6 Signs Your Motorcycle Battery Needs to Be Replaced

One of the worst feelings you can have as a rider is going to your bike to get it started, only to have nothing happen. When this happens, it likely means that your battery has gone flat or that you need a recharge. 

Or, there might be some other issue going on. However, you shouldn’t wait until your motorcycle battery is completely dead to replace it. Read on to learn the top signs it’s time to replace your motorcycle battery. 

1. Issues Starting Your Bike

If you’re experiencing issues starting your bike, that’s one of the biggest signs that you need the battery replaced. If your engine is turning on at the right speed when you twist the key, then you likely don’t have a battery problem. 

However, if you can’t get your bike to start at all, then the battery is likely dead. 

2. Battery Doesn’t Hold a Charge 

If you charge up your batter after it dies, but then it immediately runs out of a charge again before stalling out, then you have a battery on your hands that can no longer deal with an electric charge. 

Not only is the battery dead, but it’s also now a faulty battery. However, other motorcycle issues can also lead to it not holding a charge. For example, it may be due to a bad alternator. 

3. Headlight and Horn Issues 

Another way to tell if you need to replace your motorcycle batteries is to check the headlights and horns. If the headlight’s beam is dim or flickering, you likely have a battery-related issue. 

Also, if you tap your horn and the sound is faint, or it doesn’t make any noise at all, then that likely indicates the battery needs to be replaced. 

4. Deformed Battery

If you’re ever unsure if your battery isn’t in good condition, you should check out its physical shape. Look for physical deformations such as leakage, discoloration, bulges, broken terminals, cracks, or bumps. 

Don’t ignore these signs of physical damage, even if your bike is still running fine. A bumpy or swollen motorcycle battery could be potentially dangerous to use. 

5. Inaccurate Multimeter Readings

If you’re taking readings from your battery and getting inconsistent multimeter readings, that’s cause for concern. If you test your battery after charging and it fails to record any measurements, then that’s a sign that you need to replace it as soon as possible. 

In some cases, recording nothing on a voltmeter simply means the battery is flat and in need of a recharge. But if the same reading comes back after charging, then you’re due for a new battery. 

6. Corroded or Broken Battery Terminals 

Checking the battery’s terminals is one of the first things you should do when you suspect that your battery is at the end of its rope. 

If the terminals are badly corroded, then this can cause the battery to not function properly. However, it may function better once the terminals are cleaned. But, if the terminals are broken in any way, the entire battery needs to be replaced. 

Motorcycle Battery: Is it time to Replace? 

Now that you’ve read this motorcycle battery guide, it’s time to figure out if it’s time to replace your motorcycle battery. If the answer is yes, then you can head to your mechanic for recommendations. 

Or, if you want to make your life really easy, you can buy a new battery online.

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