So Your Motorcycle Has a Dead Battery. Now What? | MC Garage

A dead motorcycle battery is a drag, but it won’t ruin your day. Here’s how to diagnose, jump-start, and charge your motorcycle battery so you can get on your way.
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Whether you left your key on or you’ve just got an old battery that’s struggling to hold a charge, if there isn’t enough juice to turn the starter, you’re not going anywhere. Bump-starting your bike might work, but modern motorcycles with fuel injection and electronic ignition systems need a fair bit of juice to do their thing, so you’re probably gonna need some supplemental electricity.
If you’re not in a hurry and your battery is just tired enough that it won’t crank the starter, you could just hook your bike up to a battery charger and come back later or try to diagnose the problem. But if you need to get going right now, you’re going to need a jump-start.
Diagnosing A Motorcycle Battery
The most important tool you’ll need to diagnose your dead motorcycle battery is a multimeter. This will allow you to see the standing voltage of your battery. Remove all of your bodywork or pull off your seat and connect your multimeter to your battery terminals. Remember, red is positive and black is negative. Once you’ve connected the leads, turn your multimeter on and set it to read volts, some multimeters auto-detect the voltage it should be reading and others require a setting-read your multimeter manual and it should give you a good idea for what setting you need to use.
If your battery reads above 12.73 volts, then it is good to go and the reason why your bike is not starting lies elsewhere. Below 12.73 and you should give your battery a charge. Below 12.05 and its time for a new battery. Your bike may start with a standing voltage of 12.05, but it might be hard to start, causing wear on your bike’s electrical system. If you’re on a time crunch and need to get somewhere now, then jump your battery.
How To Jump Start A Motorcycle Battery
Plenty of car drivers roll around with jumper cables, which will allow you to use the battery in their vehicle to get your bike cranking. Just find yourself a good Samaritan, have 'em pop the hood, and hook up the cables.
First, connect to the positive (red) terminals on both vehicles. Then clamp onto the negative terminal of the good battery, but attach the other black clamp to an unpainted chassis part away from your bike's battery. The idea here is that, since the last clamp you connect is going to spark, you want it to happen away from the battery, which could possibly, potentially, maybe be emitting hydrogen gas due to its unhealthy condition. And, as the folks in the Hindenburg found out, hydrogen is flammable. You're not likely to have any issues, especially with modern sealed AGM batteries, but it's easy to minimize the risk to nearly zero by clamping somewhere safe.
If you’re jump-starting off a car, we recommend having the car off because the car’s battery has so much more capacity than your bike’s battery. If the car is running, you run the risk of overloading your bike’s battery or frying some of your electrical components. In a perfect world, you’d thumb the starter once and your bike would fire up, but that probably would not happen, so it is better to be safe than sorry.
So with the cables connected, flip your bike’s key, hit the starter, and hopefully, it fires up. With the bike running disconnect the cables-negatives first at both ends-but keep your bike going so the battery can charge up.
Jumping A Motorcycle With A Power Pack
Jumper cables are a tried-and-true method, but there’s another option. Jumper packs, like the Portable Power Pack from Deltran, are small and light enough to stash in your backpack and work great to keep your phone charged or as a work light while you’re plugging a flat tire on the side of the road at night, but where these devices really shine is as a portable jump-starter. It uses a lithium-ion battery that’s strong enough to crank a V-8 truck, and while it’s pretty expensive, it’s undeniably convenient, especially for motorcyclists.
What To Do After Jump-Starting Your Bike
Once your bike is up and running again, don’t assume everything is all good. At your earliest convenience, you should hook up to a charger to ensure your battery is properly topped off, or go back and try to diagnose the battery. Ideally, use a modern multi-stage smart charger that’ll charge and recondition your battery. And if you’re not sure why your battery died or if you’re having issues with your charging system, stay tuned to MC Garage.
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[@YTisDumb]

Always Park at the top of the hill. Problem solved.

[@IDYLBERRY]

Doesn't work with fuel injected systems. Need power for fuel pump.

