An AGM Motorcycle Battery Will Keep
You Riding Longer…
Here's Info to Help You Select Your
Bike's Battery

An AGM motorcycle battery uses advanced technology to give you a reliable, maintenance-free battery.

AGM is not a brand name. It stands for Absorbed Glass Mat, which is a type of lead-acid battery design.

Once the acid is added, this type of battery is permanently sealed. You never have to check or top-up the acid or worry about leaks.

The AGM motorcycle battery design gives you dependable service.

It holds power as long or longer between charges and during its service life than other types of motorcycle batteries.

For these and other reasons, AGM is the battery design of choice for most motorcycle riders.

Sure, motorcycles can and do use other types of batteries. But an AGM motorcycle battery gives you lots of advantages.

A well-maintained motorcycle battery typically lasts about three years.

Of course, many will last longer, but after three years you should start considering a new battery purchase.

If you're looking for a new motorcycle battery now or you're planning ahead…

Here's info to help you to…

• Select a battery that best suits your motorcycle; where and how you like to ride; and how you'll maintain it…
• Better understand the basics of battery technology that can influence your selection.

Battery basics

First, just a quick mention about battery safety…

• Wear eye protection whenever you're working close to an automotive battery. The gas they can give off -- especially when charging -- is explosive.
• Remove all jewelry. You don't want to melt the gold chain around your neck or kick up sparks with your wristwatch when either touches a hot battery terminal.

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Click here for a great place to find a motorcycle battery…

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I can understand if you aren't particularly interested in knowing too much about how an AGM motorcycle battery or another type of motorcycle battery works.

If you're like me, you just want the thing to start your bike every time and help keep the motorcycle's electrical system strong and reliable for a long time.

Also, with many motorcycles, the battery is wedged into a hard-to-get-at compartment under the seat or behind part of the fairing. This makes even occasional inspection a nuisance. And maintenance is an even bigger nuisance.

That's why a maintenance-free battery you can install and forget is most desirable.

So here are just a few really basic battery facts to help you to sort out your options when choosing a motorcycle battery…

There are two main types of lead-acid batteries. One is commonly called a…

• Starting Battery. This is what your bike uses. It's designed to deliver quick bursts of energy to start your motorcycle, power-up the headlight or blow the horn. The other is called a …
• Deep Cycle Battery. These are designed to deliver long-term energy for such things as boating applications or to energize golf carts.

You have three choices when it comes to selecting a Starting Battery for your motorcycle.

Each type contains an electrolyte, which is a liquid that conducts electricity between the lead plates inside the battery and stores energy on the plates themselves.

The electrolyte in motorcycle and other automotive batteries contains sulfuric acid. So these batteries need careful handling, even if they're sealed.

Here are your Starter Battery choices…

Flooded Wet Cell Battery

The flooded wet cell battery is the oldest type of rechargeable battery used today. Many are not sealed and must remain upright to prevent the caustic electrolyte inside from spilling.

Gel Cel Battery

A gel battery, as the name suggests, contains a gel-like electrolyte substance.

Gel batteries are best suited to very deep cycle -- long term -- applications and may last a bit longer than other batteries in hot weather.

AGM Motorcycle Battery

An absorbed glass mat (AGM) battery contains fiberglass mats that absorb the electrolyte and hold it close to the lead plates.

Originally developed for the military, AGM batteries are very robust and typically cost twice as much as a premium wet cell. Gel Cel batteries designed for motorcycle use also cost more.

But if you don't ride your motorcycle daily, an AGM battery will hold its charge better than other types. And if you want top-notch battery performance, I believe this type of battery is worth the extra money.

AGM batteries offer these other advantages…

They're totally sealed and maintenance free. They never require topping up with water…

Their internal glass mats absorb and hold the electrolyte. This enables them to resist leakage, even if the battery case is cracked. In this regard, they're non-hazardous and easy to ship…

There's no liquid inside to freeze or expand, so AGM batteries can tolerate frigid temperatures…

They'll work in any position. They can be mounted on their side or on end if necessary…

Inside, the components' electrical resistance is very low. This enables them to remain much cooler than other batteries during heavy charging or discharging…

An AGM motorcycle battery discharges very slowly. So it can sit in storage -- or unattended in your motorcycle -- and hold a charge much longer than a standard battery...

After may months sitting idle, you can recharge a very weak AGM battery and put it back into full service...

They charge quicker than other types of batteries…

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Click here for a great place to find a motorcycle battery…

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How to select an AGM motorcycle battery and any other type of battery for your ride...

Similar to many of your motorcycle's key components, the people who designed your bike installed a battery that would perfectly support the motorcycle's engine, electrical system and operating capabilities.

Look at your original equipment battery's technical specs -- its amperage, voltage and reserve capacity.

A battery's reserve capacity is essentially how long it would work without being charged. When sorting out your choices, consider a battery that gives you the largest reserve capacity.

