Motorcycle Jump Packs Buying Guide | Bring your bike back from the grave in a flash here on MCN

There’s no worse feeling than getting ready to go to ride only to hop on, press the ignition, and be met with nothing but cold dead silence. We’re all secretly hoping it won’t happen every time we press the starter button, and whether it’s because of an old battery or accidentally leaving the lights turned on, a flat battery can be a major pain. But, in most cases you only need one thing to get you back on the road in a jiffy – a motorcycle jump pack.

These work like an extension to your bike’s battery, adding enough juice from the high current external source to turn the engine over and make it roar into life. At that point, the engine should start charging the main battery, and you won’t need the jump pack again until the next emergency – Unless there’s a deeper issue with your bike’s battery or electrical system.

What to consider before buying

Safety features

Safety first – always consider what safety features are on offer. At the very least, you should look for protection against over-current, over-charging, and short-circuits. Some units will also protect against reverse polarity, which happens when you have the clamps attached the wrong way around, and it’s a great extra feature for peace of mind. An IP rating is also good to see, as it means you can use the jump pack outside in the rain without the risk of water ingress damaging it, which would create a potential danger.

Power output

Jump packs come in many different shapes and sizes, and that’s mostly determined by their battery capacity and power output. This typically gets simplified into a maximum engine capacity rating; for example, ‘up to a 2.0L four cylinder petrol’. Many units are designed for both cars and motorbikes, and these will offer much more power than most bikes will need.

Portability

You may want to consider how portable the unit is too, based on how you’ll be using it. For example, you’ll probably be looking for a compact jump starter to take adventure riding, in case your bike’s battery dies while camping overnight in the middle of nowhere. If you’ll be using it for bikes in the garage, you can afford to have a bigger one with more capacity.

Extra features

It’s worth considering what extra features are on offer with a motorcycle jump pack. Some jump packs function like a power bank that can also jump-start the bike, complete with USB ports for all your everyday charging needs. You might even find an integrated flashlight, with SOS flashing capabilities, in case you’re left stranded because of a flat battery.

The Best Motorcycle Jump Packs

Other Jump Packs to Consider:

How MCN tests jump packs

Here at MCN, we make it our mission to help you find the right kit for you, at the right price for your budget. We test our jump packs the same way you’ll use yours; by plugging in, and saving our own bacon. Our word is backed by hundreds of thousands of miles in the saddle collectively, but our recommendations come from each tester individually.

While testing, we predominantly focus on build quality, and value. When we write up our full reviews, we’ll give each pair of jump packs a rating out of five stars in each of these categories. This page is only for the best motorcycle jump packs, so every pair you’ll see has been awarded at least four stars overall – that’s the passing grade – but here’s what each score really means:

1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A jump pack with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A jump pack with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level, and there is much room for improvement.
3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A jump pack with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
4 stars – A jump pack has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A jump pack with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
5 stars – A jump pack has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A jump pack with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

- Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us.