Best Portable Jump Starter · Motorcycles

Best Portable Jump Starter for Motorcycles

For a motorcycle, ATV or riding mower, a small 12V lithium pack is the right tool: our top pick is the NOCO Boost Sport GB20, which NOCO markets for bikes, ATVs and boats. Powersports batteries are small: Yuasa’s YTX14-BS, a common size, is 12 Ah and 200 CCA, against a car example of 650 CCA that AAA cites. A compact pack also avoids hooking the bike to a car, which Cycle World warns can damage the bike’s ECU.

Touring motorcycle in a garage with its seat lifted and a small jump starter beside the rear wheel

Our top 3

Top picks at a glance

Best for motorcycles#1
NOCO Boost Sport GB20 jump starter

NOCO Boost Sport GB20

Budget price range

NOCO’s smallest Boost, rated to 4.0L gas; The Drive’s best overall motorcycle jump starter.

What buyers say ›
Best if you also drive a car#2
NOCO Boost Plus GB40 jump starter

NOCO Boost Plus GB40

Mid-range price range

Still compact, but rated to 6.0L gas, so one pack covers the bike and the family car.

What buyers say ›
Lightest big-rating pack#3
Battery Tender Jump N Start 2000 jump starter

Battery Tender Jump N Start 2000

Mid-range price range

About 1.48 lb, rated for gas up to V8; Road & Track’s top pick, from a battery-care brand.

What buyers say ›

In detail

Who each one suits

Engine ratings, amps and capacities are each brand’s own figures; third-party test results are credited by name. We did not bench-test these units.

Best for motorcycles#1

NOCO Boost Sport GB20

The GB20 is NOCO’s smallest Boost model, rated for gas engines up to 4.0 liters. That makes it a sensible match for motorcycles, ATVs, lawn tractors, small boats and compact cars, where a big truck-sized pack is more than you need. The Drive’s motorcycle guide names it the best overall jump starter for bikes.

Why it stands out

  • NOCO rates it at 500 peak amps for gas engines up to 4.0L; NOCO does not recommend it for diesel.
  • Same protection set as the GB40: spark-proof clamps and reverse-polarity protection (brand-stated).
  • IP65 with ports closed and about 2.1 lb, so it fits under a seat or in a tank bag.
Engine ratingGas to 4.0L (diesel not recommended)
Peak amps500A (brand-stated)
BatteryLithium-ion, 24 Wh
Weight2.1 lb
ExtrasIP65 (ports closed), USB out, LED light

Good fit if

  • You ride a 12V motorcycle, ATV or UTV, or run a riding mower.
  • Your car is a small four-cylinder and you want the lightest NOCO.

Skip it if

  • Your bike is a 6V vintage model — NOCO lists it for 12V lead-acid batteries only.
  • You drive a V6, V8 or any diesel — size up to the GB40 or GB70.
Best if you also drive a car#2

NOCO Boost Plus GB40

The GB40 is the jump starter most of the big review roundups keep coming back to: The Drive names it best overall, Outdoor Life its best all-weather pick and Car and Driver its most compact. It is small enough for a glovebox, and NOCO rates it for gas engines up to 6.0 liters, which covers most cars, crossovers and many V8 SUVs.

Why it stands out

  • NOCO rates it at 1,000 peak amps for gas engines to 6.0L and diesel to 3.0L, with up to 20 jump starts per charge (brand figures).
  • Spark-proof clamps and reverse-polarity protection: if you mix up the clamps, an error light shows and it will not boost (per NOCO’s user guide).
  • IP65 with the ports closed, a built-in LED light and a USB output for charging a phone.
Engine ratingGas to 6.0L, diesel to 3.0L
Peak amps1,000A (brand-stated)
BatteryLithium-ion, 24 Wh
Weight2.45 lb
ExtrasIP65 (ports closed), USB out, LED light

Good fit if

  • You drive a car, small SUV or gas pickup up to about 6 liters.
  • You want something that lives in the glovebox or door pocket.
  • You value a brand with a long track record over the biggest amp number.

