Can a Motorcycle Battery Still Be Used After Sitting Idle for a Year?
3 Answers
Long-term inactivity of a motorcycle may render the battery unusable. Effects of prolonged inactivity on the battery: The battery itself has a certain internal resistance, which consumes the battery's own power when not in use. If left unused for an extended period, the battery plates may undergo sulfation, increasing internal resistance and potentially leading to plate corrosion or even breakage, resulting in permanent damage and rendering the battery unusable. Solutions: First, check if the electrolyte level is low (maintenance-free batteries do not require electrolyte checks). Then, use a battery charger to charge the battery with a low current. If the battery still does not function properly after charging, it will need to be replaced with a new one.
My Honda motorcycle's battery was completely dead when I tried to start it last week after being stored since last year. This situation is quite common - motorcycle batteries are much more delicate than car batteries. Just sitting idle for half a year can cause power loss, let alone a whole year. Nowadays, lead-acid batteries all have self-discharge characteristics. Even with all circuits turned off, they lose 10%-15% of their charge monthly. After 12 months of storage, my battery's voltage had already dropped below 10 volts, with sulfation forming on the plate surfaces. First, remove it and try slow charging with a dedicated charger at low current for 8 hours. If the voltage can reach 12.7V after charging, connect it to a load tester to check discharge performance. If the tester shows a red alarm light, it basically means the battery is dead. I replaced mine with a lithium iron phosphate battery last year for this reason - its self-discharge rate during dormancy is much lower. When removing the battery, I recommend taking photos to document the wiring connections first, and remember to apply some grease on the terminal posts to prevent oxidation.
Last week I just pulled out my Yamaha that had been stored for a year, and sure enough the battery was dead. Motorcycle batteries have small capacity to begin with, and will basically be ruined after half a year of inactivity. Key things to check are whether the electrode terminals have white crystalline buildup - rinse them with boiling water and then try charging. Pay special attention to ventilation during charging, and it's best to use a 0.1C current (e.g. 0.5A for a 5Ah battery) for 12 hours. After the charger turns green, measure with a multimeter - only batteries showing over 13V have hope. Don't force it if it really won't charge, as over-discharged batteries may swell if charged forcibly. For emergency starts, you can temporarily use a car battery for jump starting, but be sure to ride for at least half an hour afterward to recharge. For long-term storage, it's best to start the bike monthly, or simply remove the battery and keep it on a maintenance charger. Oh, and don't forget to check the tire pressure too.
