What You Should Know About a Lithium Motorcycle Battery

Lithium motorcycle batteries offer numerous advantages over their lead-acid counterparts and should help boost performance without adding much additional weight.

Lead-acid batteries offer lower self-discharge rates and more resistance to deep discharging than their lithium counterparts; however, lithium ion batteries do require special charging equipment and may be sensitive to temperature changes.

Power

Lithium batteries resemble traditional lead acid batteries in their basic structure and components, including an anode, cathode and electrolyte mix designed to prevent corrosion and shorten battery lifespan. But where they differ is with regard to cathode material used; lithium cathodes offer lower internal resistance than their lead counterparts which translates to greater power and faster recharge rates.

Lithium motorcycle batteries have long been touted for their lighter weight compared to lead-acid options, yet many riders may not realize there are other advantages associated with switching over. Here are just a few benefits you may have overlooked when making your decision:

Lithium batteries offer numerous advantages to motorcycle riders, with power density being their key benefit. A lithium battery produces more cranking amps per weight unit for equivalent power, making it more cost-effective than conventional options of similar rating. This benefit can especially come in handy when trying to shed weight from their bikes – something especially essential when dealing with sportbike riders who often spend considerable time and resources trying to shed extra weight from their ride.

Lithium batteries boast a low self-discharge rate, meaning when not being used they do not lose much power when stored over winter without losing capacity. Lithium batteries also recharge quickly so it’s easy to bring back up to full strength once riding season begins again.

As with any battery, lithium batteries should be regularly checked to monitor their electrolyte level to get an idea of their performance and ensure you can replenish if they begin to drop too low.

Keep an eye out for signs of physical damage or corrosion on the terminals of your lithium battery, and take steps to properly maintain it by charging it every six months or so using a motorcycle charger that meets manufacturer guidelines for your particular model.

Weight

Lithium batteries boast much higher power densities than traditional lead acid battery types, meaning that they can provide equal cranking amps at much reduced weight compared to their counterparts. A quality lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery can weigh three or four times less but still produce the same cranking amperage – this weight savings can add up, particularly on sportbikes or other high-performance motorcycles where every ounce counts!

Lithium batteries also offer several additional advantages over lead-acid ones in terms of internal voltage stability, making them safer to operate and less susceptible to thermal runaway.

While lithium batteries may seem relatively straightforward to manage, you must still treat them with care. They must be charged using an intelligent battery charger compatible with their voltage requirements to avoid overcharging – something which could potentially shorten its lifespan or even damage it further.

Lithium batteries can also be affected by exposure to extreme temperatures, such as those found in garages or sheds. Exposure may cause the electrolyte level to decrease, exposing battery plates to air, leading to further degradation and eventually their failure.

These factors could explain why lithium batteries may not be found on stock motorcycles – they’re still relatively new technology, and OEMs might prefer spending their budget on more impactful upgrades such as traction control or better suspension instead. But you will likely come across them on modern homologation liter bikes and some top-tier motocross machines.

Longevity

Motorcycle enthusiasts have likely heard about lithium batteries before, and one common belief about them is that they last twice as long and weigh two-thirds less than lead-acid ones, charging faster and being more resistant to deep discharging than their counterparts. Although these claims are true, they should also be seen as generalizations; there are other factors you need to keep in mind when determining if lithium is suitable for your bike.

Lithium batteries should first and foremost be understood. Their suspended electrolyte design makes them much faster to charge and slower to discharge than wet/flooded lead-acid batteries, while depending on the manufacturer they can last anywhere between three and five years with regular usage.

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are the go-to lithium batteries for motorcycles, and are generally considered safe, reliable, and powerful. Compatible with standard automotive charging systems and suitable for street, dirt, and racing bikes alike.

Other lithium variants, like LiCoO2 batteries used for consumer electronics or lithium titanate (LiTiO) batteries used by electric vehicles, may not be ideal for high discharge applications like motorcycles. While these lightweight and compact batteries offer lightweight designs with shorter lifespans than their counterparts.

For the maximum life out of a lithium motorcycle battery, proper care must be taken. A dedicated lithium battery charger can help optimize this process; additionally, disconnecting lithium batteries before long-term storage will prevent water turning to gas and leading to corrosion on their lead plates.

Be mindful that lithium batteries are more temperature sensitive than lead-acid ones. This can have an adverse effect on their lifespan and performance in cold weather, leading many riders to disconnect their lithium batteries during winter riding season. If keeping their lithium batteries connected is desired, make sure they utilize a lithium battery monitor regularly and check its electrolyte level levels.

Maintenance

Maintaining your lithium battery correctly is the key to its long-term survival and there are a few things you should keep in mind in order to do this. First and foremost is using an appropriate charger, like one designed specifically for lithium rather than lead acid batteries; using an inappropriate one could damage or short out your lithium battery and even cause it to short out or melt completely.

Note that lithium batteries are more sensitive to temperature changes than traditional lead-acid ones; high temperatures can shorten their lifespan while low temperatures reduce performance. Therefore, it is generally advisable to leave lithium batteries connected when not riding your motorcycle for prolonged periods and only remove it when ready.

Maintaining lithium battery electrolyte levels on an ongoing basis and replenishing them as necessary with deionised or distilled water should also be a top priority. Although you don’t need to do it as frequently, such monitoring must at least occur every six months at least – access your lithium battery by taking off the seat or panel from its side of your bike and see its electrolyte level through its body between its upper/lower or MAX/MIN mark lines marked on it.

Before each ride, it is a wise practice to warm up your lithium battery by placing some sort of load upon it, such as turning on the headlights. Doing this will cause it to warm more quickly and increase its capacity – providing more power over a longer period than with old lead-acid batteries.

As soon as your battery has warmed up, connecting it to your bike should go without issue. Keep in mind, however, if it has been left completely flat for extended periods it may not start up your bike and in this instance using a top-of-the-line lithium battery charger designed specifically for this type of battery will likely revive it and get it functioning again.