[@VICScrambler]

IDYLBERRY nope. I roll started my 2014 Street Triple.

[@savejeff15]

I did that for weeks bevor getting a Lithium Batterie

[@savejeff15]

IDYLBERRY it works no problem. Most of the time the battery is not completely empty but not strong enough to turn the starter. Fuel pump is running as usual

[@Samuel-qe9lj]

it does

[@estellemarshall6402]

I just started riding a motorcycle and my battery went dead. You helped me find the location of the battery on my bike lol Thank you!

[@CaptainVelveeta]

Just bought a pre-gen Ninja 250 and you guys are like having a big brother to go to every time I have an issue...I appreciate everything you do...you guys are awesome!

[@MrLongfellow11]

25fqf question

[@DarkTideOffroad]

sus

[@aarons5259]

The best solution to a dead battery is to place a fan in front of the bike, sit on the bike, and use your imagination. Yesterday I went to ride of the century rode with the guys at the Isle of Man and never left the bubble wrapped safety of my garage.

[@aarons5259]

OregonOnTwoWheels OregonOnTwoWheels Awe man, my bad I was about to hit mach 1 going into that corner and I was worried that if I lifted up my had to wave the shear force of the wind generated by the Honeywell standup fan would’ve ripped off my hand. I am sincerely sorry 😞.

[@2_Bike_is_Life]

This is how I ride every winter.

[@aarons5259]

Kill Switch Off Hell yeah brother ride safe

[@xaploq1]

I have been squiding since I was 4 on a 40s bike my grandma had in her backyard. I got in a bad wreck though when I was 6. the bike tipped over not fun at all.

[@Seniorsix]

Clown

[@angeloriley5478]

Dude! Thanks for helping me out on this nice sunny day. It worked and I was off in 10 mins! Thanks for the simple and clear explanation. It was a great day.

[@BoZhaoengineering]

Thank you very much for your instruction. This is exactly what I need. My bike's battery is dead now and I need to jumper it for startup.

[@jfkid777]

I just killed my battery by leaving the key in and the light on and was unsure of the best things to do for my battery after that. I really appreciate your great and detailed instructions. Keep rockin two wheels down.

[@JonahZX10]

What did you do replace it or charge it somehow?

[@ysituation]

Thanks for the instructions, would not have been able to sort my bike without this vid 👍🏼

[@oerangoetangoerangoetang3690]

VR46 Helmet spotted in the left corner! I just want to say that you guys are awesome and i have been watching this channel from the beginning. Great quality content with a lot of usefull tips and tricks. Love it! Keep going! Much love from Belgium!

[@AriH211]

Thank you! I've visited your country and enjoyed it very much.

[@myeej3]

Oerangoetang Oerangoetang qetyggghbdfunxcbdykflfkfßkdnxbxjdhchchçxñxnxmmxccñcnçbcjdñdjxjxjxk,cynhzccgvbbbbbhmzqñghb

[@mariobondanza5149]

Hey Ari, this is a very useful video, I hope you will release more in depth ones. One more tip from me: once the engine has cranked, then go out for a 2 hours ride on a smooth road (avoid stop and go in the trafic) in order to let the electrical system of your bike to effectively recharge the battery. If your battery has really come to its end, then this method could not be enough. For this reason, if you have some rest along the way, then take care of parking your bike facing downhill. The recharged juice should be enough to power the sparks and the injectors anyway, the slope will help you cranking the engine. Sometimes even the 2nd gear is too short, then go with the 3rd. Have fun ;-)

[@willcacek6477]

Exactly don’t do it my damn self dead I want to first and accidentally released my clutch there went the rest of my battery I’d also be concerned with stop and go traffic because on a hill I haven’t given enough gas ones with the clutch and stalled for a second Battery was dead that would suck

[@myonlineusername6015]

What happens on traffic lights? I have that happen to me

[@PakistaniMetalhead]

Unfortunately for me this happened on a Sunday evening when all the shops was closed...so I rode home instead and now my bike jump starts but doesn't stay on after I remove the jumper cables

[@John-rw2zf]

Thank you so much for the jump start video. Was always worried I might fry my electronics in my bike. Not so much now.

