How to Test and Change a Yamaha Raider Battery

The starting system on our 2008 Yamaha Raider was acting a bit erratic, so it was time to do a little testing, specifically on the battery, since it’s always good to start with the simple stuff.

Our Yamaha Raider motorcycle would start sometimes, but other times only the starter relay would click, so it was time to take a closer look. After all, nobody wants to be on the road and not know if the machine's going to start each and every time. Watch the video above or read on below to learn how to test and replace a Yamaha Raider battery.

Tools and Parts - Yamaha Raider Battery Testing and Replacement

• Screwdriver
• Ratchet and extensions
• Multimeter
• Battery tester
• Yamaha motorcycle battery

We ordered a new battery and a starter relay just in case. This particular motorcycle has a huge displacement that requires a battery with an amperage powerful enough to turn the engine over.

Yamaha Raider Battery Testing and Replacement

The battery is hidden under the motorcycle’s seat, a cover, the ECU and a wiring tray, so we removed the seat and cover, and set the ECU and tray aside to access the battery and do a voltage test.

For the voltage test, we attached a multimeter to the battery with the motorcycle off, and what we wanted to see is a reading of approximately 12 ½ to 12.7 volts. The voltage test showed just 12 volts, which is an indicator that the battery is producing a subpar voltage.

When we turned the motorcycle on and then off, the voltage dropped all the way down to 7.96 volts, and produced a maximum of 13.26 volts. Under full load, the battery should go to about 10 to 10 ½ volts, so the readings showed us the battery was the problem. 

We put a battery tester on it to confirm what the multimeter had already told us, that the old battery was bad and needed to be replaced.

Our Yamaha motorcycle had an aftermarket battery in it, which we swapped out for a new OEM battery. When removing the old battery and replacing it with a new one, it’s best practice to start with the negative side first and then the positive side. That way if you bump into anything with your screwdriver or wrench, it won't ground out the battery. 

Once you place the strap on the battery, pop it in and attach the battery terminals, then set the wire tray and the ECU back in place. 

NOTE: When you’re installing the new battery, keep in mind that there's supposed to be a strap that holds the ECU in place to keep it from moving around. Our bike didn’t have one at the moment, so we ordered one while shooting the video. 

We didn’t need to test the starter in this instance since we already determined the battery was the problem, but if a starter test was needed, you’ll find the starter relay and the starter itself tucked away underneath the Raider’s ECU.

If the starter relay was the problem, the battery would test well, and the relay will engage and you'll hear a click, but the starter won’t fire up. 

The starter itself could also be the problem, but more than likely it's going to be the relay because you can get corrosion or some type of arc on the contactors themselves that don't make a good connection inside of the relay. That's why you would hear it click, but it wouldn't really pass power through.

With a new battery in place, all that was left to do was fire up the motorcycle to confirm the new battery is working, then pop the cover and the seat back on.

Watch the video below to see how to change the spark plugs on a Yamaha Raider motorcycle.