Portable Battery Jumper

[SuckSqueezeBangBlow]

Since I know basically nothing about this I thought I would post the question here, I am looking at getting a portable battery jumper to carry on the bike and have narrowed it down to two units.
Brand A Brand B
$89.99 $129.99
3 lbs 1.6 lbs
Lithium Ion Lithium Ion
800A Portable Jump Starter 600A Portable Jump Starter

I do not know any other specs, I would like to save the weight but not sure if that will be good enough to do the boosting on the bike.

Thanks.

 

[lund]

I have a brand name booster pak, Antigravity and a generic one from Amazon.
The Antigravity is seriously half the size with 400amps capacity and will start the S10 with no problems, I even started my wife car with it once to test it.
My generic one is bulky, wife likes it for charging gadgets while riding, it makes for less wires and charge ports on the bike, a PLUS IMO.
It's 800amps, I don't pack it ever.
My advice is, make sure you have a good battery, its the best insurance.

 

[RCinNC]

Well, all things being equal, if I had to choose between 600 cranking amps and 800, I'd probably opt for the 800.

I think the weight is irrelevant, at least if we're talking about a difference of 1.4 pounds. These bikes are hippos, so 1.4 pounds isn't going to make a difference. Dimensions are more important than weight, I think, since storage space on a motorcycle is always limited. If i had limited space, and the 600 amp battery was smaller, then I'd feel fine with using it instead of the 800.

I had one of these portable battery jumpers for a while. It was a Pilot Instaboost. I believe I used it four times over as many years, and then it failed. Even when it worked, I had to send it back to the company for warranty work when a diode failed.

These jumper packs are something I'd want to carry only under certain circumstances, like if I was traveling alone through a very remote area where it was unlikely that somebody would happen by if I had a battery issue. Unless you're pretty detail oriented about maintaining things, a rechargeable battery booster is the kind of thing you throw into a trunk (or pannier) and there is sits, for maybe years, without you ever checking the battery level. Then, they day you actually need it, it's as dead as the battery on the bike.

I carry a set of mini jumper cables in my crash bar bag. I had to use them last summer in Virginia, where I jump started my bike off a kindly stranger's F250. Jumper cables pack small, there's almost always someone around that can provide a jump (unless you're in the aforementioned remote area), and they never go dead sitting in a pannier.

 

[Travex]

The lion’s share of my riding is alone and preferably remote, and as an OEM battery user (over 3 s10’s) I’ve never experienced a battery let down. Those batteries have each been well maintained/charged.

That said, a proclivity to ride distant and alone motivated with some health hitches were the impetus for me to get a booster. It and its cables are in a reasonably small pack whose space I’ve written off as a permanent fixture in my pannier. Peace of mind was well worth the small price and although I’ve never had to use it personally, it has gotten several others out of a pickle… Motorcycle, car, truck, and generator.

As mentioned above, their ability to charge devices via USB is a big +. Try doing that with a dead battery in the boonies.

 

[Fennellg]

I have a Lithium Jumper I got from Harbor Freight. Used it a lot. Have Had it for 5 plus years. Will turn over a dead Tundra. Lot easier to carry and I don't have to waste time hunting one down only to find it is dead or not to found. I sold Toyotas New.

With that said, I don't carry it with me on the bike. I do have a set of jumper cables. They are lighter and don't need to charged. ( I carry them for others in my group. Most of them lack the foresight and will be the ones that only electricity will do.) But I have never used them. I find it much easier to bump start the bike. I don't have to dig out the cables, then the battery. Although I suppose I could install a charging cable. I use a trickle threw the cigarette lighter with the ignition on ACC. Works like a charm. After Installing my Easter Beaver PC 8, I have tried to keep things clean and simple. Works for me. Less hassles same results are always the way to go for me.

 

[SuckSqueezeBangBlow]

Thanks all. I believe the 800amp one is 10x5x4 and the 600amp is 9x6x3, so slightly smaller. I will look into if either or both can charge via USB, a really good point. My thought is that I have left the bike on (although usually at home so it is not a big deal) so if I were to do it while out on a trip this would be a nice safe guard against my stupidity.

 

[RCinNC]

I've never tried to bump start this bike. I wouldn't have thought you could do that with a bike with fuel injection and an electric fuel pump. How do you do it?