[@rangorossi2982]

Excellent video, very helpful, thanks Ari, you the man!!

[@surg23]

This happened to me recently. Battery dropped to 11.2 volts. Stuck it on a charger for 30 minutes and she was good to go.The battery quickly went up to 13+ volts and started like a champ. The battery was reading only 30% charge on a smart charger. That power pack looks quite tempting now.

[@ryvoltz]

What I did was get a new battery. Worked just fine. =P Excellent video, guys! Thanks a lot!

[@MovethesoulKR]

THE best motorcycle channel for informative videos!! Always appreciate your work.

[@AriH211]

Right on, thanks!

[@larsborjesson9021]

This episode helped me big time today! Thanks!!

[@professionalspeedster411]

I started learning to ride on my dad's bike yesterday and I heard this exact sound when I tried starting it, I'm so glad I didn't just break it beyond repair

[@snakeman9902]

I have heard all sorts of horror stories about charging your bike from a car, so I clicked on this vid and it did help, damn battery virtually flat. It took 3 attempts to start the bike from the car battery, with plenty of revs to stop it dying, I thought the battery had died on me all together, this attempt to save my battery is much needed as the weather is getting colder... Working fine now, fingers crossed.. Cheers bro..

[@specialized29er86]

Thanks, I was wondering if I had to disconnect the leads to the battery, excellent a very easy process.

[@GETUPANDGO]

Awesome--soo, I had bike shops giving me bad information about jump starting a bike, but maybe I shouldn't be surprised

[@NAJErEa91]

THANK U FOR THE EXAMPLE OF THE SOUND A DEAD BIKE BATTERY MAKES @0:03 UGH SMH LOOKING FORWARD TO THE VIDEO

[@sreesha1990]

MC Garage.. Thank you for your service! Jumped my 2016 kawasaki ninja zx6r battery whihc was completely dead from my car and left it running for 45 mins.. battery charged fully.. no issues..

[@coleclanahan7740]

Do you have any issues with the battery draining? Did it crank up the next day without it needing to be charged?

[@povlhalberg5361]

And the connection of negative cable to frame on the "dead" bike is also because the current will take the path of least resistance to the starter. The dead battery will act as a huge resistor and can make jumpstart even more difficult.

[@velmanski]

i like the intro with the bolts and knobs, cool touch 👌

[@Goosht]

Great timing with this video!

[@sennsir]

That new thumbnail is great! 😂👏

[@jairocantillo5678]

Good information, as usuall. Keep running your videos!,

[@sarahdell4042]

My worst fears when dealing with batteries!

[@Amd107]

Much needed video! Thanks

[@specialcircs]

Great video, very helpful. Unfortunately that Deltran jump starter is $194 in the UK!!!!!

[@UvidCo]

As always another great video. Thumbs up guys.

[@Di_zz]

Awesome video! My drz died on me!! Your explanation really helps a lot!!! Thanks!!

[@jhojanrendon6936]

Thank you for the video! I got my bike running now!

[@_westcoastcanine_]

Awesome info. Thanks!

[@disekjoumoer]

As this is the case on my bike, I ingeniously got a Noco Genius. Will try it out tomorrow. Thanks once again for your awesome videos. In case you're catholic, I'm nominating you for the patron saint of motorcycle repair.

[@GIGABACHI]

ROTFLMAO, that last sentence. \(^o^)/

[@micaKTM1290]

I'd recommend an Anti-Gravity PPS, a lot smaller than the Deltran. I have jumped several cars with it and fits in your pocket.

[@PurplDanq]

Thanks for the video! Came in handy

[@BN1960]

Good vid chaps, clear and easy to understand. Nice one.

[@AriH211]

Thanks Nigel, that's what we aim for.

