Which motorcycle battery booster is right for you? Our advice and selection

Weak battery, power failure, cold spells: there are many reasons why a motorcycle may struggle to start. What can you do? If you're not lucky enough to have a kick, there's always the stroller option. It's an experience akin to a test of athletic strength when you have to move a 400kg Harley. Well, there's also the battery booster option. Interested? We've got all the information you need to get your hands on one.

A battery booster or Jump Starter is nothing more than a portable battery. What makes it special? It can deliver a lot of current very quickly. This electric Usain Bolt is designed to start an engine, which requires a short, intense current peak. In this athletic analogy, your motorcycle battery - heavy and bulky - would be more like a friendly, slightly paunchy hiker. Capable of doing 100m, but rather adept at constant charging. In fact, the whole point of the battery booster is its practicality. Compact and lightweight, you can easily store it anywhere. You'll see later in this article that the lightest models weigh in at just 300g. A straw!

Finally,a booster is not a battery charger. It is only used occasionally to deliver additional current at start-up. The aim? To get your mill up and running in 3 minutes. Still, it's a little easier than waiting for a full 4-hour charge cycle.

It's all about compromise. Size, weight, performance, budget: it's essential to pinpoint your needs in order to choose the right model. What criteria should be analyzed? Here's a quick overview.

12-volt compatibility

12V is the nominal voltage of motorcycle batteries. Your battery booster must therefore offer the same value. Unless you're riding a 1960s Soviet model, it's 12V.

Peak current

Depending on the model, this value can vary from 200A to 800A. But what does it mean? It's the maximum current the booster can deliver. In simple terms, a current of 100 to 200A enables you to activate the starter of a medium-displacement machine, while a range of 200A to 400A corresponds to larger bikes (over 2000cm³). Above that? Let's say we're out of the motorcycle world. 800A, for example, will enable you to start your neighbor's big pick-up with its 3L diesel engine. It's up to you to select the right current for your needs, because the higher the current, the more space the booster will take up.

Capacity

Depending on the model, this varies from 4000 mAh to over 20,000 mAh. What on earth does that mean? It's simply the number of starts your booster will be able to undertake. There's no need to go looking for crazy capacities!

And yes, a quick look back at your electricity courses will show that an attempted start - for a 1200cc³, for example - requires just under 600 mAh (10 seconds at 200A: 200,000 x (10/3600) = 555 mAh).

So what does this mean? A 4000 mAh capacity gives you almost 7 tries, while a 12,000 mAh booster lets you start your 1200 GS up to 20 times! Do you see where we're going with this? If you buy a booster just for your bike, there's no need to splash out on gigantic capacities. And by the way, if you need it 20 times, it's probably because your motorcycle battery's run down.

Weight and volume

A car battery is heavier and bulkier than a motorcycle battery. For the same reasons, a booster to start an SUV will take up more space than one to start the mill on your 900 Hornet. So, which is it? The choice is yours. If you're going to leave your Jump Starter in the garage, a model with high capacity and current will do the trick. On the other hand, if you're planning to take it on a motorcycle road-trip, you'll need to aim for a more suitable, lightweight and compact model that fits easily between your underpants and mattress. Some models are the size of a smartphone!

Outings and accessories

There are two schools of thought. If you only use it to start your bike in winter, then a single output with alligator clips will suffice. But you can also think of the booster as an auxiliary battery, a Powerbank. Combined with a host of USB outputs and an integrated torch, the Jump Starter becomes a fantastic tool for the long-distance biker who needs to charge his smartphone in the tent.

The quality

A well-made model will last you 5 to 6 years. Yes, it's a long-term investment! So, for the same budget, you might as well opt for a quality model adapted to your needs rather than an oversized booster. This choice unlocks interesting safety features such as a circuit breaker, overvoltage protection or reverse polarity protection.

Minibooster Get, the basic model

Ultra-compact, super-light and affordable, this Get model offers top value for money. With a capacity of 4000mAh and a starting current of 200A, it's perfectly suited to most bikes. Just don't try to start your Boss Hoss with it!

----> GET JUMPSTARTER MINI 360A mini starter booster

Osram mini booster, for the adventurer

Our little darling! And with good reason: it's the nec plus ultra for long-distance bikers. 6000mAh is the ideal capacity for restarting your fickle bike a dozen times, while weighing in at a featherweight 300g. Its second major advantage? It's no bigger than a smartphone! The integrated LED, USB sockets and various electrical protections complete this wonderful picture.

----> Osram lithium mini starter booster

BS, the heavy artillery

Big capacity and big current, this model is mini in name only. Its starting current enables it to start 7000 cc³ petrol engines. Can you believe it? So obviously, it takes up space and weighs over 500g. So think of this booster as a Swiss Army knife designed for motorcycles, cars and 4x4s. What's more, it's a top-quality product from a brand that specializes in battery manufacturing.

----> Mini battery booster BS Power Box PB-02 12V 1200A

Nothing could be simpler! The method is the same as for jumper cables. Before taking out your Jump Starter, you need to make sure that the problem is actually in the battery, and not, for example, in the fuse, which has accidentally been turned off. Don't worry, it happens to everyone! First, we also check that the booster is charged. If not, well, it's too late to notice...

Here's how to proceed:

• Switch off the ignition.
• Access the battery terminals. To do this, simply remove the seat or a fairing.
• Wire the booster, starting with the red crocodile clip on the positive (+) battery terminal. Then, black crocodile clip to negative terminal (or chassis component).
• Switch on the booster if necessary, or check that there are no contraindications displayed.
• Wait 2 to 3 minutes for the battery and booster to get to know each other.
• Switch on the ignition and start the engine. Unsuccessful? Wait 3 minutes and try again.
• Once the engine has started, remove the terminals in reverse order, i.e. first the black terminal, then the red one.

We hope this article has given you a clearer picture. The key to making the right choice? There's no point in having the biggest. And yes, you need to choose the model best suited to your needs, which are different for everyone. On that note, don't hesitate to share this article with your pram-starting buddies! Have a good trip!