Your Guide to Jump-Starting a Motorcycle

Knowing how to jump-start a motorcycle can really come in handy in a sticky situation. To learn how to correctly jump-start your bike read over our step-by-step instructions below. Once you've got your motorcycle up and running again, feel free to drive over to our location in Monee, Illinois to get a high-quality repair or find a replacement part.

Prep

The two most important items you’ll need to set up a successful jump-start is another vehicle and a set of jumper cables. We also strongly advise having a durable set of gloves and protective eyewear on hand to help protect you from leaking battery acid or an electric shock. Before you set up your jump-start you’ll also need to remove any dangling jewelry, as it could brush against the battery’s poles and end up shocking you.

Setting Up the Jump 

You’ll first need to attach your red jumper cable to the positive battery poles on both vehicles. These will be marked with a plus sign and often have a red safety cap that you’ll need to remove. Once this is done you’ll want to grab the black jumper cable and attach it to the opposite vehicle’s negative battery pole. However, instead of connecting the other side of the cable to your bike’s own negative pole, you’ll instead want to clamp it around a grounded piece of metal, such as your frame.

Vehicle-Type 

If you are using a car to jump-start your motorcycle you’ll want to be very careful. Cars have much stronger batteries than motorcycles, and they can easily damage your bike’s recharge system. To avoid this, be sure to always have the car off while it’s connected to the jumper cables. Your motorcycle should still achieve a successful start with the car off, just be sure to idle it for a few minutes while connected. If you are using another motorcycle to jump-start your own, there’s no need to worry about one battery short-circuiting another. In fact, you’ll need to start both bikes to achieve a successful jump.

If you’re located nearby in Kankakee County or Chicago, Illinois we hope you’ll visit us here at Gina's Motorsports of Monee for all of your motorcycle needs! Not only do we offer convenient on-site repairs, but our helpful parts department will help you find any motorcycle accessories, parts, or customizations you may need.