What Type of Battery is Best for a Motorcycle?
Powersports
- Sponsor
- OPTIMA Batteries
- Location
- Glendale, WI
Motorcycle owners can choose from a variety of battery technologies now, between flooded lead-acid, AGM (which is also a form of lead-acid) and lithium. So which type of battery is best for a motorcycle? The answer depends on some factors. If you're looking for the least-expensive option in terms of up-front cost, a flooded lead-acid battery is probably your best option. However, that low price point comes with the knowledge that flooded lead-acid batteries tend not to last as long as AGM or lithium batteries. That's ok if you just need a battery to start a bike you're about to sell.
AGM lead-acid batteries should offer superior performance and lifespan to their flooded counterparts, but they typically come with a higher initial price point. So where do lithium batteries fit into the picture? A quality lithium battery, like the OPTIMA ORANGETOP, will offer superior performance to both flooded lead-acid and AGM lead-acid batteries and vastly superior lifespan, but it does carry the biggest pricetag. If maintained properly, a lithium battery will offer thousands more starts and/or cycles than a lead-acid battery and it will do it with a significantly less weight.
How much lighter is a lithium battery? The largest lithium motorcycle batteries typically in use are Group 30 batteries. On the lead-acid side, a YIX30L-BS or YTX30L-BS battery could weigh between 18 and 21 pounds, while OPTIMA's QUAD30 ORANGETOP weighs just 8.1 pounds. The smaller OPTIMA ORANGETOP batteries weigh even less, but the benefits of an OPTIMA battery don't begin with better performance and end with lighter weight.
OPTIMA ORANGETOP motorcycle batteries are IP67-rated against dust and water intrusion, so if you ride your bike in the rain...or mud...or dirt, you don't need to worry about the battery being compromised by those conditions. OPTIMA ORANGETOP motorcycle batteries also have a built-in BMS (battery management system) that will protect your battery from over-voltage and under-voltage situations. What are some examples?
If something is discharging your battery, OPTIMA's trademarked CPR system will automatically disconnect your battery from that draw and hold enough power in reserve to start your bike at least one more time, to help get you home safely. The OPTIMA BMS will also prevent your board components from overheating. How could that happen?
Whenever you use a lithium battery to start your motorcycle, heat is generated inside of the battery. Lesser lithium batteries may have no protection for over-temperature situations, so if you are repeatedly trying to start your motorcycle with one of those batteries, you could generate so much heat inside the battery, that it would permanently damage internal components. The OPTIMA ORANGETOP battery will automatically shut the battery off and prevent this overheating situation.
OPTIMA's patented POWERLINK system will also give you remote access to your battery, to make it easier to check state of charge and connect to an OPTIMA battery charger. The quad terminals on OPTIMA ORANGETOP batteries also make it easier to mount your battery in a way that works best for your bike. Warranty service for the duration of the five-year, free replacement term is just a phone call (1-888-8-OPTIMA) or email (info@optimabatteries.com) away from our US-based customer service department.
While lithium batteries may be a relatively new offering for OPTIMA, we've been in the battery business quite a while. This isn't a side hustle for us, it's our only business. If a lithium motorcycle battery isn't in the mix for you this time, make sure you purchase an AGM or flooded lead-acid battery from a battery brand you can trust!
AGM lead-acid batteries should offer superior performance and lifespan to their flooded counterparts, but they typically come with a higher initial price point. So where do lithium batteries fit into the picture? A quality lithium battery, like the OPTIMA ORANGETOP, will offer superior performance to both flooded lead-acid and AGM lead-acid batteries and vastly superior lifespan, but it does carry the biggest pricetag. If maintained properly, a lithium battery will offer thousands more starts and/or cycles than a lead-acid battery and it will do it with a significantly less weight.
How much lighter is a lithium battery? The largest lithium motorcycle batteries typically in use are Group 30 batteries. On the lead-acid side, a YIX30L-BS or YTX30L-BS battery could weigh between 18 and 21 pounds, while OPTIMA's QUAD30 ORANGETOP weighs just 8.1 pounds. The smaller OPTIMA ORANGETOP batteries weigh even less, but the benefits of an OPTIMA battery don't begin with better performance and end with lighter weight.
OPTIMA ORANGETOP motorcycle batteries are IP67-rated against dust and water intrusion, so if you ride your bike in the rain...or mud...or dirt, you don't need to worry about the battery being compromised by those conditions. OPTIMA ORANGETOP motorcycle batteries also have a built-in BMS (battery management system) that will protect your battery from over-voltage and under-voltage situations. What are some examples?
If something is discharging your battery, OPTIMA's trademarked CPR system will automatically disconnect your battery from that draw and hold enough power in reserve to start your bike at least one more time, to help get you home safely. The OPTIMA BMS will also prevent your board components from overheating. How could that happen?
Whenever you use a lithium battery to start your motorcycle, heat is generated inside of the battery. Lesser lithium batteries may have no protection for over-temperature situations, so if you are repeatedly trying to start your motorcycle with one of those batteries, you could generate so much heat inside the battery, that it would permanently damage internal components. The OPTIMA ORANGETOP battery will automatically shut the battery off and prevent this overheating situation.
OPTIMA's patented POWERLINK system will also give you remote access to your battery, to make it easier to check state of charge and connect to an OPTIMA battery charger. The quad terminals on OPTIMA ORANGETOP batteries also make it easier to mount your battery in a way that works best for your bike. Warranty service for the duration of the five-year, free replacement term is just a phone call (1-888-8-OPTIMA) or email (info@optimabatteries.com) away from our US-based customer service department.
While lithium batteries may be a relatively new offering for OPTIMA, we've been in the battery business quite a while. This isn't a side hustle for us, it's our only business. If a lithium motorcycle battery isn't in the mix for you this time, make sure you purchase an AGM or flooded lead-acid battery from a battery brand you can trust!