Best Motorcycle Batteries: Get Amped With Our Hands-on Review

thedrive.com ^ | 11/8/23 | Make Bumbeck

[martin_fierro]

A great motorcycle battery provides your engine with the power needed to start your bike regardless of the weather conditions. It's the backbone of your bike’s performance. However, not all batteries are the same. You need the right battery that's built for your bike and provides the best performance. Our buying guide offers a rundown of some of the best motorcycle batteries on the market today.

Summary List

Best Overall: Yuasa High-Performance AGM Best Value: Mighty Max Best Premium: Shorai LFX Best Lead-Acid: Yuasa Yumicron

Our Methodology

The first thing to figure out before you order a new battery is why your old battery died. Inadequate maintenance, deep discharge, a malfunctioning charging system, the passage of time, wiring shorts, bad grounds, and nine times out of ten - loose or corroded battery terminals can kill a battery before its time. Start with the simple fixes and test the charging system before ordering a new battery.

8X SNIP X8

[martin_fierro]

h/t to red badger

[BobL]

“Get Amped With Our Hands-on Review”

I don’t need Amps, I need Pistons and Crankshafts.

[hecticskeptic]

I found that just keep it on a trickle charge when the mbike isn’t used for lengthy periods.... that makes for a much longer life of the battery.

[martin_fierro]

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I remember my old 1973 H-D/Aermacchi ...

...took a big ol' lead-acid battery like this one under the seat:

[wjcsux]

My 66 XLCH Sportster didn’t have a battery.

[left that other site]

My battery is under the seat too. (93FXR). Somewhat inconvenient, but I love the bike.

Just got a new battery this summer.

[brianl703]

I’ve been keeping my riding mower battery on a trickle charger. One of those $10 Harbor Freight ones. The battery is from August 2017, and still starts the mower with no problem as of last time I used it, last month.

[martin_fierro]

I’ve been keeping my riding mower battery on a trickle charger. One of those $10 Harbor Freight ones.

The battery or the charger? <|:)~

[Disambiguator]

The CH stands for Charley Horse, as the saying goes.

I never had any trouble kick-starting Harleys, but I don’t weigh 130 lbs, either.

[wjcsux]

This dude was tough starting on cold mornings!

[cymbeline]

“My 66 XLCH Sportster didn’t have a battery.”

Neither did my 69 Bonnyville. Always started first stroke on the pedal.

[FreedomPoster]

Good timing, I think my Vespa is about due for a new battery.

[Disambiguator]

I had them not start, but I never got smacked or tossed over the bars.

My old shovel would sometimes not want to start if it got too hot. I would have to let it sit for a few minutes longer to cool off on a few occasions.

[wjcsux]

I never got smacked or thrown over the handlebars either. When it wanted to start, it started right up. Other times, it could be a challenge.

[martin_fierro]

Over Thanksgiving my uncle was telling me tales about him & his '62-64 Vespa, and riding it across central PA from Pittsburgh, PA to Endicott NY.

Dude was well & truly nuts.

[catnipman]

“I found that just keep it on a trickle charge when the mbike isn’t used for lengthy periods.... that makes for a much longer life of the battery.:

i do the same for my lawn tractor and vehicles that i drive infrequently like my lawn-work truck and sports car ... trickle charges are essential for any vehicle not driven often that has a parasitic draw from electronics ...

[Myrddin]

I have 10 motorcycles at the house. Most of them are easy on the batteries. The Harley Fat Bob needs to trickle charger nearly full time since it doesn't get much road time. The alarm system draws down the battery. The bike that eats batteries most is my wife's Piaggio BV500. The electronics draw it down badly and even a trickle charger is hard pressed to keep it in running order. The bike was booted from the garage to make room for a Piaggio MP3-530HPE. In the Spring, I will replace the battery again on the BV500. It was a real pain to push across the grass and up onto the patio concreate.

[Myrddin]

I never had any trouble kick-starting Harleys, but I don’t weigh 130 lbs, either.

My Yamaha SR-400 is kickstart only. I weigh 155 lbs. I have to be pretty precise with the compression release. It is less finicky than my BSA Victor 500 was in 1978.

[MCF]

1962 Vespa in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0UJ6LlNwR8

[BraveMan]

I was replacing batteries once a year on my 82 FXRS until I switched to AGM. I Think the vibration killed the others . . .