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A motorcycle or a scooter battery has to be maintained to last a long time. This is especially important for successful winter driving. Here are some essential tips.
In two-wheeled motor vehicles where the battery is small for reasons of space and weight, good maintenance can significantly extend its life. The most important advice when using a motorcycle or scooter in winter is to remove the battery, charge it fully and store it in a cool place at a temperature of about 10°C. If not using the machine for a period of around three months, it is still necessary to charge the battery from time to time with a charger so that it remains at a capacity of 100%. Of course, this also applies to the end of winter. The battery must be charged at a room temperate of about 20°C, but not in a living room or bedroom.
When removing the battery, always remove the negative pole first, and when replacing it, put it back last. When replacing the battery, make sure that the poles are clean, grease-free and protected by electroconductive grease before connecting the terminals. If you charge the installed battery, you must not turn the ignition on as this can damage the motor control units!
If you leave your vehicle in a place where the temperature is higher than 10°C in winter, you can leave the battery inside the vehicle. However, no device which continues to consume energy (e.g. alarm system) should remain connected. If this type of equipment cannot be switched off, the battery cables must at least be removed. Even when the battery remains in the vehicle, it must be properly serviced. Often this can only be done by connecting additional cables due to the location of the battery, so removing the battery is usually the most convenient method.
In all cases, it is necessary to check the acid level in traditional batteries. If the battery runs out of fluid, adjust the level using distilled water. Very important: do this right after the battery has been charged, because the acid increases in volume during charging and its level rises. The battery must always be fully charged. Partial charges only can cause as much damage as overload.