Best Motorcycle Battery
To help you choose the best motorcycle battery for your bike, we’ve looked at specs, expert and user reviews and battery comparison charts to highlight the longest-lasting motorcycle batteries overall as well as the best replacement battery for Harley Davidson and other top brands. In making our choices we looked at capacity, charging amps, performance, and weight as well as price. We also looked out for the best motorcycle battery for cold weather starts and for ease of maintenance. Are you interested in adding a new motorbike to your collection? Find suitable options in our best motorcycles guide.
Our top pick, the Chrome Pro AGM motorcycle battery, is a maintenance-free drop-in replacement battery that has a built-in LCD screen with a voltage display. Read on for more of our top picks.
Top 4 Best Motorcycle Battery
#1 Chrome Pro AGM Motorcycle Battery
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: One of the least expensive high-performance absorbed glass mat (AGM) motorcycle batteries on the market, it can be installed in any orientation and even has an LCD voltage readout.
- Best AGM for the money
- Fits Honda, Suzuki, Triumph and many others
- Maintenance-free gel electrolyte design
- Not as robust as lithium-ion motorcycle batteries
- Fewer cold cranking amps (CCA) than the ThrottleX MX30L
This best AGM motorcycle battery or absorbed glass mat motorcycle battery is a great value if you don’t need the absolute most cold-weather performance. Its gel electrolyte construction and heat-sealed cover let you install it in any orientation, and it’s highly vibration resistant. The 12V Chrome Pro weighs under 8 lbs, making it a great choice for smaller sportbikes and cafe racers. It also fits a variety of ATVs and jet skis.
The Chrome Pro is factory activated, meaning you don’t have to perform a specialized setup and initial charging procedure. Installation in most applications is fairly simple, and it ships fully charged. One unique and useful bonus with this value motorcycle battery is that it comes with an LCD voltage read-out, so you always know how charged it is. Whether you drive an adult bike or an electric motorcycle for kids, you need a good battery.
#2 Throttlex MX30L 600 CCA Motorcycle Battery
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: With over 600 cold-cranking amps claimed, this spillproof and ready-to-install absorbed glass mat battery is the best motorcycle battery for cold weather on our list.
- Heavier than the Chrome Pro motorcycle battery
- expensive than some Harley Davidson batteries
This fully sealed and robust absorbed glass mat motorcycle battery produces the most cold-cranking amps of any battery on our list. With a rating of 600 CCA, it is a great choice if you’re looking for top quality and the best motorcycle battery for cold weather. This ThrottleX battery also packs the usual durability features including a fully sealed cap, vibration-resistant terminals, and spill-proof embedded glass mat technology. It can be installed sideways as well.
Promising to meet or exceed factory battery specs for the 1997-2020 Electra Glide, Road Glide, Road King, Street Glide, and Ultra Classic, this is an excellent choice if you’re looking for the best motorcycle battery for Harley. It’s designed for ultra-low discharge rates and to resist the vibration of big V-twins. You might also like the best motorcycle lift for working on your bike. Also, take a look at the Battery Tender Automatic 12V Power Sports Junior Charger and Maintainer, which is easy to use and provides a full charge to your machine’s battery before switching into float mode which monitors voltage levels to prevent overcharging.
#3 Chrome Battery YTX30L-BS Motorcycle Battery
Award: BEST BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: This high-performance AGM motorcycle battery offers respectable cold-weather starting and tremendous versatility, fitting Harleys, ATVs, watercraft, and snowmobiles.
- Long-lasting Versatile for top or side mount applications
- Fully sealed and ready to install
A budget choice with decent cold-weather performance and easy installation, plus excellent vibration resistance and convenient fully threaded top and side terminals for versatile mounting options, this 12V Chrome battery fit a wide range of bikes, jet skis, snowmobiles, and ATVs. And it’s also one of the longest-lasting motorcycle battery models for the money that you can buy today.
As the motorcycle battery comparison chart shows, it comes with a rating of 385 CCA and about 400 cranking amps at room temperature, nearly matching the specs of Harley Davidson OEM batteries. This AGM motorcycle battery is also rated for 2000 charging cycles and claims an ultra-low discharge rate. Another one of the best lead-acid batteries is the Might Max YTX14 AhGEL, which uses 210 cold-cranking amps, 12 amp hours, and 12 volts to power motorcycles, jet skis, snowmobiles, and other machines used for power sports. This maintenance-free battery works right out of the box and has long-lasting performance in higher and lower temperatures as well. In the winter you need to make sure your battery is working great, even if you are just using the best ATV snow plow.