[@dangrinthal4541]

That was the coolest video intro animation (the MC logo stopmotion) I've ever seen

[@mdalikazi]

I dont think its a stop motion. I think they shot the part where "Garage" is written, then erased it, shook the table in a certain fashion and recorded it becoming a mess. Then they reversed that mess footage, stitched it with the writing footage and the whole thing looks like magic. Quite creative.

[@as601]

Very informative videos. Can you guys do a video on spark plug replacement in a yamaha fz 07 or 09 if possible?

[@eldinbashic3900]

The clearest explanation. +1 sub

[@Gooch359]

Loving the videos, learning alot. got an Idea for video, How to convert tubed tire bikes to tubeless. Iv read alot about it but none of it really makes much sense to me. Im restoring a bike and would like to make subtle modern upgrades.

[@sunilkumarmallik4857]

As always another useful video from mc garage

[@feodiente9460]

Appreciate you guys..very helpful

[@classicsalted]

Mc garage on a roll!!

[@tomh3644]

just jump started my bike after watching this video! thank you

[@SteveHacker]

Are there any differences, benefits, or issues with charging a bike, car, lawnmower, etc., with the battery IN circuit vs OUT of circuit? Does it make any difference? If I’m regularly using a Battery Tender, say, during winter months (any long period of down time), is it better to keep the battery out of/disconnected from the vehicle circuit, or is it the same as leaving it connected to the vehicle while charging?

[@gregk.1831]

Another good video, keep up the good work.

[@leantech6515]

Hi to MC Garage! Can you make a video on how to overhaul engine and tramsmission. Great work guys bu the way!!

[@ricardoardiano1550]

Many thanks for this

[@kanuckkorner8477]

Hey Ari , could you do a video on power commanders for aftermarket exhausts and install thanks !

[@HamzahVerster]

There is a company in South-Africa that recondition your old battery (no matter the condition) to almost better than brand new condition! I have taken my 10year old battery to them three times and it works fantastically well 👌

[@banzobeans]

Super helpful! Thx

[@alwaysenjoyable3696]

Another great video!

[@anoopsharma3940]

Thanks for such a nice useful video

[@Choirboyjr11]

You guys are the best!

[@georgemennenga]

Thanks for the help 😘

[@b.u.shankarboopathy6593]

Excellent.👍👍👍

[@Nakawansha]

That R3 I guees made in Indonesia since it use GS Astra as battery and that is very common in here... Salam Dari Indonesia!

[@meyerhaus3189]

I had to use a portable power pack like you mentioned on my SV 650 Suzuki. The only pain was having to get to the battery for the jump start. You have to unscrew two panels two screws to get the seat out and lift a tray out. And by the time I got to the battery they’re all these parts hanging and screws on the floor. Is there a solution of getting some type of extension cable that can extend in the backseat and then connect the jumper cables there without having to remove all these parts to get to the battery?

[@Zenpalmelao]

Thanks Ari!

[@surajbhatta2418]

Thanks for help my bro

[@Mijagas]

u r the best bro, i have my first bike and you help me a lot... can you make a video with the things you have to do to mantenance, i mean a list or the primary things to do? thanks for your videos, and sorry for my inglish jajaja

[@AriH211]

Your owner's manual will have a complete list for your specific bike. I'd recommend reading that first and foremost.

[@m_s7155]

-Thoughts for a video gents: How to install aux lamps set on a relay, and also how to do clutch adjustments

[@theterminator1419]

Thank you!

[@adiboy010]

Hi, can we use the same heavy duty jumper cables (for car) to jump-start a bike?

