Best motorcycle battery chargers and tenders in 2025 to keep your battery in top condition
There’s a strong case for dedicated motorcycle battery tenders. Most batteries will become discharged if the bike is left alone for a period of time (sometimes as little as a couple of weeks), and this is especially true for bikes that have motorcycle trackers fitted, as these inevitably draw power from the motorcycle battery to offer their protection. So although only a small amount of current is drawn, it’s inevitable that an unattended bike will have a flat battery before long – especially if you don’t know how to look after a motorcycle battery.
Best motorcycle battery chargers at a glance:
This can be annoying at best and scrap the battery at worst, forcing your hand in shelling out for a new one. It’s irritating because you come to the garage for your first ride in some time, and the battery is dead. If you’re lucky, you can jump-start it and go for a run – hopefully, the charge you get back into the battery will see you through your ride.
However, in the worst-case scenario, the cells in the battery can become damaged to the point where they simply won’t hold a charge, and the only solution is to replace it. And while motorcycle batteries generally are less expensive than car batteries, for example, it’s still an expense you could do without.
What to consider when buying a motorcycle battery charger
First and foremost, you will want to consider a charger’s compatibility with the various battery technologies. Different types of battery need to be charged in different ways, and while many battery chargers on the market today are compatible with lead acid, gel, and lithium-ion batteries (including all the ones featured in this guide), that’s not always the case. Check what type your battery is, and make sure you get a charger that’s appropriate.
It’s important to consider what safety features are on offer too. Battery tenders can automatically switch between charging and discharging, as well as reconditioning your bike’s battery, which means you can set it and forget it. You may also consider one with polarity detection, so you can’t connect the terminals the wrong way around, or automatic charge rate adjustment optimized on the fly for your battery.
Charging rate is another important consideration, since charging a motorcycle battery too fast can cause it to heat up, damaging it, and reducing its lifespan. Generally speaking, a middle of the road figure between 1-2 amps is a safe range, and look at anything that charges faster with caution — check the manual for your bike if you’re unsure.
The best motorcycle battery chargers
Rrp: $64.95
Rrp: $64.95
"Motorcycle batteries can be notoriously finicky pieces of kit, leave them unattended for an extended period and chances are that they’ll let you down. That’s because the demands of the electrical system on most modern bikes means a full charge (or close to) is required for a successful start, and if the battery isn’t topped up on a regular basis it can lose the necessary voltage to fire up your ride.
"This can be exacerbated in cold weather, when the chemical reaction that provides the juice slows down, so having the means to maintain, and if necessary recover, these crucial power sources makes charging equipment essential garage gear.
"NOCO is a US based company that has been innovating automotive electronics since 1914, so they know a thing or two battery maintenance. Among their range of one-stop shop devices is the Genius 2, a palm sized unit bristling with useful cell-saving features, and one that has already saved me a few quid in replacement batteries.
"So what does the Genius 2 do? Well, first and foremost, it restores charge, and is compatible with most 6 and 12V batteries including traditional wet-cell lead acid, gel, AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) and lithium-ion. Simply attach the supplied insulated crocodile clamps to the correct terminals on your battery, switch on and select the appropriate battery type using the ‘mode’ button. The Genius 2 will then measure the level of charge and give a visual indication on a four step display – small red light for low and large green for full.
"Even though a depleted battery may not have enough power to crank over an engine, it can often still hold a charge of 50% or more. This is a typical situation that many people (myself included) find themselves in, when the headlights still come on but there’s no go. In that event I’ve found the Genius 2 takes around 4 to 5 hours to bring a 14Ah battery back to 100%. Ambient temperature can play a part in the charging time, but the unit has a built-in thermal compensation system that automatically adjusts the cycle for the most effective charge.
"For very flat batteries, the Genius 2 can detect voltages as low as 1V and even has a ‘Force Mode’ to bring those back that show no charge at all. I’ve used the latter and it resurrected a ‘dead’ battery overnight, saving me the Genius’ purchase price in the process.
"But the benefits don’t stop once the charging is over, as the Genius goes on to condition the battery for optimized performance. Leave it hooked up as a trickle charger (it can be left indefinitely according to the manual) and by maintaining a full charge during idle periods it prevents stratification, a condition where the acid and water separate, reducing cold cranking power and ultimately shortening battery life. There are several different adapters available to make this easier, such as the Optimate type and a dual large/small 12V accessory plug that covers cigarette and Hella (Din) style sockets.
