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If you’re out on a ride or away from your garage with a dead battery, you’ve got a few options before you need to call a tow.
A battery that won’t hold a charge probably needs to be replaced, or there may be an issue with your motorcycle charging system.
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.
- 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.
- Start the bike with the good battery.
- Try to start the dead bike.
- Keep the dead bike running to charge the battery.
- 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:
- 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.
- IMPORTANT: Keep the car totally off.
- Try to start the dead bike.
- Keep the bike running.
- 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).
How to Push Start a Motorcycle
A push-start, pop-start, or rolling start can also be used to get a bike going on a drained or dead battery.
To push start a motorcycle:
- Find a hill or have someone push you to get the bike rolling fast enough. Aim for about 5-10 mph.
- Put the bike into second gear.
- Turn the key to the on position.
- Make sure the fuel petcock is open.
- Pull in the clutch level.
- Get up to speed.
- Let go of (pop) the clutch.
- The engine should fire up.