As with other motor vehicles motorcycles can’t even start without an electrical spark, not only are there electrical parts that are essential for the running of motorcycles but there are now many parts you can get for entertainment etc. One of the main parts that enable your bike to run is the battery, it provides the power needed for the other electrical systems to function. Once the bike is started then the alternator will take over powering the different functions, unless a lot of electricity is needed then the battery will provide power for some of those functions. You can do simple tests to ensure your battery has enough energy to perform correctly, here is how you can test the battery on your motorcycle if you have the right tools:

• First you would need to make sure there was no surface charge as this would affect the reading (you read the energy levels higher than they actually are).
• To get rid of this charge all you have to do is switch the ignition and lights on for a couple of minutes.
• Once you have left it for a couple of minutes you can proceed to take the reading, you will need to use a digital voltmeter to test the voltage at the battery terminals.
• If the reading is 12.6V or better then it is fully charged, if it reads between that and 12.2V its about half full and if it measures at around 11.8V or less then it is classed as an dead battery.

The head lights are an essential part on you motorcycle for safety reasons so when something goes wrong with them its of up most importance you get the problem resolved. So it is advised you check your lights before riding any where to ensure all are working correctly, you can usually tell if there is something wrong if all other electrical parts work but one of the lights doesn’t. If this is the problem then it could just mean the bulb that isn’t lighting up needs replacing, here is how to change the bulb:

• The first thing you need to establish is what kind of bulb it is you need to replace it with so all you will have to do is unscrew the headlight cover. Once unscrewed you simply have to take the old bulb out look at the base of the bulb and you should be able to see how many metal prongs it has, if you don’t know what kind of out put the bulb has you may be best taking it into a shop that sells motorcycle accessories and they will be able to get it for you. Once you have the replacement you just have to fit it into place like the previous bulb and screw back on the cover and test, if it still doesn’t work then check over the connection of the bulb and make sure all connections are clean.

There are plenty of electrical products for motorcycles that provide specialist functions and tend to be more difficult to install but you should get a manual on how to install the product with it. There is now a large selection of motorcycle electrical products online and you can purchase different products from garages and have them install them for you if you aren’t very confident with how motorcycles work.