"Measuring just 17cm long and weighing in at less than half a kilo, it’s an incredibly compact unit and comes with a handy bracket for mounting to the wall or workbench. Build quality is top notch and even the packaging has a premium feel, elevating unboxing the Genius 2 to an Apple-esque experience. When you consider the purchase price is less than the cost of most batteries, it’s a no brainer to have one in your armoury."
Pros
- Incredibly well made and compact unit
- Battery recovery feature is a real lifesaver — saves buying a new battery in many cases
Cons
- Repair mode to reduce battery sulfation only works on 6V batteries, which aren't very common
| Battery compatibility | Flooded, gel, AGM, EFB, SLA, VRLA, and lithium-ion |
| Charge rate | 2 amp |
- Compatibility with lead acid, gel, AGM, lithium-ion, and more
- Integrated thermal sensor for accurate charging in all climates
- Ability to revive "dead" batteries as low as 1V, or manually force charge down to 0V
- Advanced battery repair and conditioner mode
- Fully automatic trickle charging, can be left connected to the battery indefinitely
- Includes a wall mounting kit
Rrp: $199.99
Rrp: $199.99
"Bike batteries are getting smaller and lighter – but the stress our bikes put on them with ever-more powerful electronics systems and auxiliary add-ons is getting greater than ever. It doesn't take much to find you're out of juice when you hit the magic starter button. But if you don't have bike storage with mains electricity, what do you do? You get one of these.
"Charge the unit, and then take it on tour. Once charged, it'll hold its power for a year and will recover a dead bike battery enough to start your engine in around 15 minutes. The charge is delivered to your battery progressively, too – reducing the risk of jump-start damage. It's absolutely superb and really works. Yes, it's a pricey solution, but it works brilliantly and is invaluable if you're off the grid where your bike lives.
"And if you want to go fully off-grid, you can get the very clever foldaway 60W Solar Charge Kit to keep the unit and your bike primed and ready for action. It's hernia-inducingly expensive and too big to take on tour (on a bike) – but if your remote garage has a window (or you have multiple other power needs, like a camper van), it's a seriously cute solution. Both items have two-year warranties."
Pros
- Completely off-grid, quick, and safe battery charging
- Doubles as a USB power bank
Cons
- Quite bulky — certainly too big to take with you on a motorcycle tour
| Battery compatibility | Lead-acid, lithium-ion |
| Charge rate | Automatically detects optimal charge rate depending on the battery |
- Independent of mains power – charge up and go
- Doubles as a power bank with USB charging ports
- Optional solar panel available for off-grid charging
- Two year warranty
Great for fitting and forgetting
"The Oximiser 900 is specifically for bike-sized batteries, but the best thing is its simplicity. It’s very user-friendly, with a choice of crocodile clips or O-rings, plus a wall bracket to keep it positioned off the floor.
"It’s a plug-and-play affair, with a six-stage automated system to keep the battery cells safe and sound, and a bright blue LED screen showing charge status and other parameters, for additional peace of mind. You can use it with gel, MF or lead-acid batteries, and it’ll charge with 900mA of power from voltages as low as 4.1. Build quality feels a bit cheap, but it works well."
Pros
- Plug-and-play simplicity
- Screen is bright and easy to read
Cons
- Build quality is flimsy
| Battery compatibility | Gel, MF and lead-acid |
| Charge rate | 0.9 amp |
- Automatically maintains, optimises and prolongs the life of any 12v battery
- Can be left permanently connected to provide long-term battery care
- Comes with weatherproof fuse holder, crocodile clips, wall bracket and screws
Best solar battery charger
"Power points are not always available where you want them, so the Optimate Solar Duo is a great way to plug in Smart chargers. I have an old Royal Enfield sidecar outfit which is too big to fit in my garage, so it lives outside under one of those bike covers with a clear window designed for solar panels.
"The beauty of this is that when I am not using the outfit, I can connect up the Optimate Solar to the supplied lead which is permanently attached to the battery, making it very easy to connect/disconnect. The battery is then charged through the hours of daylight, with a smart charger-monitor adjusting the output to meet its needs.
"The solar panel itself produces 10 watts of power maximum, making between 12-12.8 volts, is waterproof and measures 390mm by 250mm by 30mm thick, a bit bigger than an A4 sheet of paper. The system is capable of charging STD, AGM and GEL 12 volt batteries from 2-40amp hour as well as Lithium LFP 12.8-13.2 volt batteries.
"This one is the 10W version but is also available in a 20W 1.7A and a 40W 3.3A version should you need something a bit meatier! The whole lot comes complete with two types of battery connectors and a very neat zip up carry case."
