What is a Motorcycle Stator?

A motorcycle stator comes in many different forms, depending on the year, make, and model of your bike. However, all motorcycle stators have the same basic function, which is to produce electrical power by using the rotation of your motor. Motorcycle stators come in many different configurations, but they all consists of the same basic pieces: a steel core with coils of copper wire wrapped around it, and wires to connect to the motorcycle's electrical system. The stator requires a magnet spinning near it to generate the electrical current in the windings. This magnet is usually called a flywheel or rotor, and is attached to your motorcycle engine's crankshaft, which rotates it around the stator. The power generated from the stator is then used to power your motorcycle electronics, including charging the battery, and powering the ignition and lighting systems. Motorcycle stators generate alternating current, which increases with motor RPM since the current is produced by magnets rotated by the engine's crankshaft.

Different Motorcycle Stators

There are different kinds of motorcycle stators, as they have changed with the generations and types of motorcycles. Some stators produce only electrical power for battery charging, while others also power the motorcycle's ignition system directly from the stator. Many motorcycle stators have an attached component called a pulser coil, or pickup coil, which provides timing information for the ignition system. Stators may have their flywheel magnets inside of the coils, and others outside, while others use electromagnets instead of permanent magnets. See the links in this "What is a Motorcycle Stator?" section above to learn more about the different types, to better understand how the stator in your bike operates.