Also, does the original battery have any unique or special characteristics? For example, does it use a vent tube?

Use your old battery's technical specifications and features as a guide to zero-in on a replacement that meets these requirements.

• But just as important as knowing your old battery's technical specifications, make sure you know and stick to its physical measurements.

Actually, in most instances, a motorcycle battery's physical measurements are at least as important as its technical specs.

Motorcycles give you a very limited and specifically-sized compartment where the battery gets hooked up and held in place.

You might be able to add spacers to get a smaller battery properly positioned then tightened down in this space.

But if the battery is too big, you'll probably have to get a different battery.

This can be time-consuming and expensive.

Overall, you have an advantage when searching for a new battery because motorcycle batteries are improving all the time.

Chances are you have upgraded versions available that are stronger and more reliable than your bike's original battery.

They could be an AGM motorcycle battery or other types.

• My first choice would be an AGM motorcycle battery, then a Gel Cel before I'd go back to using a Wet Cell.
  
  This is especially true for riding in a harsh environment or if my battery is not going to receive regular maintenance and charging.

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Click here for a great place to find a motorcycle battery…

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Maintaining your motorcycle battery

• Here's how you can keep your AGM moptorcycle battery -- and any other battery -- in great working order…
• Tighten battery cable connections and make sure all electrical components are also properly attached. Loose connections will give you problems.
• Dirty connections will also give your problems. Use a mild baking soda and water solution to clean all connections. Plain hot water will do a nice job, too.
• Prevent corrosion. After cleaning the battery posts and component connections, coat them with high temperature grease or petroleum jelly (Vaseline) then tightening them firmly.
• Top it up. If your battery is still a flooded wet-cell type, keep it topped-up to the right level. Add only clean, distilled, mineral-free water.
• Don't overfill battery cells, especially in warmer weather. The electrolyte fluid will expand in hot weather and may push excess liquid out of the battery.
• Prevent "parasitic drain." If you store your motorcycle for long periods or just don't ride it often, certain components such as the clock, engine management computer or alarm system can put a load on the battery even when the ignition is off.
  
  This is parasitic drain. It can cause a constantly low or dead battery and severely shorten battery life.
  
  You can prevent it by disconnecting the battery. Better yet, for long down-time periods, remove the battery and store it in a dry, cozy place.
• Keep your battery charged-up. If you ride your motorcycle frequently, the alternator will keep it full of power.
  
  However, even though I ride one of my motorcycles all the time, when it's parked in my garage, I attach it to a type of charger called a "smart charger." I also attach a smart charger to one other motorcycle that I only ride occasionally.
  
  If I remove either motorcycle's AGM motorcycle battery to store during a long down-time period, I'll reattach it to a smart charger.

Here's how a smart charger works

An AGM motorcycle battery and other high-tech motorcycle batteries respond well to a smart charger's three-step energizing process…

• Step 1 -- Bulk charging. This step replaces up to 80 percent of the battery's energy.
• Step 2 -- Absorption charging. This step brings the battery up to 98 percent capacity.
• Step 3 -- Float charging. This step brings the battery up to or close to 100 percent capacity and keeps it there during long-term inactivity.

The nice thing about all three steps is that the charger regulates each one so none will overheat or overcharge the battery.

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Here are some final words about buying and maintaining an AGM motorcycle battery and other types of batteries...

Battery Do's...

• Think "safety first" when working with or around a battery. Wear eye protection and remove jewelry…
• Do your best to regularly inspect your motorcycle battery, even if it's tucked into a hard-to-reach compartment. Inspections are all the more important when you're riding in hot weather…
• Recharge your battery immediately after it's been discharged…
• Keep your motorcycle battery on a smart charger between rides and during long down-time periods…
• Buy the highest reserve capacity battery you can fit properly onto your motorcycle.

Battery Don'ts...

• Don't use a one-step, unregulated high-output charger on your motorcycle battery…
• Don't disconnect battery cables while your motorcycle's engine is running…
• Don't put off recharging your battery…
• Don't use tap water to top-up your wet-cell battery…
• Don't let a battery get discharged if you can prevent it…
• Don't let a battery overheat or boil extensively when charging.

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Advances in motorcycle battery technology have helped to eliminate -- or at least lessen -- one significant source of aggravation. Specifically: a dead battery.

Such technology also enables you to use the same battery longer than ever in your motorcycles.

Also, you can get more shots at starting your cold motorcycle from a modern battery.

So when you search for a new AGM motorcycle battery, it's nice to know you can probably take a significant step up to a better product than you're using now.

I believe the tips and ideas I’ve offered above will help you immensely in choosing the best AGM motorcycle battery or any other battery design that fits your motorcycle and your needs.

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In my continuing efforts to provide you the best information possible, I’ve discovered a wonderful resource where you can pick up a great motorcycle battery...

Click here to find motorcycle battery just right for your bike…

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…to the main Motorcycle Parts page

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