take 12 to 18 minutes to get the battery fully charged. That is for a 3Ah battery and an alternator that gives 13Amp. If you remove the headlights and overall wiring, your battery you have 25Amp within that period when idling.

If, by any chance, it takes longer, your battery could have more issues and perhaps require replacing. And if the battery does not charge at all, there could be an underlying issue, apart from a damaged battery.

How Often to Charge Motorcycle Battery?

Motorcycles use either lead acid, AGM, GEL, or Li-ion batteries. For lead acid batteries, ensure they are always fully charged, and then recharge after every 30 days or so.

Note, however, that lead acid batteries are being faced out and replaced by AGM and Gel. Your bike probably has one of these. Even though they are better than lead acid both in performance and durability, proper maintenance is still required.

Most people use motorcycles for seasonal rides and races only. You should charge the battery at least once every month when not in use.

We recommend investing in a smart charger for this. It will always keep your battery safe when you might need it.