Best Motorcycle Battery Buying Guide
Features to Consider
- TypeMotorcycle batteries come in wet cell lead acid, gel electrolyte, absorbed glass mat, and lithium-ion. Lithium motorcycle batteries are typically rated for a larger number of recharging cycles but are more expensive. Old-style wet cell batteries, the oldest form of car and motorcycle battery used, contain lead and lead oxide plates in a sulphuric acid and water solution; since they’re not fully sealed, however, they need to be topped off with distilled water once in a while, and they may be sensitive to vibration and orientation. Gel cell batteries have the electrolytes suspended in a gel and are more resistant to vibration and heat. AGM or absorbed glass mat batteries are similar to gel batteries but use glass fiber sponges between the electrolyte plates, allowing for more control over the acid movement between them, and thus smaller batteries for the same amperage. For these reasons, most motorcycles use AGM batteries.
- FitmentWhen looking for the best motorcycle battery for Harley, Suzuki, Honda, Triumph, or other bikes, first make sure the batteries you’re looking at will fit your make and model.
- CCACCA, or cold-cranking amps, refers to the maximum number of amps the battery can produce in 30 minutes at 0º Fahrenheit. When looking for the best motorcycle battery for cold weather, look for a CCA rating of at least 380-400.
- VoltageMost modern motorcycles have a 12V electrical system, but always make sure the replacement battery matches the voltage requirements of your bike.
What is the average life of a motorcycle battery?
While it all depends on usage and environmental conditions, the best motorcycle batteries should typically last anywhere from three to five years of regular riding use. Many motorcycle battery brands post a rating for the number of charging cycles. Chrome Pro batteries, for example, are rated for at least 2000 charging cycles.
Will a USB charger drain a motorcycle battery?
While the draw from a USB charger plugged into a 12V to USB converter is very small, you shouldn’t leave devices plugged in while stopped for more than a few minutes, or your USB converter in place overnight. Especially when using devices like GPS units and speakers, try not to leave the accessories on for very long while stopped.
What charges a motorcycle battery when driving?
Motorcycles use an engine-driven generator to provide charge to the battery while driving, similarly to how a car uses an alternator to provide a constant voltage charge to its battery.
How to install a motorcycle battery?
Removal and installation of a motorcycle battery is relatively straightforward in most cases. Locate the battery, use the right size socket to remove the negative/ ground terminal bolt, then make sure you secure the negative cable away from the positive cable or other metals, and undo the positive terminal bolt in the same way. Remove the battery and check to see if the cable ends or the battery tray need cleaning. To install a new battery, insert the nuts the new battery comes with, then position the battery in place, then attach the positive cable first, then the negative cable.
Are gel motorcycle batteries better?
Depending on what kind of bike you have, a gel electrolyte motorcycle battery could be an upgrade. If you have an older bike that came with a wet cell battery, a gel motorcycle battery will provide better reliability and last longer without needing any maintenance. However, most modern bikes come with AGM or absorbed glass mat batteries, which have the benefits of a gel motorcycle battery while being even more robust and more compact.
What type of battery is a motorcycle battery?
Most motorcycles on the road today use sealed 12V batteries, and the most common type is an absorbed glass mat or AGM motorcycle battery.
How do I choose a motorcycle battery?
First look for the right fit; many motorcycle batteries are specific to certain models, and the best battery for Harley Davidson motorcycles may not fit a Triumph or Honda. Make sure the battery is the correct voltage and has enough cranking amps to start your bike. If you live in a cold climate look for the cold cranking amps or CCA rating as well, which can usually be found in a motorcycle battery comparison chart.
Why do motorcycle batteries die so fast?
The best motorcycle batteries can often last a decent length of time, from two to five years on average. However, many do find that motorcycle batteries die more quickly than car batteries. This may happen because motorcycles sit parked for longer and go on shorter drives, on average, giving the batteries less time to recharge and more time to slowly drain.
What is the CCA or Cold Cranking Amps?
Simply put, the CCA or cold cranking amps is the amount of power that a particular battery can produce when you start the motor.
A Harley battery with a higher CCA rating can produce and sustain more power each and every time. The bigger the motor, the higher the CCA requirement.
You should consider buying a Harley battery with a higher CCA rating especially if:
- You have an older or vintage Harley. Critical electrical components such as the alternator, starter, and the electrical wiring will deteriorate and age along with your bike. This means that your vintage Harley will need a lot more power to start the motor or to turn on the headlights. Installing a battery with a higher CCA rating will make life easier for your aging bike.
