By Amy Williams
If you are a motorcycle owner, chances are you are going to be in the market for a motorcycle battery within a few years of purchasing your cycle. You may be overwhelmed by the choices you have in batteries and the different types and price ranges offered. A good thing to remember is that you tend to get what you pay for, no matter what the item. This is true of motorcycle batteries as well. On the other hand, you should be able to find reasonable prices on the Internet where you can purchase a battery that will be delivered to your home within a few days. You will want to make sure that you purchase one that yields consistent performance from a company that offers a guarantee on the battery.
A good choice in motorcycle batteries is the type called maintenance free batteries which arrive on your doorstep fully charged and ready to install. They may be gel cell, dry cell, AGM, or valve regulated. No matter which of these you choose, they all use basically the same technology to produce a battery that requires very little effort to maintain. The cost of these batteries is higher than the wet cell batteries, but they do out-perform them as they are designed to withstand greater heat, vibration, deeper cycles and generally low-grade recharging.
An online source for motorcycle batteries called Battery Stuff is an example of a good source for a variety of brands at reasonable prices. They offer Westco, Yuasa (Motocross), GS, Universal Power, Panasonic, SVR and Odyssey. All of their batteries are tested and meet strict requirements. The batteries they sell all have at least a one-year free replacement and they say you should expect 3 to 5 years battery life.
If you want long battery life and performance you need to do a small amount of maintenance, even if you choose to purchase the maintenance free batteries. Most motorcycles do not have a robust charging system and the extra electronics that are now found on most bikes cause a constant drain on the battery. High temperatures also cause an extra drain on the battery. Keep in mind that engine rpm must be fairly high on your cycle for a lengthly amount of time in order to offer quality recharge to the battery. If you tend to use your bike less during the winter months, or if you ride sporadically in general, you will want to make sure you charge it. It is a good rule of thumb to charge your bike once a month. Another option is to choose a smart charger like the popular Battery Tender which can be connected to your cycle continuously and will keep your bike at 100% charge until your next ride.