The relationship between your motorcycle battery and engine functions much in the same way as a car battery. The alternator is fitted with a regulator that charges the battery while you ride. However, it’s important to note that normal riding may not be enough to fully charge the battery after being completely depleted. For example, if you accidentally leave your headlight on overnight and find that the battery has died in the morning, the alternator in your bike may not provide enough power to fully replenish the charge after you jump start the engine. In this case, you may need to connect your battery to an external charger/maintainer.

Do Different Types of Bikes Provide Different Charging Power?

Whether your alternator can revive your dead battery largely depends on the type of motorcycle you own. Magnetic stators don’t charge at low RPMs. Your owner’s manual will tell you if a certain voltage is required in order for your alternator to begin charging your battery.

How Can I Tell if My Motorcycle Battery is Beyond Repair?

The only way to know the state of your battery for certain is to use a battery tester. This accessory determines the health of your battery in a matter of seconds, so you can find out if a good charging session will do the trick, or if it’s time to purchase a replacement battery.

Will My Alternator Charge the Battery if My Motorcycle is Running Stationary?

If you find that your motorcycle alternator is capable of recharging your dead battery, you will likely need to run the bike on the road in order for the alternator to work most effectively. It is recommended that you return to your garage after your ride in case the bike refuses to start up again after being shut off. In most cases, a ride on the road is enough of a recharge for normal use. However, if the battery is deeply depleted or dead, it may not start up again after being shut off. If this happens, we recommend using a charger/maintainer to bring the battery up to a fully charged state.

Regardless of what type of motorcycle you own, every bike will have some type of alternator designed to keep your battery operating correctly while you ride. This is an important safety feature that riders rely on. But if you find that your bike has continuous issues starting up or your tester says your battery is dead—it’s time for a replacement. Remember that Yuasa batteries are the highest performing powersports batteries available. When it comes to replacing your battery, make sure you use Yuasa.