Have you ever experienced that situation when you were planning to ride your motorcycle only to find out the battery was completely empty? There is nothing worse than being unable to ride because of a discharged motorcycle battery, especially when it can easily be avoided.
This uncomfortable situation usually happens when your motorcycle has been sitting for a long period of time without actually being ridden. Most of the modern motorcycle batteries can withstand being left uncharged for multiple months or even a whole season. However, if you leave your motorcycle battery outside during winter, you are risking getting it completely drained. Its discharge time shortens significantly in extremely cold temperatures, therefore the battery should be stored properly. It is recommended to store your motorcycle battery in a room temperature and leave it connected to a specifically designed battery charger also called a “trickle charger” that will monitor its voltage level and recharge it if necessary.
Having a high-quality battery charger can be very beneficial. Not only can it recharge your motorcycle battery when it is dead, but it can also prolong its lifespan by multiple years. The charger will prevent your battery from self-discharge and it will also make sure the electrolyte is kept at an optimal level.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the Best Motorcycle Battery Chargers that are available for sale on the market. There are various types of motorcycle battery chargers with many different attributes and specifications, so it might seem a bit difficult to choose a specific one. But, don’t worry! It is my mission to help you out with this task and tell you which charger will be the perfect one for your motorcycle battery!
Read Also: Top 6 Best Motorcycle Batteries of 2024
List of the Top 6 Motorcycle Battery Chargers
Best Motorcycle Battery Charger Reviews
There are plenty of battery chargers available on the market today, but not all of them are that good for motorcycles. If you are not careful enough and try to use some unknown charger, you might actually end up damaging your motorcycle battery. You should use a charger that is designed specifically for motorcycle batteries, even if its slightly more expensive than a regular battery charger. You can choose from various types of motorcycle battery chargers such as fast chargers, trickle chargers, smart chargers and solar chargers. Some of the motorcycle battery chargers come with additional features that are very useful and that you won’t simply find in the basic chargers. So, if you are looking for a motorcycle battery charger and you are unsure which one to pick, then keep reading!
If you have been be asking questions like “What is the best motorcycle battery charger?” or “What type of charger do I need for a motorcycle?” I will try my best to give you the most accurate answers possible. Furthermore, I will also tell you about some of the important aspects you should be looking for in a motorcycle battery charger to get the most out of it.
Battery Tender Junior Charger Review
The Battery Tender Junior is a 0.8-Amp automatic motorcycle battery charger and maintainer and it is currently the best-selling charger on the market. It can be used for charging motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, or similar vehicles with 12V lead-acid, gel, or AGM batteries. You can even use it for your car, but only to maintain the battery, as it is not powerful enough to fully charge it.
Features & Functionality
The Battery Tender Junior comes with a smart charging technology, which was designed to make the charger super easy to use. The operation of the device is plug-n-play and all you need to do is to connect the charger to your motorcycle battery and forget it. The charger will then monitor the health of your motorcycle battery and manage it automatically. It will make sure the correct level of power is sent to the battery at all times to maintain proper voltage levels and prevent overcharging. Other than that, the charger is spark-proof and it also offers reverse polarity protection. The complete charging process consists of four steps.
Charging Process
- Initialization – Checks for battery voltage and starts charging the battery
- Bulk Charge – Charges with maximum current for up to 72 hours
- Absorption Mode – Charges with declining current for up to 6-8 hours
- Float/Maintenance Mode – Charges with a constant voltage and maintains the battery at max level
The charging process is indicated by a two-color LED, which will change its color depending on the state of the charge. If the battery voltage level is high, it will automatically stop charging. If the battery voltage drops, full charger output power resumes. If the battery is completely drained, it will take about 3-4 days to fully recharge using this charger, because of its low-amperage rating (800mA).
Extras & Warranty
The charger comes with a 5-year warranty, a helpful customer support and two accessories included in the box:
- Fused Ring Terminal Harness (for hard to reach spaces)
- Fused Alligator Clips (for an alternate connection)
The Verdict
Overall, the Battery Tender Junior is a fantastic motorcycle battery charger that will also maintain the battery and maximize its lifespan. It comes with a lot of additional functions and accessories, 5-year warranty and very good customer service. The charger is compact and easy to use, but more importantly, it is very affordable to buy. At a cost of only about $35, the charger is a must have for every motorbike owner. To be honest, I actually think the Battery Tender Junior is the best cheap motorcycle battery charger available on the market.