Pros
- Works without mains power
- Completely waterproof construction
Cons
- Relatively slow charge rate, even in ideal conditions
| Battery compatibility | STD, AGM, Gel, and lithium-ion |
| Charge rate | 0.8 amp |
- Program control 4 stages, fully automatic
- Charge time limit, safe to leave connected for seasonal maintenance
- Maintain / test cycles: Keeps battery at 100% charged when not in use
- Enclosure fully sealed (IP54)
- Cable length 2m from panel to charger; 1m from charger to output connector.
- Included accessories: 01 weatherproof permanent lead; 04 battery clamp lead
- Operation temperature range: From -20ºC <-> 40°C
- Ratings / approvals: CE, NRTL (UL & CSA), SAA (AU & NZ)
- Three year warranty
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best battery tender for a motorcycle in freezing temperature?
If you use a modern battery tender that’s compatible with your bike’s battery, you usually don’t have to worry about charging in freezing temperatures. Motorcycle batteries will charge slower in cold weather, but it’s usually not dangerous unless the battery freezes solid (around -20°C for lead acid). If the battery is in good health and holds plenty of charge in normal conditions, colder temperatures shouldn’t pose any major risk to charging.
Lithium ion batteries can undergo a process called lithium plating if charged below freezing, which is potentially dangerous and will permanently reduce the total capacity. But, modern battery chargers can detect this, and will reduce the current to a safe level automatically.
If your motorcycle battery won’t start the bike below freezing, it’s likely because your battery is worn out. This shouldn’t mean you need to get a new battery though, as hooking it up to a battery tender overnight should still give it enough charge to start. But, if this doesn’t work, you’ll need to jump-start the bike, and a jump pack might be what you need instead.
How to avoid flat batteries on your motorcycle
If you’re leaving the bike for more than a week without riding it, it’s a good idea to hook it up to a battery tender or trickle charger to keep the battery in good condition. Any of the ones you see in this list will make sure your bike’s battery is ready to go when you are, and with minimal effort required.
However, the more fun way is to just keep riding your bike – at least once a week, for 15 minutes or more at a time should keep the battery topped up, or longer if it takes a few cranks to start up.
If you’re still getting a flat battery regularly after all that, it’s safe to say something’s wrong with the electrical system on the bike, so time to investigate. It could be an electrical accessory that’s draining the bike’s battery like a motorcycle tracker or USB plug, or the battery itself could be nearing the end of its life.
Should I charge motorcycle battery at 2 or 10 amps?
As a general rule, you should charge the battery at about 10% of its total amp hour rating to preserve its longevity – for most motorcycle batteries, that means a 1 to 2 amp charger is best. That is pretty slow, but any faster and you could risk heating up the battery, damaging it, and reducing its lifespan. Check your bike’s manual if you want to charge any faster, to see if your bike’s battery can handle faster charging.
How many amps should a 12V motorcycle battery have?
The amperage of a motorcycle battery basically tells you how big it is – the more amps, the more times you can crank the engine over without it going flat. That comes at the cost of a bigger physical size though, and there’s many different sizes of batteries for different kinds of bikes. So, check your bike’s manual to find out which sizes will fit, and grab whichever one is appropriate from a brand you trust.
Can you leave a motorcycle battery charger on overnight?
Many modern battery tenders and trickle chargers have maintenance functions built in, that allow you to leave them plugged in all the time. If your battery charger doesn’t have this kind of feature though, you’ll risk overcharging the battery, and that could seriously damage it. So, be sure to check for a maintenance function before you buy.
About the testers
Justin Hayzelden – MCN’s Products Editor and resident bike kit guru, Justin has covered hundreds of thousands of miles on two wheels both at work and in his personal life. In this page, he tested the NOCO GENIUS 2.
Rich Newland – With over 40 years of riding experience and 21 years as a bike journalist, Rich has ridden pretty much every new bike of the last two decades and plenty of others from history – dating right back to machines from the 1930s. In this page, he tested the CTEK CS FREE charger.
Gareth Evans – Head of Digital, Gareth made the switch from four wheels to two in 2019 and has never looked back (apart from when he’s racing classic cars…). For this page he tested the Oxford Oximiser 900.
How MCN tests battery chargers
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 battery chargers the same way you’ll use yours, by using them on our own bikes. And, we make sure to put them through at least a few months of use before sharing our findings. 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 quality, ease of use, and value. When we write up our full reviews, we’ll give each battery charger a rating out of five stars in each of these categories, and offer a final verdict too. This page is only for the best battery chargers, so every one 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 battery charger 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 battery charger 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 battery charger with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
4 stars – A battery charger has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A battery charger with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
5 stars – A battery charger has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A battery charger 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.
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