Just like the battery in your car, your motorcycle's battery is vital in powering headlights, starters, and electrical components. However, unlike your car's battery, your motorcycle's battery requires some special maintenance if you want to get the most out of it. Otherwise, it'll likely die before its time, which will require you to replace it prematurely and waste your hard-earned money. Here are a few simple ways you can maximize the life of your motorcycle battery and save money in the process.

Refill Electrolyte Fluids Regularly

If you're new to motorcycle ownership, the idea of replenishing fluids in a battery may seem odd. After all, you'd never think about trying to add fluids to your car's battery. However, motorcycle and car batteries are very different in the ways they operate. Specifically, motorcycle batteries require balanced levels of electrolytes to run properly. Fortunately, checking and refilling your battery fluid is pretty simple; just follow your owner's manual, which will likely mean locating your bike's battery and adding some distilled water to its fluid compartment until it reaches the "full" line. By taking the time to do this every few months, you can easily and inexpensively prolong the life of the battery.

Remove and Store for the Winter

Furthermore, since you probably can't ride your motorcycle during the winter anyway, this is a good time of year to put your bike into storage. However, unless you're storing your bike in a climate controlled environment, this won't be enough to protect your battery. To maximize its life span, you'll actually want to remove the battery from your bike and keep it in a room-temperature environment. This will help protect the battery from draining prematurely over the off season.

Invest in a Battery Charger

Finally, when your battery is being stored for the winter, it's also in your best interest to "trickle-charge" it from time to time; this will help to maintain its charge and ensure it's ready to be re-installed in your bike some spring or summer time. You can purchase an external battery charger (just make sure it's specifically rated for motorcycle batteries) and connect it to your battery for a quick re-charge every few weeks. Taking the time to do this will also help the battery retain its charge for longer once it's back in use. 

By following these simple steps, you'll be on your way to maximizing your motorcycle's battery life in no time. Ask a professional like Six Bends Harley-Davidson for more information.

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