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✔ Article reviewed by Ethan Orenstein. Bringing motorcycles back from the dead since 2013. Learn More.

How to Jump Start a Motorcycle

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If your motorcycle dies, jump starting it is one method you can use to bring it back.

Your three main options include:

  • Jump starting with another motorcycle.
  • Jump starting the motorcycle with a car.
  • Using a portable battery jumper.

If none of those are an option and your stuck with a dead bike somewhere, learn how to do a push start or a rolling start.

How to Jump Start a Motorcycle Battery with another Motorcycle

Jumping a motorcycle with another motorcycle follows the same sequence as jump starting a car.

  1. Attach the jumper cables:
    • Red clip to positive terminal on each battery.
    • Black to negative terminal on the good battery.
    • Black to bare metal surface on the dead bike.
  2. Start the bike with the good battery.
  3. Try to start the dead bike.
  4. Keep the dead bike running to charge the battery.
  5. Disconnect the cables in the reverse order.

How to Jump Start a Motorcycle Battery with a Car

Jump starting a motorcycle with a car is possible, but should be used as a last resort. Car batteries are much stronger than motorcycle batteries and can easily damage your bike if done improperly. Attempt this at your own risk.

To jump a motorcycle battery with a car:

  1. Attach the jumper cables:
    • Red clip to positive terminal on each battery.
    • Black to negative terminal on the good battery.
    • Black to bare metal surface on the dead bike.
  2. IMPORTANT: Keep the car totally off.
  3. Try to start the dead bike.
  4. Keep the bike running.
  5. Disconnect the cables in the reverse order.

Jump Start a Motorcycle a Portable Starter Pack

A portable jumper pack can jump start your motorcycle battery with no other vehicles.

These are smart to carry on long rides.

Most jump-start packs work like this:

  • Hook up the cables from the pack to the battery.
  • Set the pack to the proper voltage setting and turn it on.
  • Start the motorcycle.
  • Keep the bike running.
  • Disconnect the jump starter (it will need to be recharged before you use it again).

Once you get it going again and back to your garage, it’s worth testing the battery and charging system to see why your bike died.

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Content Editor: Ethan Orenstein

Ethan is not just any motorcycle enthusiast. With a decade of experience riding, maintaining, and restoring a range of motorcycles, Ethan brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Many of the tips and tricks shared on this site are born from hours spent wrenching on personal bikes. Paired with his experience as a journalist covering DMV & insurance topics, MotorcycleZombies.com is a must-visit site for any home-mechanic. Every article has been carefully reviewed and edited to ensure accuracy, authenticity, and simplicity - all to help bring your bike back from the dead and onto the road.

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