How To Jump-Start a Motorcycle

Knowing how to jump-start a motorcycle is an important skill. If you’re ever stranded or your battery dies unexpectedly, a jump-start can save you from having to get a tow and taking a taxi home. To learn how to safely jump-start a motorcycle with a car or motorcycle battery, check out our guide below. 

Jump-Start With a Car Battery 

To jump-start your motorcycle with a car battery, you’ll first need to check that the car uses a 12-volt system. Car batteries can easily overpower and ruin a motorcycle battery if you’re not careful, so it’s important to check the voltage and ensure the vehicle is turned off throughout the entire process. 

To set up the jump, first attach your red jumper cable to the dead battery’s positive pole and then the live battery’s positive pole. Afterward, attach the black cable to a grounded piece of metal on your model, and then place the other end on the other vehicle’s negative battery pole. Once the cables are set up, wait a minute or two before trying to start up your motorcycle. Once your model starts, leave the bike running and detach your jumper cables in the reverse order you attached them. 

Jump-Start With a Motorcycle Battery 

When jump-starting your motorcycle with another motorcycle battery, you’ll follow the same process as above—first attaching the red cable to the positive poles, then the back cable to a grounded piece of metal and the other motorcycle’s negative battery pole. Once your cables are set up, you’ll need to start the motorcycle with the good battery and allow it to run for a few minutes while connected to the cables. Afterward, start the motorcycle with the dead battery and allow both models to run for a few minutes before once again removing the cables in the same order you attached them. 

If your motorcycle battery is dying regularly or draining very quickly, you may need the help of a maintenance professional to successfully solve the issue. If you’re located nearby in St. Louis or St. Peters, Missouri, we recommend visiting us here at St. Charles Harley-Davidson® in St. Charles, Missouri to let our expert technicians handle all your model’s important repairs.