Battery Tender Junior Charger
️Pros: Fully automatic, Smart charging technology, 5-year warranty, Extra cables included, Very affordable
Cons: Slow charging speed
CTEK MXS 5.0 Charger Review
The second place on our list of the highest rated motorcycle battery chargers belongs to the CTEK MXS 5.0 motorcycle battery charger and maintainer. It is slightly more expensive than some other chargers, but in my opinion, it is worth every penny. You can use the CTEK MXS 5.0 charger for many different types of vehicles including ATVs, cars, boats and others. It can simply handle anything that you have in your garage!
Features & Functionality
The CTEK MXS 5.0 is a 4.3 Amp motorcycle battery charger that is suitable for 12V lead-acid batteries up to 110Ah. It comes with a fully automatic charging cycle and lots of practical functions. Its unique reconditioning mode will maintain a proper voltage of the battery and the built-in temperature sensing technology will prevent the battery from overheating. The charger is spark-proof and reverse polarity protected. On top of that, it has an IP65 rating and it is splash and dust proof.
Charging Process
- Desulphation – Removes sulphates from the lead and restores the battery capacity
- Soft Start – Tests if the battery can accept charge, starts charging the battery
- Bulk Charge – Charging with maximum current until approximately 80% of capacity
- Absorption – Charging with declining current to up to 100 % battery capacity
- Analyze – Tests if the battery can hold charge
- Recondition – Reconditioning function for deeply discharged batteries
- Float – Provides a constant voltage charge and maintains the battery at maximum level
- Pulse – Maintains the battery at 95–100 % capacity and gives a pulse when necessary
The CTEK MXS 5.0 charger comes with an 8-step charging process. The battery will be charged with maximum current until approximately 80% of capacity. It will then switch to a declining current to up to 100% of capacity. When the battery is fully charged, the charger will automatically maintain the battery at 95-100% capacity and recharge it when needed. The voltage will be monitored and kept at an optimal level to extend the battery life.
Extras & Warranty
The charger comes with a 5-year warranty and a premium input/output cable with robust strain relief included in the box. Unfortunately, some buyers are reporting difficulties actually reaching the customer service and obtaining a warranty replacement in case of a failure of the charger.
The Verdict
Without a doubt, the CTEK MXS 5.0 is an outstanding motorcycle battery charger and in my opinion, it is the most versatile charger you can buy. It is powerful and it also offers lots of interesting features such as the IP rating and temperature sensing technology. The 8-step charging process is innovative and it will keep your battery in optimal conditions to extend its lifespan. The only downside of this charger is the lack of customer support. You might be out of luck, if you have any kind of problems with your device.
CTEK MXS 5.0 Charger
️Pros: Fully automatic, 8-step charging cycle, unique reconditioning mode, temperature sensing technology, IP65 rating, 5-year warranty
Cons: Lack of customer support
Tecmate Optimate Lithium 4s Charger Review
Tecmate is a well-known company in the battery charger industry. They have manufactured many different battery chargers, but there is only one that truly outshines all the others. The Optimate Lithium 4s is a fully automatic smart motorcycle battery charger that can be used for 12.8V Lithium motorcycle batteries (Li-Ion, LiFePO4 only). Unfortunately, the Lithium 4s version cannot be used to charge lead-acid, gel or AGM motorcycle batteries, but there are other versions of the Optimate charger that you can buy instead.
Features & Functionality
The Optimate Lithium 4s is a 0.8-Amp battery charger designed specifically for motorcycles. In fact, the charger is recommended by the most popular motorcycle brands such as Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and KTM. It ensures ultimate protection of your battery by preventing discharge and maintaining optimal voltage for long periods of time. The Optimate Lithium 4s charger offers an intelligent wake up mode, which safely wakes the battery with integrated BMS protection out of sleep mode. The company is claiming that their charger can actually save batteries even when no other charger can. If it doesn’t save your battery, then nothing else will! The charger is suitable for some of the most common Lithium-ion batteries from brands such as Antigravity, Super-B and Earth-X.
Charging Process
- Low Volt Start – Charging process is initiated at a low voltage (~0.5V)
- Pre-Qualification (BMS Reset) – Selects charge program according to battery voltage
- Low Volts Recovery – Ensures a discharged battery is safely recovered
- Bulk Charge – Delivers constant current of 800mA until the voltage has risen to 14.3V
- Dead Cell Check – Detects internal damage and prevents unnecessary charging
- Absorption and Equalisation – Deliveres pulses with voltage controlled between 14.0V and 14.3V
- Voltage Retention Test – Diagnioses the battery, no charge current is delivered
- Charge Maintenance – Float charge periods (13.6V) followed by no charge periods
The charger comes with an 8-step charging process that is very gentle to the battery. It is able to both restore a dead battery as well as maintain the battery voltage at a certain level for longer periods of time.
