For most of the youngsters and teenagers in India, riding a bike a feeling of joy, pride, and happiness. If you are planning to buy a new motorcycle or already have one, then it is necessary to know about the motorcycle batteries through which you can experience a smooth and joyful ride. In addition, for all the automobiles available in the market, it is believed that a battery is the heart of a vehicle. So, if you are a motorbike rider, you should be aware of the motorcycle battery types and their differences. So, let’s get into this topic in detail.

A motorcycle battery is an electrical storage device that is used for storing electrical energy which is generated by a reversible chemical reaction between the lead and the acid in the battery. Furthermore, a mixture of sulfuric acid and distilled water which is known as the battery electrolyte or battery acid is added to the motorcycle batteries and used as a conductor between the lead in the battery. Thus, battery acid is used to create an electrical charge.

In addition, the motorcycle battery is classified into three types: Wet cell batteries, Dry cell batteries, and Gel motorcycle batteries.

  • Wet cell batteries are also known as conventional batteries, lead-acid batteries, and flooded cell batteries.
  • Dry cell batteries are also known as sealed type batteries and maintenance-free batteries.
  • Gel motorcycle batteries are also known as gel acid batteries and gel-filled batteries.

Now, let’s know the difference between all the three types of batteries.

Type 1: Wet cell batteries

Wet cell batteries – also called conventional batteries, lead-acid batteries, and flooded cell batteries hold the battery cell’s electrolytes in the liquid acid. Furthermore, these batteries give off hydrogen gas while charging or discharging which is highly explosive and toxic and not a kind of nice stuff. These lead acid or wet cell batteries can be easily distinguished by a row of plastic stoppers in the top where you can see 3 stoppers in a 6-volt battery and 6 stoppers in a 12-volt battery. These conventional batteries have lower and higher battery acid levels on the front and have an opaque/white plastic lower casing.

Furthermore, the reference numbers of these lead-acid batteries start with the letters YB, CB, or GB (e.g. YB14L-A2), Y, C or G (e.g. Y60-N-24L-A) or 12N (e.g. 12N24-3). However, it is necessary to check these batteries frequently and top up with the distilled water (not battery acid) up to the upper-level mark as the water portion of the battery acid gets used up with the time.

Type 2: Dry Cell Batteries

Dry cell batteries or maintenance-free batteries or sealed batteries are supplied with the acid separately. Once these batteries are filled and the cap is placed in the top, there is no need for further monitoring or topping up the acid. Furthermore, these dry cell batteries have a stopper sunk into the top and are available in a black or blue or grey case. These maintenance-free batteries once filled, are hermetically sealed and cannot be refilled again. Hence, no need to remove the top cap and check the acid level.

In addition, the reference numbers of these sealed or dry cell motorcycle batteries start with the letters YTX, CTX or GTX (e.g. YTX9-BS). These maintenance-free motorcycle batteries operate under pressure which enables it to recombine the oxygen and hydrogen produced during charging back into the water. Furthermore, these motorcycle batteries store the electrolytes in a low moisture paste.

Type 3: Gel Motorcycle Batteries

Gel motorcycle batteries or gel acid batteries or gel-filled batteries always come in the black or blue or grey casing along with the black or blue or grey top. In these type of batteries, the gel acid doesn’t move around and often used in bikes where the battery has to lie on its side or at an angle. They don’t require any topping up as these gel motorcycle batteries filled with gel state acid are completely sealed while manufacturing. Furthermore, in order to recombine the oxygen and hydrogen that is produced during charging into the water, these gel acid batteries tend to operate under pressure.

In addition, the reference number of these gel-filled type of batteries start with the prefix YT, CT, GT or YTZ, CTZ or GTZ (e.g. YT9B-4 or YTZ10-S). The electrolytes in the gel motorcycle batteries are encased in a gelling agent e.g. fumed silica that maintains the acid in the gel state. These batteries are hermetically sealed and thus, cannot be refilled. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove the top cap and check the acid level.