Skip it if

  • You drive a diesel bigger than 3.0L — look at the GB70 or GBX155.
  • You want a pack that doubles as a large power bank — at 24 Wh it is small.

Car and Driver found the 24 Wh battery is the GB40’s trade-off: one jump used a noticeable share of its charge. Top it up after every use.

Lightest big-rating pack#3

Battery Tender Jump N Start 2000

Battery Tender is best known for battery maintainers, and its Jump N Start 2000 is Road & Track’s top-pick jump starter. Battery Tender rates it for 12V gas engines up to V8 and diesel up to 8.0 liters, in a light 1.48 lb package.

Why it stands out

  • Rated at 2,000 peak amps for gas up to V8 and diesel to 8.0L (brand-stated).
  • About 1.48 lb with a 16,000 mAh battery and USB-C charging.
  • Comes from a company whose main business is battery care.
Engine rating12V gas to V8, diesel to 8.0L
Peak amps2,000A (brand-stated)
BatteryLithium, 16,000 mAh
Weight1.48 lb
ExtrasUSB-C charging, LED light

Good fit if

  • You want a light pack with a big-engine rating.
  • You already use Battery Tender maintainers.

Skip it if

  • You want a boost or manual-override button — it does not have one.
  • You need an IP rating for outdoor use.

Bike sat all winter?

A small pack that fits in a tank bag or under the seat saves a push start or a ride home on a trailer.

See customer reviews ›

Tips

Three things that make the difference

01

Read your bike’s manual first

Harley-Davidson says it does not recommend jump-starting a motorcycle, though it may be necessary. Your manual may give its own procedure or a preferred jump point.

02

Ground away from the battery

Harley-Davidson says to connect the negative to a safe ground away from the battery, never to painted or chrome parts.

03

Check the voltage

Harley-Davidson says both sides must be the same voltage. The packs here are 12V; NOCO’s FAQ says jumping a 6V battery with its packs could be extremely dangerous.

Honest note

Jumping a bike often treats the symptom. Motorcycle batteries go flat over long storage; a maintainer, which O’Reilly says supplies a small charge only when voltage drops, is the better long-term fix if the bike sits for weeks.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Can I jump start a motorcycle with a car jump starter?

Usually, if the bike is 12V and the pack is a small one. NOCO markets the GB20 for motorcycles and ATVs. Harley-Davidson does not recommend jump-starting at all, so read your manual and follow its ground point and voltage rules.

Can I jump a motorcycle from a car?

Opinions differ. RideApart cites Yuasa as saying it is fine, but only with the car’s engine off, because a running car could damage the bike’s system. Cycle World warns it can overload the electrics and damage the ECU. A small jump pack sidesteps the question.

What size jump starter does a motorcycle need?

A small one. Powersports batteries are compact; Yuasa’s YTX14-BS is 12V, 12 Ah and 200 CCA. NOCO’s GB20, rated to 4.0L gas, is more than enough for most bikes, ATVs and UTVs. A larger pack works too, but adds weight.

Will a jump starter work on a 6V vintage motorcycle?

Not a standard 12V pack. NOCO lists the GB20 for 12V lead-acid batteries only, and its FAQ says jump starting a 6V battery with its packs could be extremely dangerous. Use a charger or starter designed for 6V.

Can I use a jump starter on a lawn mower or ATV?

Yes, on 12V riding mowers, ATVs and UTVs. Clore says a single-battery unit covers passenger vehicles, lawn tractors, ATVs and motorcycles. Many golf carts are different: they often run 48V packs, which a 12V jump starter cannot help.

Do motorcycle lithium batteries need a jump starter?

Some have a built-in fallback. Antigravity says its RE-START lithium batteries go to sleep when they detect over-discharge, holding back enough energy to restart the vehicle when you press a button. A standard battery still benefits from a small jump pack.

A small pack for a small battery

Want the full picture? See our best portable jump starter guide, compared by engine size and use, and the FAQ on charging, storage and safe use.