8 Tips to Maintain & Extend Battery Life of Your Bike

The battery is a vital component of your bike. It performs various critical tasks such as powering the headlights, taillights, horns, and turn indicators, and controlling the self-start function. Thus, if you do not maintain the bike battery life, not only will the performance suffer, but the life of your bike will also be reduced. In this article, we will provide you with the top eight tips to improve the battery life of your bike.
 

How to extend bike battery life?

 

1. Keep track of the charging level

   Batteries store electrical energy, which needs to be replenished regularly through charging. Riding a bike with a low-charged battery will cause it to die quickly. To avoid this, you must switch on the bike and let it run idle for at least 15 minutes to charge the battery. You may also check the battery’s charging levels using a multimeter device. 
    

2. Top up the fluid

   Your battery is charged by the electrolyte contained within it. Even if you want to drain the power to discharge the battery, the electrolyte will be required. It is advisable that you check your battery’s fluid levels regularly. If the levels are low, add de-ionized distilled water to your bike's battery solution. Many bike owners use RO water or tap water for this purpose. However, doing so will reduce the life of your bike's battery.
    

3. Avoid overload

   Have you recently purchased a bike on a two-wheeler loan and are considering some modifications? In this case, keep in mind that aftermarket modifications may impact your bike's performance and battery life. For example, installing high-capacity LED lights, long-range headlamps, and powerful horns will put a strain on the battery. This may cause the battery to drain prematurely. Further, these modifications may make it difficult for you to obtain a two-wheeler insurance for your bike.
    

4. Clean the terminals

   Every battery is made up of two electrical terminals: negative and positive. You might notice some calcium, carbon, and rust gets deposited around these terminals over time. If you do not clean the terminals properly, it will result in poor performance and improper operation of the various electrical components such as headlights, horns, and so on.
    

5. Avoid over usage

   Many bikers make the mistake of leaving their headlights or indicators on overnight. This type of action falls under the category of battery abuse or overuse. It is one of the primary causes of bike’s battery degradation and must be avoided at all costs.
     

Also Read: Here Are The Five Great Habits To Extend The Lifespan Of Your Bike

1. Avoid direct sunlight

   You may be aware that leaving your bike in direct sunlight for an extended period reduces fuel efficiency due to the vaporisation of petrol. But you may not know that sunlight is also harmful to the life of the bike’s batteries. Extremely high temperatures can cause your bike's battery to swell. If you do not replace a swollen battery on time, it may even cause an explosion.
    

2. Disconnect when not used

   If you are moving to a different city for a long time and your bike would remain unused, make sure to remove the battery before locking the bike in your garage. By doing so, you will prevent the battery from experiencing power loss, thus increasing its life.
    

3. Self-start is not always recommended

   Remember when your bike got stuck in traffic and restarting it took a lot of kicks? At the time, you must have wished for a feature like self-start in your bike that makes starting the bike an effortless process. But did you know that self-start is one of the most significant battery drainers on your bike?
    
   During the winters or after a prolonged period of inactivity, your bike may not start in the first attempt. In such cases, it is recommended to use kick-start first, rather than self-start, to avoid overloading the cold battery.
    

Also Read: How to Increase Your Two-wheeler Mileage?
 

To Conclude

 
You can improve your bike’s battery life by following the tips outlined in this article. In addition, ensure that you periodically take your bike for servicing at reputed workshops. If the mechanic suggests your battery has reached the end of its useful life, try to replace it as soon as possible. You should avoid riding your bike with a dead or improvised battery as it may harm both you and the bike.