[@Colin-ll2iz]

Thanks Ari new to bikes wondered about car to bike jump start, I did wanted to see ya bump start it tho come on haha

[@AbeNXC]

Was super pumped to go for a ride after being away from it for a while. Turned out I had left my lights on and it wouldn’t crank. Didn’t have jumper cables that day and was pissed off at first… but anyone else ever think that if something like this happens that it wasn’t meant to be? That somehow you staying home because the bike wouldn’t start cod possibly have saved you from a wreck? Idk but that thought made me less annoyed with the situation

[@NightWear21]

OMG..I saved saved "potentially" so much time jumping my bike. I bought a new battery like last month. Bike started dieing randomly in traffic situations. Usually in 2nd going about 45-60. The past 2 weeks, i've changed the spark plugs, tested the ignition, replaced the fuel pump, and fuel pump filter, the amount of labor into the bike thus far is timeless. Tonight, I decided to try to jump it. OMG.. worked. Didn't hold the charge but, she turned on!! Between the Sparkplugs and the battery... I had no juice and no spark, I was going nowhere. I have a '14 Suzuki GSX R750, the sparkplugs are literally in the middle of the bike under everything (fuel tank, air filter..ect)

[@s.p.9582]

*** MC GARAGE, DO TIRE BALANCING BEADS WORK? *** A quick vid on that would be awesome! Thanks for your consideration and the excellent content 😃

[@kee7678]

My batter tender has been on my bike for 24 hours (after a long trip yesterday back from Baja) thought it sounded weak at startup, it's now SOLID RED for 10 seconds, then 1 GREEN Flash, then Solid Red for another 10 seconds, then 1 Green Flash again like that on and one. ??? what is that???

[@iandaniels8386]

my honda sh50 city express year 2000, runs happy without battery in at all just cant run indicators and lights at same time had it over 18 years now still runs good.

[@wagusk]

make video about engine braking and rev matching please,

[@daltonwilliams6297]

Bump start FTW

[@tmbarral664]

Good samaritan, yes ;) I do remember a policeman on CA-1... looks like they always carry jump cables ;) Good to know ;)

[@willgumley9639]

Is there a difference between standard battery charger cables and jump start cables? Can I turn the ignition on if I'm just using a standard battery charger pack with cables attached? Cheers

[@miladamini85]

Perfect ari 👍🏻👍🏻

[@twestcase]

Since the battery of my Honda VTX 1300 is under my seat and not easily accessible, I installed a pigtail for easy connection to my Battery Tender trickle charger. Can I use that same pigtail to jumpstart the bike, say from another bike, car or jump pack? Will the pigtail wire handle it? Thanks

[@jadensjourneys144]

Great video , my battery to my Hayabusa is dead atm, will get a Battery tender ! DOES anyone know how long I can "store" my motorcycle in my garage without starting it and it not hurt anything ? Thanks for response!!!

[@worldtraveler8613]

Being i have a degree in electrical engineering, i can tell you he is right that you cant damage the bike battery from jumping it with a car or truck or a tank battery for that matter. Electrical devices only pull the amount of current they need. The dead battery is just another load in a the circuit of the larger vehicle, therefore it will only drop the voltage from the running circuit that its rated for, and it will only pull the current its rated for. Electrons flow negative to positive, therefore current is pulled and not pushed. This is why it's always the negative terminal that sparks. Yes it is ground, but power is constantly being pulled to ground, the lesser charge. Think of how vacuum works. Air gets pulled to the lesser pressure. The cylinder creates low pressure below ambient when the piston is sucked down into the cylinder by the crankshaft. This gives the intake manifold vacuum. And now with vacuum we can run fuel pressure regulators, brake boosters... and turbos.

[@gilbertos1984]

Great videos

[@Stylelss]

Can you use this to jump Start lithium ion batteries in your bike or just lead-acid batteries?

[@lancelai1823]

Great video, any chance to show how to start the motorcycle in the cold weather around 5 degrees or under, I'm always struggling to start my bike during the temp is that low

[@willcacek6477]

Keep it in. A garage then use a heater. I lived in a sub level and bought a 50ft extension cord. And would take a smoke break while watching my bike and moderating the heater under the tarp facing the bike keeping it warm this helped

[@billflixtone6684]

Thanks for the great video. Now we are starting to get lion batteries on bikes. My lion jump,starter says, "warning, in the instructions don't use on lion batteries" . What do you think

[@charlieone2992]

Will the junior battery tender work as well?

