You’re probably familiar with flooded lead-acid or “wet-cell” batteries, which are the batteries that you need to regularly refill with distilled water. If you’re sick of the extra maintenance or if you want a longer-lasting battery, check out AGM units. While these options cost more, they’re worth the extra money. You can find out whether a certain battery model uses AGM technology by checking its product name and information sheet.

For example, if you’re looking at a MotoBatt battery information sheet, the battery type is listed near the top of the page. Like many quality manufacturers, MotoBatt focuses on AGM batteries due to the numerous advantages of the technology–AGM stores better, provides a better charge and lasts longer.

Is The Battery An Appropriate Size For Your Bike?

Measure your bike’s battery cavity and compare your numbers with the sales website’s listed battery dimensions. Make sure that the unit is appropriate for your bike given your motorcycle’s cold cranking amps (CCA). Don’t guess or you might end up with the wrong product. Check your owner’s manual for more help when choosing a battery.

Do You Have An Appropriate Charger And Volt Meter?

If you’re ordering a flooded lead-acid unit, you will need to charge it as soon as it arrives. If you’re getting an AGM battery, you won’t need to charge it immediately, but you should still have a good battery charger around to help you avoid a costly and embarrassing visit to your local bike mechanic.

Look for a charger with at least two-phase charging. These chargers can run unattended and won’t overcharge your battery, which can cause a meltdown.

Does The Battery Have A Warranty?

If you’re buying a brand-new battery, it should have a warranty that protects you from replacement costs if there’s a manufacturing defect. Note that your warranty won’t cover the cost of replacement if you damage the battery accidentally, so make sure that you hook up the unit correctly and use an appropriate charger (when necessary). Most websites that sell motorcycle batteries make it easy to find warranty information.

Finally, make sure that you’re getting a fair price. Compare costs and try to stick with name brands. When you buy through a reputable website, you can save a tremendous amount of money.