A Battery Tender® keeps your motorcycle battery fully charged between rides and through the off-season, so your bike starts the moment you're ready to ride. Motorcycle batteries are small, so even a couple of weeks of sitting — plus the parasitic draw from alarms and clocks — can leave one too weak to crank. A Battery Tender® smart maintainer — trusted by riders since 1965 — solves that automatically.
Why motorcycle batteries die sitting still
A powersports battery is a fraction of a car battery's size, so the same slow parasitic drain kills it far faster. Add cold weather (which reduces available capacity) and a few weeks of storage, and a healthy battery can drop below cranking voltage. Repeated deep discharges permanently reduce capacity.
How a Battery Tender® fixes it
Connect it once and leave it. The microprocessor charges the battery to full, then switches to a safe maintenance (float) charge — topping off only as needed. Unlike a typical trickle charger that pushes constant current and can overcharge, a Battery Tender® monitors the battery and holds it at the correct voltage indefinitely. Most riders leave the quick-connect harness attached to the bike and just plug in between rides.
Choosing the right one
- Battery Tender® Junior — America's most popular smart charger and maintainer; compact, ideal for one bike.
- Plus 12V 1.25A Maintainer — a little more charging muscle for larger V-twins.
- Selectable lead-acid/lithium models suit riders running a LiFePO4 motorcycle battery — just set the correct chemistry.
Lithium (LiFePO4) motorcycle batteries
Many riders have switched to LiFePO4 for the weight savings. They're excellent, but require a charger with a lithium mode — never maintain a LiFePO4 battery on a lead-acid-only desulfation setting.
Recommended Battery Tender® products
Shop bike-ready options in Powersports or the full Battery Chargers lineup. Riding season on the horizon? Keep an 800 Amp Jump Starter + Tire Inflator in the garage for the two most common trailhead problems.
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave a Battery Tender® on my motorcycle all winter?
Yes — that's exactly what it's built for. It maintains a safe float charge and won't overcharge.
Is a Battery Tender® the same as a trickle charger?
No. A trickle charger pushes constant current and can overcharge; a Battery Tender® is a smart maintainer that monitors the battery and only tops off as needed.
Will it work on a lithium motorcycle battery?
Use a model with a selectable lithium (LiFePO4) mode set to the correct chemistry.
How long can a motorcycle sit before the battery dies?
Often just 2–4 weeks without a maintainer, faster in cold weather or with alarms/accessories drawing power.
Do I need to remove the battery to use it?
No — leave the quick-connect harness on the bike and plug in between rides.
