The Amp Hour (Ah) rating of a battery indicates its power and lifespan. Essentially, this indicates how long a battery will continue to provide an amp of electricity if it is not recharged.

For example, if a battery is rated at 10Ah, it can supply 10 amps for one hour. This does not necessarily imply that a battery will only last one hour, because it will last two hours if only 5 amps are required, five hours if only 2 amps are required, and so on.

However, the most power-hungry component of the motorcycle, the starter, may consume 20 amps the moment you turn the key. As a result, if you power the engine for 5-10 minutes, you can drain the battery.

Batteries are also graded based on their Cold Cranking Amps (CCA), which is the peak power required to switch on the engine and start it in cold conditions.

So what drains a motorcycle battery?

A variety of scenarios and conditions might cause your vehicle’s battery to deplete or become low. At lower temperatures, the chemical processes in a battery slows down and provides less power for a given period, making a poor battery incapable of starting the automobile. In addition, the engine is more difficult to start in the winter because the oil is heavier, and the metal really shrinks microscopically, making everything tighter.

Furthermore, features such as heated seats, heated grips, aux lights if these are all being used more frequently, and you are  making shorter journeys and starting the motorcycle more frequently there is a considerable drain on your battery.

If possible, keep your motorcycle in a garage to keep it warm, and in extreme temperatures, use an automated charger to keep the battery charged to full capacity.

Also, make sure you turn off the heated seats, aux lights and other electrical accessories once they’ve finished their work, since if they’re all turned on when you turn on the ignition, they might quickly deplete your battery, leaving it with insufficient power to start the engine.

It’s a good idea to take your motorcycle  on a somewhat longer trip (at least 30 minutes or so) once a week to give the battery a much-needed recharge.

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