How to Replace a Motorcycle Battery

Your motorcycle’s battery is a key part of starting and running your bike, so don’t let a dead battery render your motorcycle undriveable. Your motorcycle’s generator or alternator should charge the battery while the engine is running, but if the battery is no longer holding a charge, it may not start next time you’re ready to ride. If the lights or horn on your motorcycle aren’t working, or if there is little response when the starter button is pressed, you may need a new battery. O’Reilly Auto Parts can check the health of your motorcycle’s battery with a free battery test, and if you need a new one, these helpful instructions and video can help you better understand the procedure for motorcycle battery replacement.

Tools & Materials List

Step by Step Instructions

Remove the Old Battery

Install the New Battery

Additional Resources

Tools & Materials

Safety Eye Glasses Safety Glasses
Protective Gloves Nitrile Gloves
Super Start Motorcycle Battery Motorcycle Battery
Ratchet Ratchets
Sockets Sockets
Screwdriver Screwdriver

Step-by-Step Instructions to Replace a Motorcycle Battery

Today, we’ll be removing the battery from this 2016 Triumph Street Triple and replacing it with a factory-activated battery, which is a type of battery that doesn’t require filling with acid or hooking up to a charger before installation. Procedures will be similar for a lot of motorcycles, but be sure to know the specifics for your bike before getting started. To make sure you’re doing everything safely and correctly, read all the instructions included with your battery. If you’re not completely comfortable doing this yourself, we’d be happy to recommend a professional technician in your area. Once you’ve got your supplies together, here’s what you’ll do:
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Remove the Old Battery

Man in gloves using a key to remove the seat from the motorcycle

Step 1: Remove the Seat

Park the bike on a level surface and find the release and remove the seat.

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Mechanic holding a negative and a positive battery cable

Step 2: Remove the Battery Cables

Use the appropriate tool to remove the cables from the terminal posts. This could require a socket, screwdriver, or hexhead. Start with the negative, which is marked with a minus sign. Set it aside someplace where it won’t touch metal. Now, disconnect the positive and set it aside.
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Man holding the battery hold-down that was once securing the battery

Step 3: Remove the Battery Hold-Down

Remove the hold-down keeping your battery in place. This will vary from one bike to the next.
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Man in gloves using one hand to remove the motorcycle battery from the housing

Step 4: Remove the Old Battery

Once the hold-down is removed, you should be able to lift the old battery out.

Do It Right: If there’s a height adaptor for the bottom of the housing, make sure it isn’t stuck to the bottom of the battery and that it’s in place in the housing so the new battery can be installed.

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Install the New Battery

Mechanic installing a Super Start PowerSport AGM Battery into a motorcycle

Step 5: Install the New Battery

Set the new battery into the housing and make sure it is placed correctly.
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Mechanic using a screwdriver to secure the battery hold-down

Step 6: Reinstall the Battery Hold-Down

Once the battery is set in the housing, then you can re-secure the battery hold-down.
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Man using a ratchet to reattach the battery cables to the Super Start Powersport Motorcycle battery

Step 7: Reattach the Battery Cables

Reattach the battery cables using the new hardware included with the battery. Reattach the positive first then the negative.
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Man placing seat back on the motorcycle

Step 8: Replace the Seat

Put the seat back in place and give the ignition a try to make sure everything is working the way it should be.
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Battery maintainer hooked up to the motorcycle battery

Optional: Use a Battery Maintainer

Since your bike is likely to go long periods of time without being started, keep a battery maintainer on hand and connected during stretches of inactivity so it’s ready to go when you are.
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Additional Resources

How to Install a Car Battery

How to Install a Car Battery
How to Change a Jet Ski Battery

How to Change a Jet Ski Battery
How to Care for Your Car Battery

How to Care for Your Car Battery

A dead motorcycle battery can keep your bike from starting, so it’s important to know the signs of failure to avoid an inconvenient breakdown. Signs that your motorcycle’s battery is dying could include little or no response when you press the starter button, or if you notice that the headlights, horn, or other electrical accessories are not performing their best. O’Reilly Auto Parts carries a wide selection of replacement parts, tools, and equipment to help you maintain your motorcycle, including 2-cycle motor oil, powersport and motorcycle batteries, air filters, and more.

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The automotive repair work depicted in this series is performed under the direction of the manufacturer of the product featured. Prior to undertaking any of the demonstrated repairs on your vehicle, we suggest you consult with a certified mechanic or another professional who can adequately advise you of the proper repair or remedy required. O’Reilly Automotive Stores, Inc. and its affiliates (“O’Reilly”) disclaims any responsibility for injury or damage resulting from a viewer’s attempt to recreate the repairs shown in this series.