How Long Does It Take To Charge A Motorcycle Battery?

Motorcycle Battery

Like any other vehicle, your motorcycle’s battery ages a little bit for every minute you ride it. If the chemistry is off, the battery will constantly be charging and discharging. The battery will last as long as it can take a charge effectively if you take care of it.

A motorcycle battery can be charged anywhere between 4 and 24 hours. The amount of time it takes to charge your battery can vary depending on the battery and charger you use. Instructions on how long to charge a new battery should be included.

Maintaining a healthy battery charge will probably stop a wide range of potential motorcycle engine failures. The duration of a motorcycle battery’s charge will be covered in greater detail in this article. You’ll be grateful that you read this post when the time comes that your bike won’t start.

How Long Does It Take A Motorcycle Battery To Charge?

If you don’t maintain your motorcycle battery properly, it will lose its charge when not in use, leaving you with a dead battery. You can use a charger to restore a dead battery to its operational state if you find yourself in that situation. A motorcycle battery needs to be charged, but wait, how long does that take? 

It can take anywhere from 4 hours to 24 hours to charge a motorcycle battery. The amperage of your charger and the state of your motorcycle’s battery both affect how quickly your battery charges.

It takes 5 to 8 hours to charge a brand-new 12-volt lead-acid battery up to 70% when using a constant-current charger. It will take an additional 7–10 hours to complete the remaining 30% before it is ready to be installed on the motorcycle. A brand-new, sealed, pre-charged battery is typically charged to 80% when you purchase it; it should be connected to a charger for 4 to 6 hours to reach maximum charge before being installed in the bike.

That’s great for a new battery, but how long does it take to charge the motorcycle battery that’s already on my bike? you might be asking. That depends on a number of variables. So let’s explore the fundamentals of motorcycle batteries, including how to charge them and maintain their charge.

Common Types Of Motorcycle Batteries

I won’t go into too much detail about battery technology because that would distract from the main topic of this article. I do want to touch on a few fundamentals, though.

Lead Acid Motorcycle Batteries

These motorcycle batteries are most likely the most prevalent. Each cell has lead plates and is filled with a solution of sulfuric acid and water. An electrical charge results from the two substances’ chemical reaction. Each cell in a brand-new lead-acid battery needs to be filled with the acid that is included in the kit you buy. Don’t worry; it’s not as difficult as it seems. The battery will then be connected to your trickle charger, and you will need to let it sit for roughly 24 hours for it to fully charge. You can now ride after installing it on your bike.

Many people overlook the need to maintain lead acid batteries, which is something that is necessary. The battery cells’ liquid evaporation and subsequent drying out of the cells are possible. The battery can be destroyed in the shortest amount of time by doing this. So it makes sense to add a battery check to your regular maintenance schedule. Add distilled water to a battery cell if it is getting low on fluid. distilled water, not beer.

One thing to keep in mind is that this kind of battery needs to be installed upright or you run the risk of battery acid leaking all over your bike. A catastrophe would result from that.

Gel Cell and AGM Motorcycle Batteries

Both of these are particular kinds of sealed lead-acid motorcycle batteries. One will come with an 80% charge when purchased brand-new. The simplest battery to own is by far this one. Keeping them connected to the tender when the bike is parked is the only maintenance they require. You have more options for placement on a bike because you don’t have to install them upright because they are sealed. But before installing a new battery on the bike, it is advised to charge it for at least 4 to 6 hours on a float charger to bring it up to 100%.

Lithium Ion Motorcycle Batteries

The motorcycle battery made of lithium-ion is more recent. It is incredibly low maintenance and weighs only a third as much as a lead-acid battery. When properly maintained, they typically last longer than other motorcycle batteries, but this does not necessarily imply a higher battery capacity. A Lithium-Ion battery has a higher price tag, for example, so keep that in mind when making your decision.

Motorcycle lithium-ion batteries are known for providing significantly more power during a cold start, making them ideal for larger bikes or for starting your bike in icy conditions. When performing a cold start, however, there is a specific process you must adhere to.

Five seconds’ worth of engine cranking. you’ll notice it cranks very slowly and won’t start.

For 30 seconds, leave the bike powered on. The battery will get warm as a result.

Restart it now, and your bike should start right up.

One word of caution: lead-acid batteries can still be recharged if you accidentally leave your headlight on and drain them. With a lithium-ion battery, though, you risk permanently harming the battery if you do that. It will be toast.

How Long Should The Battery In A  Motorcycle Last?

My friend, it all depends on you! Even though with proper care, most batteries should last three years on average, there are many things you can do to change that. You can take good care of your battery and get 5 to 6 years out of it, or you can destroy your battery before it even reaches its first birthday, depending on how you treat it.

It stands to reason that trying to charge your flat (or dead) battery while riding wouldn’t be the best course of action because the most common way that riders destroy batteries is by frequently letting them die completely.

Each time a lead-acid battery discharges and loses some of its charging capacity, it permanently alters the nature of the battery. Only a few times can it happen before the battery is completely dead.

How Frequently Should A Battery Be Changed?

Consider adding a battery check to your regular maintenance schedule. Why not check the charge of your battery every time you change your oil? Look for leaks, sagging, corroded terminals, and connectors while physically inspecting your battery.

Connect a multimeter to the positive and negative terminals and set the meter to volts to check the voltage. Your meter should register between 12 and.7 volts to 13.2 volts. The battery is completely charged. It should be replaced if the voltage reading is 12 volts or less.

Verify the voltage output when under load. The meter must be connected as previously mentioned in order to perform this test. Check the meter after starting the motorcycle and increasing the engine speed to 3,000 rpm. A reliable battery will display between 9 and 11 volts over the course of 30 seconds. It’s probably time to replace it if it’s any less.

In conclusion, although motorcycle batteries are nearly maintenance-free, they still require some attention. Maintain a tight connection between your motorcycle and a trickle charger like the Battery Tender. Distilled water should always be added to your lead acid battery. Include a physical battery check and a voltage check in your regular maintenance schedule.

In addition to keeping your bike ready to pack up and ride at a moment’s notice, these good habits will keep you from becoming stranded in a motel parking lot without power.

Conclusion

It should only take a couple of hours to recharge your motorcycle battery, but it could take up to 24. Use a smart charger to be sure not to overcharge it. I hope you found this information interesting and useful. It will be worthwhile to take the time to care for your battery properly so that you can maximize the enjoyment of your ride.

Read More: HOW TO DISCONNECT MOTORCYCLE BATTERY?

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