How to Disconnect Battery from Motorcycle

When you are working on a motorcycle, especially with anything that involves the manifold or electrical system, you should disconnect the battery first to make sure there is no live electricity going through the bike at all. The most important point is disconnecting the negative terminal.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Make sure the motorcycle is shut off. This is important when performing any maintenance on a motorcycle or any vehicle. In this case, you don't want power actively running through the battery.

2. Locate the battery's placement. Check your user manual for your battery's exact location. One of the common locations is directly under the seat. If your user manual tells you this is the location of your battery, remove the seat and side cover to access it.

3. Disconnect the negative terminal on the battery first. The negative terminal is the main power link, so disconnecting it cuts off power to the motorcycle. The positive terminal is usually colored red, so disconnect the other one.

4. Wrap the disconnected end of the wire in some form of insulator, like tape that won't leave residue on the wire. Because the wire is still live, this will prevent any chance of it sparking or shocking you or any part of the bike.

5. Remove the positive terminal from the battery next. This will only be necessary if you are going to remove the battery from the motorcycle. If you are keeping the battery in place, only the negative terminal needs to be disconnected.

Tips & Warnings

• You should check for any corrosion on the battery while it is disconnected. Wipe any corrosion off the terminals with a wire brush to avoid buildup that will prevent the battery from working in the future.

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