Should you upgrade to a lithium motorcycle battery?

Read on to see if these lightweight batteries are worth the extra coin.

The battery is one of the most important parts of your motorcycle. It acts as the heart of the motorcycle’s charging system, and is essential for modern-day bikes to run properly. Back in the day, you could get away with a bad battery by stomping multiple times on the kick-starter. However, the advent of high-tech features being stuffed into motorcycles has seen newer bikes ever more dependent on a healthy battery and charging system.

That said, numerous upgrades can be made to your motorcycle. Things like lights, horns, mobile chargers, and other accessories can put a strain on your battery and the bike’s electrical system. This in turn, substantially shortens battery life. On top of this, the stock lead-acid battery found on most motorcycles tends to be very heavy. As such, many enthusiasts replace their stock battery with a lithium one. Now, while lithium batteries present themselves with quite a few benefits, there are also a few drawbacks. Read on to see if you should upgrade to a lithium motorcycle battery.

They're super light

Your run-of-the-mill lead-acid battery weighs anywhere between 2 to 4 kilograms. While nearly all motorcycles come standard with this type of battery, swapping it out for a lighter alternative will undoubtedly make a noticeable difference. Lithium batteries are significantly lighter. In fact, most batteries of this type tip the scales at less than 1 kilogram. Given the fact that motorcycle batteries tend to sit high up on the vehicle, reducing weight in that area dramatically improves handling and the overall feel of the bike.

Another benefit that lithium batteries have is the fact that they occupy far less space than their lead-acid counterparts. This makes them perfect for custom applications, wherein motorcycle builders try to conceal as much of the electrical system as possible, to achieve a clean and seamless aesthetic. For street bikes, the additional space provided by a lithium battery can be used to store additional tools and other essentials.

They pack quite a punch

Apart from being extremely lightweight, lithium batteries pack quite a punch. They also hold charge for much longer than lead-acid batteries. Numerous tests conducted by multiple groups have shown that lithium batteries discharge at a far slower rate than lead-acid batteries when left standing for extended periods of time. This means that you can leave your motorcycle parked for a week or two, without having to rely on a battery tender to keep your battery charged.

Lithium batteries can be situated in any position, making them ideal for dirt bikes and enduros, which often find themselves in crashes and tip-overs. An ordinary lead-acid battery could potentially be destroyed by a tip-over due to the liquid electrolytes leaking. Lithium batteries, on the other hand, continue to provide the same amount of power regardless of their position—similar to that of your mobile phone.

Come in a get the Lithium battery that V1 MOTO's experts use from V1 MOTO for $150. More power, lighter weight, definitely worth it!

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