- You installed aftermarket accessories on your ride. You may not notice it, but installing aftermarket accessories such as radios, lighting kits, winches, etc. will put more strain on the battery. Choosing a battery with a higher CCA rating will help your Harley cope with the increased power demands of those accessories.
How Do They Test the Cold Cranking Amps of the Battery?
In order to determine the cold cranking amps, there are standardized tests that need to be performed by the Battery Council International (who knew such a body even existed). Each battery is exposed to a cold environment (hence the name ‘cold’ cranking amps), which is meant to imitate the worst case scenario when it comes to starting an engine. How cold? About 0 degrees Fahrenheit or.18 degrees Celsius. Yeah, that’s pretty bloody cold.
Measurements of the discharge load are then taken from a brand new and fully-charged battery when the motor is cranked for approximately 30 seconds. Does this test sound familiar? Yes, of course it does, it is the same thing you do if you’re based in cold climates like we are and still ride your bike when it is frigid outside (we’re gluttons for punishment). If you ever tried starting your motorcycle, car, or truck in the dead of winter, then you’ll know what this means and you feel our pain.
During the test, the battery will have to maintain a terminal voltage that is equal to or higher than 1.20 volts per cell. All of these tests will somehow give you an idea on the kind of performance that you can expect from your brand new battery, even when your Harley is exposed to chilly weather conditions.
Does a Higher CCA Rating mean a Better Battery?
Come to think of it, yes, especially if you live in a cold climate. But buying a new battery that has 300 CCA more than the recommended battery for your ride will not exactly help a lot. Of course, if your bike has tons of power-robbing accessories, then getting a battery with a higher CCA rating is the way to go, as long as you don’t mind the price difference between an OEM and aftermarket Harley battery.
But for stock applications, there is no need to spend more dough on a bigger or heavier battery with a higher CCA rating.
However, if your Harley is heavily modified to produce more power, then you will definitely need to buy a battery with a higher CCA rating. An ordinary or OEM battery will not be able to cope with the power demands of your modified bike. It will work fine for the first couple of months, but the battery will eventually weaken or die as you ride your bike.
We researched Harley appropriate batteries and narrowed it down to the five best batteries for Harley Davidson bikes that we highly recommend. Hopefully, this will make it painless to choose the right battery for your ride.
The 5 Best Batteries for Harley Davidson Bikes
HDX30L – Harley Davidson Replacement Motorcycle Battery
I have heard many times that the HDX30L is an OEM Harley battery with a different name. This product is proudly made in the USA and is probably one of the best aftermarket battery for any type of Harley Davidson.
The HDX30L is perfect for the 1997 to 2016 Road Glide, Electra Glide, Road King, Ultra Classic, and Street Glide bikes. This battery comes fully charged right out of the box and is ready to install. Simply hook this up to your Harley and you’re ready to ride!
The HDX30L is a maintenance free AGM battery with a rating of 400 CCA. This means that there are fiberglass pads between the plates that absorb the liquid electrolytes for a spill-proof design. As an added bonus, the HDX30L comes with new stainless steel bolts and an 18-month free replacement warranty.
If you watch most mechanics work they will be wearing some type of gloves. They might be leather gloves, or cotton gloves, but most of them wear nitrile or latex gloves. That is because they are disposable and keep your hands from getting stained with dirt and oil.
You might not think you need them, but I’ve found that even doing light maintenance leaves me with grime underneath my fingernails that stays there for days. These heavy duty gloves are awesome. They are thick enough that they won’t tear, and they will keep your hands clean from dirt, oil, and chain lube.
I also like to keep a pair of these either in my motorcycle storage compartment, or in my leather jacket. Just in case I have to do some emergency maintenance on the side of the road. They are also ideal to use in an emergency medical situation if you have the training.
- Made in the USA
- Spill-proof fully-sealed design
- 400 Cold Cranking Amps
- OEM quality
- Fully charged and ready to use out of the box
Where to buy
Yuasa GYZ32HL Battery
The Yuasa brand is a trusted name in motorcycle batteries. This particular Yuasa GYZ32HL is ideal for big Harley engines and touring bikes like the Road King, Ultra Classic, and the Street Glide.
The Yuasa GYZ32HL has a rating of 500 cold cranking amps. Featuring a unique lead-calcium technology that holds more power than conventional batteries, this Harley battery is fully sealed and spill proof.
There is no need to add or refill distilled water over the life of the battery.
However, there is a catch: this battery costs around 130. That’s a lot of money for a replacement battery.