Extras & Warranty
When buying the Optimate Lithium 4s motorcycle battery charger, you will get a 3-year manufacturer warranty, so you will be able to get a replacement in case of a unit failure. The charger comes with all necessary accessories (cables and clamps) included in the box and they are covered by the warranty as well.
The Verdict
If you are looking for the best Lithium motorcycle battery charger that is made by a reputable manufacturer, then the Optimate Lithium 4s might be the perfect choice for you. It is feature-packed and reliable, yet relatively inexpensive. I had a hard time finding any negatives about the charger, but there are some customers reporting issues with their units, although they are very rare. Also, the instructions in the manual could be better.
Tecmate Optimate Lithium 4s Charger
️Pros: Fully automatic, 8-step charging cycle, intelligent wake up mode, BMS protection, 3-year manufacturer warranty
Cons: Lithium batteries only
NOCO Genius 5 Charger Review
If you are looking for a motorcycle battery charger that offers both 6V and 12V charging mode, then the NOCO Genius 5 will be the best option for you. The 6V mode will be useful for charging small vehicles such as scooters or lawn mowers. In fact, the Genius 5 is the Amazon’s best-selling charger for scooter batteries. So, if you own a number of vehicles each having a different battery voltage, then you should definitely consider this charger.
Features & Functionality
The NOCO Genius 5 is a 5-Amp fully-automatic motorcycle battery charger and maintainer that is able to charge 6V and 12V lead-acid batteries from various types of vehicles (motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, cars, boats, lawn mowers, etc.). It can be used for flooded, gel, AGM, maintenance-free and lithium-ion batteries as well. The charger comes with many practical features such as an integrated thermal sensor, which will measure the ambient temperature and alter the charging to eliminate overcharging in hot temperatures or undercharging in cold temperatures. Thanks to the all-new force mode, it can charge completely dead batteries down to 0-1 Volts. On top of that, the NOCO Genius 5 charger can detect battery sulfation and acid stratification. It will also improve starting and extend battery life.
Charging Process
Being a fully automatic charger, the NOCO Genius 5 can charge your motorcycle battery using a multi-step charging cycle. This makes the charger extremely safe and easy to use, yet very effective. You can switch between 6 different charging modes:
- 12V Mode – For 12V wet cell, gel, flooded, maintenance-free and calcium batteries
- 12V AGM – For 12V AGM batteries
- 12V Lithium – For 12V Lithium-ion batteries (including Lithium iron phosphate)
- 6V Mode – For 6V wet cell, gel, flooded, maintenance-free and calcium batteries
- 12V Repair – Repair old, idle, damaged, stratified or sulfated batteries
- Force Mode – Charge 6V and 12V batteries below 1V
Extras & Warranty
When you buy the NOCO Genius 5 motorcycle battery charger, you will also get a pair of battery clamps and integrated eyelets with it. Other than that, it also comes with a mounting bracket and a strap included with the purchase. The manufacturer offers a 3-year limited warranty for all their products.
The Verdict
The NOCO Genius 5 is truly an awesome all-around battery charger that you can use to charge motorcycle batteries. It offers an all-season + all-weather charging capability and an ability to restore nearly dead batteries. Thanks to many different functions and charging modes, it is able to charge and restore almost any motorcycle battery imaginable. There is only one small downside and it is a higher failure rate compared to other chargers.
NOCO Genius 5 Charger
️Pros: Fully automatic, 5-Amp charging, 6V option, Integrated thermal sensor, 6 different modes, 3-year warranty
Cons: It can be unreliable
Battery Tender Plus Charger Review
The Battery Tender Plus is another great motorcycle battery charger manufactured by the Deltran company. This one is a more advanced charger than the Battery Tender Junior, but also more expensive. It is very compact and lightweight, yet durable.
Features & Functionality
The Battery Tender Plus is a 1.25-Amp fully automatic smart motorcycle battery charger that is suitable for 12V lead-acid, flooded, and sealed maintenance-free (AGM and gel cell) batteries. It can be used for charging and maintaining motorcycle or ATV batteries, but also for batteries of cars, boats and other vehicles. As all other chargers on our list, the Battery Tender Plus is able to restore a dead buttery and maintain it at an optimal charge. Furthermore, the charger is spark-proof and it can detect reverse polarity to ensure correct connection before providing power to the battery.
