Should I Remove My Motorcycle Battery Over the Winter?

The first frost signals that you should get things ready for winter. This includes your motorcycle and any other vehicle that uses batteries and fuel for power. Unless you’re an experienced off-season bike rider, the winter months and cold weather mean another riding season ending.

Unlike cars and trucks, motorcycle engines aren’t protected from harsh weather. Even with a motorcycle cover, a bike has exposed parts that are susceptible to corrosion, especially during the winter months when people start experiencing dead batteries. Normal temperatures during winter shouldn’t affect the battery unless it's way below freezing.

Winterize Your Ride

Winter isn’t typically a bike riding season, forcing all but the most daring riders out of the saddle. Indeed, without studded tires, a motorcycle struggles to get traction and stay upright. If you're not going to ride during winter months, you should take steps to protect your motorcycle from cold weather while in winter storage.

One of the most important parts of a motorcycle is the battery. Most older bikes have lead-acid batteries with internal parts that can freeze and reduce battery cranking amps. Unless you live in a region that experiences -90-degree temperatures, a battery doesn't need to be stored separately.

Know Your Bike's Battery

The most common motorcycle battery is the lead acid battery. This battery type submerges lead sulphate into sulfuric acid. The resulting chemical reaction produces electricity. Separated by an electrolyte-rich distilled water solution, the cathode and anode facilitate the battery's capacity for holding a charge and recharging.

Watch out for battery drain that leads to dead batteries. Lead acid batteries are never dormant. Even when not used, a motorcycle battery will slowly self-discharge its power. Cold weather slows down the self-discharge but doesn't stop, leading to a dead battery. The best defence against self-discharge is a trickle charger or a battery tender. Which should you choose for your motorcycle battery? The short answer is that it depends on how much you'll ride your bike during winter.

When should you use a trickle charger?

These battery chargers apply a constant charge but don't know when the battery is fully charged. Trickle chargers are ideal for noticing parasitic drains, which can drain battery power without knowing it. For example, faulty wiring, battery age, and user errors can lead to dead batteries.

What is a battery tender?

These battery chargers are smart because they shut off when a battery is fully charged. The battery tender then monitors the battery charge. When the charge reduces to around 80 %, the tender turns on to recharge and then automatically shuts off.

What is an AGP Battery?

A slang term for traditional lead acid batteries is a "flooded" battery because the electrolyte moves freely inside the battery case. Battery manufacturers like Honda and YUASA make AGP batteries with sealed cells for better voltage.

Lithium Batteries 

Some newer motorcycles have a different power source called a lithium battery. These batteries drastically extend battery life and require little maintenance.

When the temperature drops below freezing you should take special care of your motorcycle battery. Keep your lead-acid battery out of the weather if you don't have a shed to store your bike. On or off your bike, it's better to keep the battery charged and ready for spring.