- 500 Cold Cranking Amps
- Lead-calcium technology
- Spill-proof design
- Perfect for big Harley engines
Where to buy
Deka Sports Power ETX-30L
The unique selling proposition of the Deka Sports Power is that this battery is designed for true riding enthusiasts. This battery is a perfect fit not only for Harley bikes, but it is also ideal for ATVs, snowmobiles, and other power sports equipment.
The Deka Sports Power features a spill-proof and leak-proof design. This maintenance-free AGM battery has a 400 CCA rating. With a molded top and side connection terminals, this battery is a versatile and durable replacement for your OEM Harley battery.
Speaking about OEM, have you heard that Deka is the supplier of OEM Harley batteries? I didn’t know that, but that’s the rumor around town. There’s no telling if this is true, but enthusiasts swear by this fact because the OEM battery is totally identical to the Deka ETX-30L, apart from the fact that the Deka has a lower price compared to the OEM Harley battery.
- Leak-proof and spill-proof design
- 400 Cold Cranking Amps
- Side connection terminals for added versatility
- Friendly price
Where to buy
Pirate Battery YTX30L-BS High-Performance Power Sports Battery
The Pirate Battery YTX30L-BS is a high-performance lead acid battery with AGM separators between the plates.
This allows the battery to crank out 385 CCA and 30 AH. It has a fully-sealed maintenance-free design that is guaranteed not to leak.
Like all of the Harley batteries in this list, the Pirate Battery YTX30L-BS is filled, sealed, and pre—charged at the factory. This baby is ready to rock right out of the box.
Conclusion
All of the batteries in this list are ideal for Harley Davidson bikes. They all offer a solid leak-proof and maintenance-free design. But if I were to really choose, it would be a tie between the HDX30L and the Deka Power Sports EX30L. Both batteries cost more than 100, but they offer solid features and an impressive CCA for the price.
Promoted Product: Shorai LFX
Our editor had a chance to install a Shorai LFX lithium battery in his Kawasaki KLX300 for some testing and there are some very noticeable improvements over the stock lead-acid battery. The most obvious is the fact that the Shorai LFX was a whopping 3.2 pounds lighter (1.5 lbs vs 4.7 lbs). Voltage also increases from 12V to 13.3V, which means the engine cranks over quicker and starts faster.
Another advantage of the Shorai LFX is that it loses its change considerably more slowly than a lead-acid battery. This comes in handy for those of you with bikes that sit idle for weeks or months at a time, which is exactly what happens to this KLX300 during the sweltering summer months in the southwestern United States. It’s nice to know that your battery will be up to the task of starting your bike when you are ready to ride again.
The Shorai LFX also comes with a battery management system (BMS), which protects it from discharging it completely and from overheating. This means it won’t discharge to a point where it can’t be recharged again.
BikeMaster
You might know BikeMaster for the numerous parts, tools, and accessories it sells. Included among those is its own private label line of batteries, including lithium varieties. Backed by a two-year warranty, BikeMaster backs what I said in the intro paragraphs, claiming its batteries weigh a third of the weight of conventional batteries but still have enough power to crank even the most stubborn V-Twins. These batteries utilize cylindrical cells (as opposed to plates in other batteries) and, in the case of the DLFP-5L-BS seen here, vital stats are as follows:
Voltage: 12Capacity: 3AhDimensions: 114Lx70Wx105HHeight With Terminals: 105Battery Weight: 1.5 poundsNormal Amps: 1.5Max Amps: 6CCA (-18c ): 90
Search the BikeMaster site for the appropriate battery for your application.
Full Spectrum Power
The big talking point surrounding the Pulse IPT battery is the IPT Reset feature. Basically, if you somehow leave something on while the bike is turned off – like your lights or heated grips, for example, the battery’s internal circuitry can recognize the parasitic drain and will initiate a power cut off before it’s drained below 12 volts. This way the battery still has enough power to start your motorcycle again. In essence, this eliminates the need for a jump start and means you won’t be stranded. Pulse IPT batteries come in all shapes and sizes to fit several different applications, and all have the following features (from the Full Spectrum Power website):
IPT Battery Management System (BMS) – Every Pulse IPT battery comes with an integrated BMS which controls the function and behavior of the battery. This means better performance, longer life, and emergency start capability.
IPT Reset – Intelligent Pulse Technology does two things:
Leave the key in the “on” position for a few months? Press the IPT Reset button, and you will be able to start your bike. You will need to recharge your battery by either riding the bike, or putting it on a charger- but there will be enough power to start your bike once.