[@mymajorcompanynz]

And for a battery under the fuel tank on an MV Agusta where fuel line needs to be disconnected and tank removed how do we jump start in this scenario?

[@reverendcoward7941]

Sir Is it advisable to put the gear on 3rd and push the bike to turn on? Tried it many times but not sure if it's safe.

[@rafaelnakamura9935]

The negative pole of charger is attached on the battery or on the non painted metal piece of bike ? Thank you

[@rajajengkol]

Very good explanaition.. but can the dead battery issue caused by the rectifier plug melting?

[@AriH211]

If your rectifier plug is melting, you definitely have an issue with your regulator not regulating, and that'll cook all sorts of stuff including your battery.

[@The77Game]

Wow that Portable Power Pack have gone up in price since this video was made. Ari says that it cost 90 bucks but when using the provided link i go to one that cost 163 bucks.

[@seanhayes6097]

2:00 I would have said this statement was true until I jump started my SRAD 750 1996 with a Mercedes SLK 230 2002.. I was advised to turn the lights on the Mercedes whilst jump starting to help dissipate some of the power.I didn't think it mattered much so I didn't bother. Although I got the motorcycle running, later on in the week I realised the rectifier had a fault which I replaced and also had to get the stator repaired. The battery was obviously dying and for some reason though it certainly didn't help jump starting it the way I did.. So I'd advise that if you do jump start from another vehicle that has much more power than the dead batterys vehicle, simply dissipate the power as you jump start!

[@axon1989]

Hello, My hornet 600 (2005) has a dead battery. I can't charge the battery because the screws are messed up and I can't remove them. Tried to bump start it, but as she have the HISS system, I can't put 2nd gear and it doesn't work in neutral. I tried the bump start in a slightly inclined road, would I be able to bump start it in neutral if I manage to get the bike to a big inclination road?

[@Lewis.D]

Could you do a video on how to properly aim a headlight. I feel lile mine is never perfect and I'm constantly adjusting it. Thanks!!

[@GIGABACHI]

If you adjust your suspension from time to time consider doing the headlight aiming/adjusting deal at the same time too. Just something to keep in mind.

[@mariobondanza5149]

MR. Duffy put the bike well vertical (ask a friend to sit on it and hold it vertical) in front of a wall that is 10 meters far away. Measure the height of the bulb of the headlight. Now measure the height of the top flat edge of the illuminated portion of the wall: it must be 90% of the bulb height. Refer to the pic goo.gl/images/bWQmpd

[@tysoncott7402]

Ari, sometime you folks should do a vid on the proper way to do motorcycle coolant, from draining, flushing, re-filling, & bleeding the cooling system. I looked it up and dont believe you had done an mc garage on this topic yet. thanks!

[@CollinMac96]

Check out this vid. They did a coolant video m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKWVloyQgtGHfKs

[@PakistaniMetalhead]

Does it make a difference if I remove the + cable from the bike battery first? As soon as I do, the engine dies again. I'll try again with your method.

[@bassNY]

I'm reading online that the black connector on the trickle charger is supposed to go on the bike frame (ie, a metallic grounded source) instead of the black lead on the battery. Y/N?

[@zanehopefz6hundred761]

I could really use you guys. I need to find somebody who can make everything I need their for I can rebuild my 2006 Yamaha fz6 engine and transmission.

[@saiganesh24werewolf29]

Please make a video on preps for a long ride... tips ...

[@ayosirsnow]

How long would you say someone should ride their r3 once they Jumpstart it so the battery could fully charge??? 2 hours or less?

[@sagmitlster9883]

1 question, if you had already bought a bew battery then it won't start, does it really need to jump start? Peaceee

[@bccapone837]

High there I'm just wondering if its safe to run a high performance ytz14s on a mt10 as the standard ytz10s struggle alot on these bikes

[@zubairsyed5570]

My suzuki sv650 was sitting for a while and I tried using the jump start method. The bike lights up and stuff but won't start. It makes a noise when I press the power ignition button. Please have you any advice to share!!