⚠️ ATTENTION: Be prepared to satisfy any insurance requirements when taking care of tasks for your motorcycle. Click below for a free insurance quote.
Please answer the questions below to get started:
Understanding your motorcycle’s battery and charging system is the core to understanding your bike’s electrical system.
This page will cover all the basics to get you started.
But first – as with any electrical task on your bike, it’s good to have a multimeter handy.
A multimeter will allow you to measure voltage and continuity between wires on your bike.
Motorcycle Charging System
Motorcycle charging systems typically consist of 3 main compnents:
- Battery.
- Alternator/stator.
- Regulator/rectifier (either combined or separate components)
The battery is the voltage center of the bike and stores the DC current.
The alternator or stator is connected to the crankshaft and spins as the engine’s crankshaft spins. The rotation generates alternating current (AC) as it moves.
The regulator ensures that voltage stays in the necessary range.
The rectifier converts AC to DC.
How to Check If Your Motorcycle’s Charging System is Actually Charging
Checking that your motorcycle charging system is working is fairly simple.
You’ll need a multi-meter set to measure DC voltage.
To check your charging system:
- Place the black wire from your multimeter to the negative terminal on your battery.
- Place the red wire from your multimeter to the positive terminal on your battery.
- Check the voltage reading.
- A good, charged battery should read around 12.4 DCV.
- A battery with a lower reading may need to be charged or may be dead.
- If the battery is good, turn on your bike, start the engine, and let it idle.
- Read the voltage again. It should increase to about 13 to 13.8.
- Increase the RPM to about 3,000 and hold it.
- Read the voltage again. It should increase further (about 14-14.6 DCV).
If your stator/alternator is bad, you likely won’t see any voltage changes when the bike is on and RPMs are increased.
If your regulator is bad, you will see voltage higher than 14.8v or so. This can overcharge and damage the battery.
If your rectifier is bad, you may not see a change in voltage at the battery as the AC from the alternator won’t be converted to DC for the battery.
Motorcycle Batteries
Motorcycle batteries are the electrical center of the bike.
Most motorcycles have a 12 volt battery, while smaller bikes and scooters may have a 6 volt.
How does a motorcycle battery charge?
A motorcycle battery gets charged when the engine is running.
As the bike runs, voltage is drawn from the battery to electrical components on the bike.
As the crankshaft turns, AC voltage is created at the stator/alternator and is sent through the rectifier to turn it into DC to charge the battery.
A bike that hasn’t been running or won’t run for a while, may need its battery placed on a trickle charger to maintain the voltage.
Does a motorcycle battery charge while idling?
A proper charging system should provide some amount of charge at idle.
Ideal charge is achieved at RPMs at around 2,500 – 3,000+.
How long will a motorcycle battery last without charging?
If a motorcycle battery isn’t charged, it will lose power over time.
Most batteries will die after about 2-5 months with no charge and not being run.
Motorcycle batteries drain at a rate of about 1% of charge per day it doesn’t run.
Can you lay a motorcycle battery on its side?
Absorbed glass mat (AGM) and lithium ion motorcycle batteries can be on their side.
Traditional lead acid batteries need to be installed upright.
When should I replace my bike’s battery?
You should replace your battery if it won’t hold a charge.
Batteries naturally degrade overtime, as well.
Most batteries need to be replaced about every 4-5 years.
How to Test a Motorcycle Battery
If your charging system and other electrical systems are in working order, it may be the case that your motorcycle’s battery is not holding a charge.
In this case, you’ll want to run a few tests to confirm, and replace the battery if necessary.
You can test a motorcycle battery with a multimeter or a battery tester.
To test your motorcycle battery with a multimeter:
- Either ride your bike or charge the battery with a trickle charger so that the battery reaches a full charge.
- Wait about 30 to 45 minutes.
- Set your multimeter to DC 20 Volts.
- Place the red (positive) lead from the multimeter on the positive terminal on the battery.
- Place the black (negative) lead from the multimeter on the negative terminal on the battery.
- Look at the screen and confirm the voltage reading.
If your battery is in good condition and holding a charge, the multimeter should read somewhere around 12.6 volts.
Anything lower than 12.4 shortly after a full charge may indicate it’s time for a new battery.
You can also test your battery with a battery tester that can be found at most auto parts stores.
To use a battery tester on a motorcycle battery:
- Connect the positive and negative leads from the tests to the positive and negative terminals of the battery.
- Start the tester.
- Check the battery tester’s reading.
How to Charge a Motorcycle Battery
Battery maintenance is an important part of motorcycle maintenance. A healthy, properly charged battery is going to make your bike easier to start, help eliminate any electrical issues, and keep the battery lasting as long as possible.
An automatic trickle charger is the best solution for charging a motorcycle battery.
The best motorcycle battery charger is one that’s going to do it’s job without much for you to worry about.
Be sure to pick a charger that matches your motorcycle battery’s voltage, has hook up clips that will fit onto your battery easily, and is compatible with the type of battery you use.
MotorcycleZombies.com may earn an affiliate commission when you make a purchase through the links on this page.
