Lithium Motorcycle Battery Buying Guide
Before getting into our best motorcycle battery picks, there are a few things
you should know. When choosing a battery for your bike, be sure to consider the
dimensions of the battery, terminal location, and the cold cranking amps.
Battery Size
Every motorcycle has a battery box, but the size of this box is not the same
for every bike. Be sure to measure the dimensions of your bike’s battery box and
purchase a battery with the proper length, width, and height. A battery that is
too small may be fitted into your motorcycle, but be sure to secure it so that
it does not bounce or rattle.
Terminal Location
To connect a battery to your bike, you will need to connect the hot wire to
the positive terminal and the ground wire to the negative terminal. The position
of these terminals may be different for each battery. The cables in your bike
are unlikely to have much slack, so you want to make sure they can reach the
correct terminal once your battery is fitted into the battery box.
Cold Cranking Amps
Cold cranking amps (CCA) is a measure of how much amperage a battery can
generate from a cold start. Generally, the higher the CCA, the better. However,
batteries with a high CCA are larger, heavier, and more expensive. There is no
point in purchasing a battery with 800.0 CCA if your bike has a small
engine.
The Benefits of Lithium-ion Battery
So what are the advantages of lithium batteries over lead-acid batteries?
Lead-acid batteries have been the go-to battery for a long time due to their
low cost and ability to deliver high power. However, they also have some major
drawbacks. They are large and heavy, making them difficult to transport. They
also require regular maintenance, such as adding water to the cells to prevent
them from corroding.
Lithium-ion batteries offer many advantages over lead-acid batteries:
A Lithium battery is much lighter than a lead-acid battery, making it easier
to transport.
A Lithium battery does not require maintenance, so you don’t have to worry
about adding water or checking the electrolyte levels.
A Lithium battery lasts longer, so you won’t need to replace them as
often.
Their performance remains consistent even as they age, so you can continue to
use them for their full life cycle.
A Lithium battery is more environmentally friendly than a lead-acid battery
because there is no lead or other toxic metals in the battery.
In general, a lithium battery requires less effort and costs less money over
time compared to lead-acid batteries. They may even last longer if maintained
properly!
Types of Motorcycle Batteries
Flooded Lead Acid or Wet Cell
The flooded or wet cell lead-acid battery was invented in 1859 and is still
the most common type of rechargeable battery today. Lead plates swim around in a
soaking bath of liquid sulfuric acid electrolyte so the electrons can work their
magic. Flooded lead-acid batteries have the low-cost advantage but require
topping off with distilled water to replenish the electrolyte and prevent
internal damage to the lead plates.
Absorbed Glass Mat or AGM
The AGM battery is a durable, efficient, and maintenance-free version of a
sealed lead-acid battery with absorbent mats between the lead plates for
improved performance. The mats capture liquid electrolyte and brings it into
close contact with the lead plates for reduced electrical resistance and greater
impact protection. The sealed case design recombines gases created during
charging back into the electrolyte and eliminates the need to add water.
Gel Electrolyte
Mixing silica into the electrolyte and turning it into gel results in a
highly stable, maintenance-free, sealed lead-acid battery. The viscous
electrolyte recombines gases and vapors back into itself and maintains its jelly
grip on the electrons without adding water. Gel batteries can be mounted upside
down or in any orientation and endure more deep discharge cycles than their
liquid electrolyte lead-acid cousins.
Lithium Iron Phosphate or LiFePO4
The latest generation of motorcycle batteries relegates lead-acid batteries
to history with ultra-lightweight dry cells that punch out power above their
weight. LiFePO4 motorcycle batteries can weigh 80 percent less than their
lead-acid equivalents. Lithium Iron Phosphate cells are far safer and more
thermally stable than their Li-Ion relatives that power cell phones and other
low-current devices.