 

[Tenman]

My antigravity has saved me several times. I never leave without it

 

[lund]

Hmm, puzzled on how some are posting, it has saved them a few times, while others, including my self have never had the need for them from being in a bind. Though we carry one, I'm not sure if it will ever be used.
I also carry it on my snowmobile, same one. Yet to use it, but in this case you wouldn't get me out without it. Mountain sleds are in a different league when it comes to remoteness.
So my question is "WTH are those needing saving a few times with a booster doing wrong" while most rack up thousands of miles and never need to use one??? Asking for a friend so he knows what not to do.

 

[lund]

I've never tried to bump start this bike. I wouldn't have thought you could do that with a bike with fuel injection and an electric fuel pump. How do you do it?

I have never tried it with the S10. BUT YES there are some efi system in powersports that need no battery power to start and run. I believe Suzuki was one of the first to introduce a self-inducing power that will activate the fuel system(pump) and injectors with no battery.
I do not know if the Yamaha Super Tenere is that way. I guess someone will need to confirm it and post their finding, it won't be me, 3+ft of snow here in the great white north at the moment. Or if you can even bump start the darn thing.

 

[sheikyerbooty]

bump started 2015 xt660z quite a few times ...FI, similar ignition startup procedure to the 1200. but never tried on the s10. anyone done this?

 

[WJBertrand]

I bump started mine last spring. I was touring Death Valley with some friends and I left the key on at a lunch stop. Not enough battery left to start the bike. One of the guys gave me a push, I popped the clutch with the transmission in 2nd and she fired up immediately. The battery wasn’t completely dead but it was too weak to turn the starter. I don’t know if bump starting will work with a completely dead battery or not.


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[magic]

Hmm, puzzled on how some are posting, it has saved them a few times, while others, including my self have never had the need for them from being in a bind. Though we carry one, I'm not sure if it will ever be used.
I also carry it on my snowmobile, same one. Yet to use it, but in this case you wouldn't get me out without it. Mountain sleds are in a different league when it comes to remoteness.
So my question is "WTH are those needing saving a few times with a booster doing wrong" while most rack up thousands of miles and never need to use one??? Asking for a friend so he knows what not to do.

I'm guessing they left the key on overnight or had some electrical accessories on, GPS, phone charger etc.. Maybe the accessories were not wired through ignition switch.

 

[sheikyerbooty]

cheers Jeff. yep the wee ten needed a bit of charge to bump start

 

[SuckSqueezeBangBlow]

I'm guessing they left the key on overnight or had some electrical accessories on, GPS, phone charger etc.. Maybe the accessories were not wired through ignition switch.

Mine has always been from leaving the key in. Yeah yeah, don't use the kill switch, use the key. Old habits of always using the kill switch.

 

[Sierra1]

I've never tried to bump start this bike. I wouldn't have thought you could do that with a bike with fuel injection and an electric fuel pump. How do you do it?

The bigger the hill, the easier it is. I think I used second gear. Got rolling, dumped the clutch & pushed the starter, hung on while she bucked a little, and off she went. I tried with the RT . . . . once. I don't know the why by you can't get the back wheel to roll . . . . at all. Big hill, got rolling, dumped the clutch, and immediately came to a stop. Too much compression. The ST1300 was the easiest. No hill needed, but you need someone to push. Get it rolling, dump the clutch, and away she goes.

The Tenere dead battery was due to, like some others here, leaving the key on after stopping the motor. The Beemer even had dual batteries. Found out only one was connected to the ignition circuit. The Honda only had a single battery. Big ass alternator, but if you don't run it long enough to charge the battery . . . .

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . Old habits of always using the kill switch.

My bad habit is from leaving it in gear and using the side stand switch to turn it off. (work habit. all I had to do to leave quick was pull the clutch in and hit the starter) As far a jump starter goes, I think you'd be crazy to go on a long trip without one. As small/light as the new-fangled lithiums are they stow just about anywhere. If nothing else, it can keep your phone charged. But if something unforeseen happens and you need it. Priceless.

 

[WJBertrand]

My two dead battery experiences were both user errors. The first time I switched the key past lock all the way to park, which turns the tail light on and left it overnight. The second time was the above mentioned lunch stop key on faf.


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[Fennellg]

I have 3 or 4 times. Easy and fast. Bump it, I never had to jump my bike. Since myself and others are reporting success where is the harm in trying. Odds are it will save you a boat load of time and trouble. I have done it in first and second gear. Depends on the help or incline. Alone and not much hill first. The formula has worked out for me.

 

[Tenman]

I've killed mine with the kickstand and the kill switch and forgot it before. I also left a heated jacket on for hours with a fading battery. Nobody for miles. Pushing it off alone is not an option in a lot terrain. Offroad. Good luck. I've jumped several cars and trucks.