Top Signs Your Motorcycle Battery Is Dying

AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries are one of the most popular upgrades for motorcycles, they are famous for being maintenance-free, vibration-resistant, and highly reliable. While UPLUS AGM batteries are built to last often up to 5 years or more even the best batteries have a lifespan.

Replacing your battery before it dies completely ensures a smoother ride, avoids breakdowns during long trips or races, and helps you stay in a great mood while you’re out on the road.

That’s why in this blog, UPLUS walks you through the key warning signs of a dying motorcycle battery. Recognizing these early symptoms can help you avoid getting stranded unexpectedly.

Engine Won’t Start or Cranks Slowly

When you try to start your bike and the engine turns over sluggishly, it’s usually a sign that the battery isn’t delivering enough cold cranking amps (CCA). This is especially common in colder weather. It indicates that your battery needs to be replaced.

If the engine doesn’t turn over at all, the battery might be completely dead.

Higher Self-discharge Rate of the Battery

UPLUS AGM motorcycle batteries are engineered for extremely low self-discharge, typically under 3%. By comparison, many other AGM brands may self-discharge at rates of up to 20%. After a period of use, the following conditions are encountered, indicating that the self-discharge rate is even higher:

After charging and starting the motorcycle everything works fine, then you realize you dropped your pack and turn off the motorcycle. By the time you turn on your motorcycle again, the engine won't run, which means that this motorcycle battery has lost its ability to store power and is self-discharging very quickly, and if you test the voltage at this point, the voltage value may be low as well. Or it may be difficult to start within a period of time that you have been idle, indicating that, you need to replace the motorcycle battery with a new one, so you need to be careful when replacing the battery to buy one that has a low self-discharge rate to ensure that there is a longer lifespan.

Electrical Components Aren’t Working Properly

If your horn sounds weak, turn signals flash slowly, or your dashboard behaves erratically, you’re likely experiencing voltage instability, a common early sign that the AGM battery is on its way out.

Swollen or Bulging Battery Case

Generally, high quality AGM batteries seldom have bulging cells, but overcharging may cause the case to swell or bulge, indicating internal pressure buildup and battery damage, at which point it's time for a new battery.

Voltage Reading Drops Below 12V

A fully charged AGM battery at rest should read around 12.7 to 12.8 volts. If the reading consistently falls below 12V, the battery may be deeply discharged or already degrading.

Battery Age: Over 3-4 Years

Most motorcycle batteries last between 3 to 5 years, depending on usage and quality. If your battery is over 4 years old, even if it still works, it may be losing performance. It’s wise to keep a replacement battery on hand before it fails without warning.

Overall, the Uplus AGM motorcycle battery lasts about 5 years with proper use.

In conclusion, if you’ve noticed one or more of these six warning signs, now’s the time to test your battery or consider a replacement to avoid unexpected issues down the road.

Need help finding the right battery for your motorcycle? Check out our full range of long-lasting AGM starter batteries designed to keep your ride powered, reliable, and ready for anything>>

🏍️ Motorcycle and Powersports batteries>>

About Uplus Battery

Uplus Battery, a subsidiary of Leoch Battery, is a global brand specializing in maintenance-free AGM batteries. With 20+ years of R&D and international distribution, Uplus delivers reliable AGM solutions for cars & trucks, powersports, marine, and industrial applications.

Known for excellent start-stop performance, vibration resistance, and long service life — Uplus AGM batteries are sealed, spill-proof, and require zero maintenance.

👉 Browse Uplus AGM Batteries Here

In the United States, we offer fast and responsive local service with warehouses and offices in California and Georgia. We have dedicated support teams that reply within 12 hours. If you need your order shipped fast, we’ve got you covered. If you have a tech question, our support team is just one message away. Also, we also offer localized support in other countries. For details, reach out to support@uplusbattery.com.

Whatever, choose uplus, you’re choosing a brand backed by legacy, trust, innovation, and millions of miles of proven performance. Ready to power up? Let’s on now!