Best Motorcycle Battery for 2018-2019: Top 9 To Choose From + Reviews & Guide

Choosing the Best Motorcycle Battery. Buyer' Guide

Let’s try to reveal the key points that may be required when choosing and maintaining the best motorcycle battery. A rechargeable device provides electric shocks to all consumers at the time the motorcycle engine does not work and also allows the engine to be started with a starter. Also, the battery is necessary for the normal operation of the electric consumers of the motorcycle at the time of low engine speeds. So, what should you look for?

Battery Size

Dimensions of the best motorcycle battery for your bike must be approached under the place for its installation. Only in this case you can connect the terminals and secure the product well. The specificity of motorcycle batteries is that they are more exposed to vibration and weather conditions than in the case of car batteries. This should be taken into account, although all the popular manufacturers perform the motorcycle battery housings accordingly. In any case, the accumulator housing for the motorcycle must be sealed to prevent electrolyte leakage. It is necessary that the device is protected from vibration and overturning.

Don’t forget to measure the parameters of the (used to be) best battery you need to replace. The results of this measuring should be taken into consideration in order to find a right match. There are cases when the new accumulator looks smaller, but it can work great with your bike. Usually, such motorcycle batteries are lightweight and it is an advantage.

Types of the Best Motorcycle Batteries

As for the types of the best batteries for motorcycles, there are three main groups of them –WET, AGM and Gel. The vast majority of motorcycle batteries have a nominal voltage of 12 volts. Let’s discuss all these types in more details.

Wet Motorcycle Batteries

These are standard batteries with lead acid electrolyte. They are the most affordable models. The average lifetime is about 3-5 years. They have all the same drawbacks that the same batteries for cars. The biker will need to check the electrolyte level very often and will need to top up it if necessary. In addition, you should avoid absolute discharges and charge the accumulator when it is needed. If you do not do these preventive measures, then the accumulator life will be significantly reduced.

Absorbent Glass Mat Motorcycle Batteries

AGM batteries for motorcycles are more expensive than the first group, but they are more reliable and have higher and stable electrical characteristics. In AGM batteries, the electrolyte is impregnated with fibreglass, which surrounds the lead plates. The plus is that the electrolyte doesn’t boil away and there is no need to refill it. In addition, this best motorcycle battery won’t freeze in the cold weather. A high starting electric current is another plus. The life of such batteries is about 5-10 years. The disadvantages are the sensitivity to voltage surges in the onboard network and the need for a top-quality charger.

Gel Motorcycle Batteries

Gel batteries are the most advanced and expensive among all these three types. Such motorcycle batteries for sale do not require any maintenance. Even if the body of such engine batteries is damaged, the electrolyte does not leak out. The electrolyte is sulfuric acid bound to the gel with a substance containing silicon. The life of such batteries is 600-800 charge-discharge cycles, which corresponds to 10-12 years of service. Like AGM batteries, they need to be charged with a special charger. It is also worth remembering that periodic recharging may be required for these batteries. So, don’t forget to check the voltage on a regular basis.

To sum it up, everything depends on your financial capabilities. If you have a good budget then it would be better to purchase AGM or Gel motorcycle accumulator. Also, it is possible to choose a lithium ion motorcycle battery.

CCA

Cold cranking amps, also known as CCA, are also important while choosing the best motorcycle battery. This strange word combination refers to the sheer accumulator power. The variant with a higher CCA would be the best to consider. Usually, it can be affected by the type of a battery and some internal components.

In case if you are not aware of required CCA, check the specifications. Usually, the service manual to your motorcycle contains this information.

If you live somewhere with cold winters, choose the best motorcycle battery with the highest index of CCA. In this case, you will be able to start the engine.

Amp and Battery Voltage

Usually, the accumulator that has 12 amp hours will be able to produce 1 amp within 12 hours if we are talking about 12-volt devices. The variants with 6 amp will also produce 1 amp for 6 hours of work accordingly.

You need to decide concerning the number of amp per hour. This choice will fully depend on the amp the motorcycle pulls off and on how it charges the device. If you have some accessories, you will need to ask the dealer to advise the best amp for you.

As for the voltage, most motorcycles are 12-volt. Batteries for low-power scooters can be rated at 6 volts.

Extras

Some top-quality devices may have extra features that may seem attractive. They are not obligatory but would serve as a bonus. Among these features, there are voltage alarms, LED display and even a discharge indicator.