Charging Process
- Initialization – Checks for battery voltage and starts charging the battery
- Bulk Charge – Charges with maximum current for up to 72 hours
- Absorption Mode – Charges with declining current for up to 6-8 hours
- Float/Maintenance Mode – Charges with a constant voltage and maintains the battery at max level
The charging process of the Battery Tender Plus has a 4-step cycle with a smart charging technology designed to extend the life of your motorcycle battery. It will monitor the battery and assure the voltage is kept at an appropriate level. There are 4 stages in the process, each with their unique purpose and they will only be activated when necessary.
Extras & Warranty
The charger comes with a 10-year manufacturer warranty, which is a brilliant feature on its own. On top of that, you will get a couple of accessories that are included in the box:
- Fused Ring Terminal Harness (for hard to reach spaces)
- Fused Alligator Clips (for an alternate connection)
The Verdict
The Battery Tender Plus is another high-quality motorcycle battery charger that is super-easy to use and powerful enough to charge a car. Its 4-step charging process might not be as complex as the 8-step cycle you will find in some other chargers, but it is more than enough for most batteries. The charger comes with a 10-year warranty and a phenomenal customer support. It is a reliable charger, however, some customers were reporting the reliability went down compared to the same chargers made 15-20 years ago.
Battery Tender Plus Charger
️Pros: Fully automatic, Smart charging technology, 10-year warranty, Extra cables included
Cons: Not as good as it used to be
NOCO Genius 1 Charger Review
Another charger on our list is the NOCO Genius 1. The product comes from the same series as the NOCO Genius 5, but it is not as powerful. The price is also lower and you will have to pay only about $30 for the charger. This puts the NOCO Genius 1 charger into the same price category as the Battery Tender Junior.
Features & Functionality
The NOCO Genius 1 is a 1-Amp fully-automatic smart battery charger and maintainer that can charge and maintain 6-12V sealed lead-acid batteries of various types of vehicles including motorcycles. It will work with most types of batteries such as flooded, gel, AGM, SLA, VRLA, and maintenance-free. On top of that, is can also charge Lithium-ion batteries (lifepo4) without any problem. Apart from charging and maintenance, the Genius 1’s sophisticated battery management provides many different features such as Desulfation and Thermal Compenstation. Additionally, it can also restore heavily discharged batteries below 1V using the Battery Repair Mode.
Charging Process
The NOCO Genius 1 comes with 5 different modes that can be used for charging specific types of batteries.
- 12V Mode – For 12V wet cell, gel, flooded, maintenance-free and calcium batteries
- 12V AGM – For 12V AGM batteries
- 12V Lithium – For 12V Lithium-ion batteries (including Lithium iron phosphate)
- 6V Mode – For 6V wet cell, gel, flooded, maintenance-free and calcium batteries
- Force Mode – Charge 6V and 12V batteries below 1V
Extras & Warranty
The package includes a charger unit, battery clamps and integrated eyelets. As with all other NOCO products, you will get a 3-year limited warranty with the Genius 1 battery charger. This is an incredible value considering how affordable the unit is.
The Verdict
As you can see, the NOCO Genius 1 is another outstanding battery charger that offers everything you will ever need for charging and maintenance of motorcycle batteries. The charger is incredibly small and it has some great features that are really hard to find in this price range. Unfortunately, failure rates are pretty high with NOCO products, and there have been numerous reports of Genius 1 units that were defective out of the box.
NOCO Genius 1 Charger
️Pros: Fully automatic, 6V option, Integrated thermal sensor, 5 different modes, 3-year warranty
Cons: Higher failure rate
Reasons to Buy a Motorcycle Battery Charger
Whenever you are planning to buy a new piece of motorcycle riding gear or accessory, you should always think about it in a broad perspective to decide whether you actually need it or not. Sometimes, you will realize that the item you are looking for is not that necessary for your needs. In my opinion, a motorcycle battery charger doesn’t fall into this category and it can be very beneficial for most motorcyclists. You will be able to use it every year when winterizing your motorcycle and maintaining the battery will soon become your yearly routine.
Recharge a Dead Motorcycle Battery
If you have an older battery that doesn’t keep the charge that well and you will leave your motorcycle standing for a couple of weeks, it will be very hard to start the motorcycle. This is a very common situation that happened to me multiple times. The most common reason for this issue is the battery being completely empty. Motorcycle batteries lose their capacity over time and after a couple of years, it will be almost impossible to keep them fully charged, especially if you don’t ride your bike every day. So, to bring the battery to a working condition again, you will have to jump start it. That’s why motorcycle battery chargers are so handy. You simply connect the charger to your motorcycle battery, wait for a couple of hours and you should be able to start it again.