It will prevent the battery from being drained, and damaged beyond repair. Lithium batteries can be damaged beyond repair if they are drained below 12 volts. The IPT will prevent this from happening.
Universal Charger Capability – Most commercially available battery chargers work with the Pulse IPT batteries.
Advanced Case Design- Lighter and stronger than our previous case, it rejects heat, vibration, gas and oil.
Advanced Cell Design- We designed the Pulse IPT cells to cope with the demands of motorsports. Every component of our cells were designed and optimized for motorsports, based on a decade of experience building engine start batteries. These are only available from Full Spectrum Power.
V Direct Multi Terminal – Our solid copper terminals have 4 threaded mount holes. Attach your accessory wires without having to use long screws on one small terminal.
V Sleeve Silicon Terminal Covers – Color coded for polarity, our silicon terminal covers protect against short circuits.
How can you test your motorbike battery?
There are two ways to test your motorbike battery. They are,
The multi-tester method is more complex than the easy battery-tester method below but gives more detailed troubleshooting information.
The first method we’re going to use with a multimeter. A multimeter measures voltage, current and resistance.
You can use it to troubleshoot anything from motorcycle batteries and wiring issues to anything electrical in your home or shop.
Multimeters will help you in the long run throughout your life as they become something that you always appreciate having.
- To use a multimeter to test your bike, wait about a half hour after your last ride.
This is to ensure your battery is at an average stable level and isn’t spiked up because you were just revving it on the motorway.
For some, this would mean lifting to reach the gas tank or taking off some fairings or panels or lifting your seat.
- If you have the pigtails for battery chargers, you can take advantage of their being a positive and negative terminal and test from there. Let’s see how to do this.
Step 1: Set your multimeter to 20 volts DC.
Step 2: Take the battery charger pigtails and put the red probe on the positive terminal and the black probe on the negative terminal.
Step 3: Check the screen; you’ll see a reading right there. This reading will show you the voltage, indicating how charged the battery is.
What you want ideally is a number to be over 12.6 volts.
For example, if your reading shows 12.95, the battery is 100% charged.
- If you’re seeing anything over 12.4, you might be okay. But your battery will be dangerously low if you see just over 12 or under 12.
If, after charging your battery, the reading still doesn’t get back up to at least 12.6, you need to replace it, not recharge it, or it will leave you stranded.
How to read a multimeter for motorbike batteries – A super-simple chart
Here’s a helpful chart to understand what each voltage reading means,
Detailed Guide: How to check your bike’s charging system with a multimeter.
While checking the voltage, you should also check your bike’s charging system.
If you can start the bike, start by just turning the key. When you start the bike, the voltage will drop before it goes up.
The drop happens because the bike would initially be powering the dash. So it’s drawing a little bit of power from the battery.
When you hit the starter, the voltage will drop and spike up again.
When you hit the starter, your voltage will go back up; it will spike even more if you start revving up the bike.
If you’re not seeing that, you probably have an issue with your charging system, and you may or may not have a problem with your battery.
So it’s important to check the system before checking if your batteries still need replacing.
But what if you don’t have a multimeter or all the voltage numbers are too confusing?
Relax; there’s a much easier way.
Detailed Guide: Testing your motorbike battery with a battery tester (easy!)
Using a battery tester is the easiest way to check if your motorbike battery needs replacing.
Unlike a multimeter, you can only use a battery tester for one purpose– you can’t use it to find a short or test your home electricals.
It’s also more expensive than a multimeter. A good tester costs around 100-150, while a multimeter tester would cost something between 25 to 50.
But what it does, it does really fast and really well.
A battery tester will quickly tell you if your motorbike battery can be recharged or need to be replaced- this is done by using the adjustable load test as the gauge.
The battery tester measures the voltage drop when a voltage load that’s half the battery’s CCA rating is used.
How do you use the battery tester?
Make sure that when you do the test, the ambient temperature is not below 20⁰C.
The load is applied for about 15 seconds, and the voltage drop is measured.
If the drop reading does not fall below 9.6 volts, your battery is in good condition and does not need to be replaced.
Your battery has a Cold Cranking Amp (CCA) rating of 600. (visit this guide if you don’t really know what a CCA is)– If you apply 300 amps load for 15 seconds and the measured voltage doesn’t drop below 9.6 volts- your motorbike battery is all good to go.
Buying a multimeter or a battery tester can save you a few bucks from buying a motorcycle battery you may not need.
But if you need to replace your motorbike battery, here’s what to do.