Maintain of Your Motorcycle Battery
This is the main reason why motorcycle battery chargers are so great. Not only are they able to jump start the battery but they can also maintain it when you are not using your motorcycle and recharge it automatically when needed. A battery charger will keep an eye on the voltage and ensure it is maintained at the optimal level. It can also measure temperature and other attributes of the battery to optimize the charging process and make it as effective as possible. So, buying a motorcycle battery charger can be a very wise decision. Yes, you will have to spend about $50-100 for the charger, but it will save you a lot of money in the long run and it is also ecological. Apart from that, having a motorcycle battery charger will give you a piece of mind and you will be spared from the potential stress involved in buying a new motorcycle battery every couple of years.
Car Maintenance & Other Uses
Some battery chargers can be only used for a specific type of vehicle, while others can charge almost anything. If you own multiple different types of vehicles, it might be a good idea to buy a charger that can be used for all of them. Motorcycle battery chargers are able to charge regular motorcycles, dirt bikes, ATVs and scooters, but only some of them can charge cars, trucks or other large vehicles. The reason is that each charger comes with a different voltage and amperage. Some motorcycle battery chargers are simply to weak to be able to charge a car. So, you should keep that in your mind.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Battery Charger
Before you buy a motorcycle battery charger, you should know some specifications of your motorcycle and especially its battery. There are various attributes that can make the motorcycle battery charger better for different circumstances. Lets discuss the most important factors that may affect the usability of the charger and find out what type of battery charger you should use for your motorcycle.
What Type of Vehicle Do You Own?
If you only own a motorcycle (or multiple motorcycles) and you would like to use the charger mainly for maintenance purposes, then it will be an easy decision. You should definitely buy a simple 12V charger with low amperage such as the Battery Tender Junior. On the other hand, if you own a car or some additional vehicles such as a truck or boat, then you will probably want to buy something that can drive more power into your battery such as the CTEK MXS 5.0.
What Type of Battery Do You Have?
This is a very important factor when buying a motorcycle battery charger. There are various types of motorcycle batteries and each of them is based on a different technology. Lead-acid, gel and AGM batteries are using a relatively similar technology (liquid) and most of the chargers can be used safely with them. However, if you own a Lithium battery, then you should choose a completely different charger, otherwise you might end up frying your battery! Every high-rated motorcycle battery charger that is available on the market in 2024 has this particular specification mentioned in its description. If you can’t find what type of motorcycle battery is the charger designed for, just don’t buy it!
Voltage & Amperage of the Charger
Batteries of motorcycles and most other vehicles usually have a 6-volt or 12-volt battery. Most of the chargers included in our list come with a 12V charging option, but there are some chargers that offer both the 6V and 12V options. The 6V option can be useful for smaller vehicles such as scooters or mopeds. So, if you own a scooter, you should consider buying a charger that has both options such as the NOCO Genius 5. Amperage of the battery charger is a factor that affects the charging speed. The higher the amperage is, the faster the charger will charge your motorcycle battery. So, if you are looking for a fast-charging device, you should choose the one with an amperage rating of at least 5-10 Amps.
Functionality of the Charging Process
Number of stages used in the charging process determines how smart the charger is and how safe the charging process is for your motorcycle battery. Some chargers come with a 4-step charging functionality, while others have their charging process consisting of up to 8 steps. The 8-step chargers are somewhat “smarter” and their charging process is much more complex. Because of a higher amount of steps, these chargers are more gentle to the battery and they can also analyze it much better.
Cables, Clamps & Other Accessories
Each of the chargers comes with the basic power cable and alligator clamps included in the box. However, some of the chargers will also include an additional cable than can be used as an alternative connection in hard to reach areas. Having an alternative cable that is more compact than the regular one is always a good option, as most motorcycle batteries are not that easy to reach. So, if you want to be able to recharge the battery without removing it from the frame of the bike, then you should be looking for those chargers which come with some type of an alternative cable connection.
Conclusion
Charging a motorcycle battery can be tricky if you don’t know which charger you can use and which one to avoid. That is why I have decided to white this review and buying guide about the Best Motorcycle Battery Chargers that you can purchase in 2024. I am pretty sure that after reading this article, you have found out that a battery charger can definitely be a practical tool to own. Not only can it jump start your motorcycle battery, but it can also make it last longer. So, if you really want to unleash the full potential of your motorcycle battery and save some buck on top of that, then buying one of the chargers mentioned above will surely be one of the best decisions you have made.
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