How To Jump Start A Sportbike Motorcycle, Step By Step

You’ve probably had to jump start a car before, but when your Sportbike engine suddenly stops turning over, or won’t turn on in the first place, you might have ended up scratching your head.

Luckily for you, jump starting a Sportbike is not as difficult as you might think.

There are 4 main ways to jump start a Sportbike:

  1. Push starting;
  2. A portable battery starter;
  3. Another motorcycle;
  4. A Car battery;

Depending on your specific situation, you’ll be able to jump start your motorbike by following one of these four methods.

We’ll start with the method that doesn’t require any special tools.

Method 1: How To Push Start A Sportbike

Push starting a motorcycle involves holding in the clutch with the motorcycle in second gear and with ignition on, pushing it physically forward with reasonable speed while beside it, and releasing the clutch quickly to mechanically fire up the engine.

Steps to push start a motorcycle:

  • STEP 1: Find a clear stretch of road, preferably slightly sloping downwards:
    • This is for momentum and safety!
  • STEP 2: Check for common push starting errors:
    • Check that there is at least some fuel in the tank.
    • Check that the fuel tap petcock is turned ‘ON’ (for non-EFI bikes).
    • Check the kill switch is set to ‘RUN’.
    • Check the kickstand is up.
  • STEP 3: Put your motorcycle into second gear:
    • Second gear is easiest and safest for most motorbikes, but you can also try putting it into neutral.
    • The transmission needs to be in a low gear to make it easier for the motor to turn over.
    • Do NOT use first gear as you can lock your back wheel up.
  • STEP 4: Hold the clutch in and start pushing:
    • You can waddle or walk your bike while on it, push while running alongside it, have someone push you, or roll down a hill.
    • Ideally the bike will need to be going at 8-10mph for this to work.
  • STEP 5: Release the clutch quickly and turn the throttle:
    • Release the clutch quickly while rolling on the throttle and listening for a soft purring sound of the engine.
    • For this method, the momentum of the bike will start the engine, rather than the battery.

Points to note: Push starting won’t work if your battery is completely dead to the point of being unable to fire the spark plugs. If yours is completely dead, you’ll have to try another one of the methods below.

Method 2: How To Jump Start A Sportbike Using A Portable Battery Jump Starter

You can jump start your motorcycle by connecting a portable battery jump starter pack, which is a battery unit which can be easily carried and has enough power to be connected to a motorcycle battery to allow the motorcycle to be started when its own battery is flat.

A portable battery jump starter pack is an essential tool to keep on you if you’re into solo riding, long distance rides, or even group rides where you could help a mate out.

If you accidently leave the lights on overnight, a portable battery jump started pack will be your best friend.

It is simply the quickest and easiest way to get back on the road.

Looking at getting a portable battery jump starter? We recommend this Hi-Q Tools PM400 Car Battery Charger Jump Starter

Steps to jump start a motorcycle using a portable battery jump starter:

  • STEP 1: Connect the attached cables
    • The most common cables are similar to those of traditional jumper cables.
    • Connect the positive red handled clip to the positive terminal on the motorcycle battery.
    • Connect the negative black handled clip to a bare metal surface on the motorbike or the negative battery terminal.
  • STEP 2: Turn the jump starter pack on
    • Make sure the jumper starter is set to the correct voltage of your motorbike battery. If you have a 12V battery, you should set the starter to 12V.
  • STEP 3: Start your motorbike
    • Crank the motorbike for no more than 2 to 3 seconds each time.
    • You may need to wait a few minutes before trying again if your motorbike doesn’t start up right away.
  • STEP 4: Disconnect the jumper cables
    • Do this in the reverse order of how you put them on, starting with the black negative on your motorbike.
    • Ride around for 20 or so minutes to recharge the battery.
    • Remember to recharge your portable starter pack after each use!

Method 3: How To Jump Start A Sportbike Using Another Motorbike

You can jump start your motorcycle with another motorcycle by connecting jumper cables between the two batteries on each respective bike, and using the charged battery to crank over the engine on your bike with the flat battery.

If it’s not practical to push start your sportsbike and you don’t have a portable jump pack available you can easily jump start your bike by using another motorcycle and a set of jumper cables. Here’s how you do it…

  • STEP 1: Make sure both motorbikes are off and in neutral
  • STEP 2: Locate the battery terminals on each bike
    • For most motorbikes the battery will be under the seat, but depending on the make and model of any given bike this could be different. Refer to your owners manual for the location of the battery and terminals.
    • If the terminals are inaccessible, try the terminals on the chassis, which is where the battery cables are bolted onto the motorbike.
  • STEP 2: Connect the jumper cables
    • Attach the (positive) red handled clip to the positive terminal (usually with a red cover) of the dead battery.
    • Attach the other positive clip to the positive terminal of the good battery.
    • Attach the (negative) black handled clip to the negative terminal of the good battery.
    • Attach the other black handled clip to a bare metal surface on the dead bike (you could use the foot pegs as an example).
  • STEP 3: Start the ‘working’ motorbike
    • Let the charging run for a few minutes, then start the ‘working’ motorbike.
  • STEP 4: Start your motorbike
    • It may take a few attempts, but once your motorbike starts, keep both running for a few minutes to build up charge.
  • STEP 5: Disconnect the jumper cables
    • Do this in the reverse order of how you put them on, starting with the negative on your motorbike.
    • Ride around for 20 or so minutes to recharge the battery.

Method 4: How To Jump Start A Sportbike Using A Car Battery

You can jump start your motorcycle with a car battery by connecting jumper cables between the two batteries, and using the charged battery om the started car to crank over the engine on your bike which has the flat battery.

Jump starting a sportbike with a car battery should be done only if no other method is possible.

This is due to the risk of damaging the motorbike’s battery or the bike’s electrical system.

Car batteries have a much higher electrical current strength compared to a motorbike, and if too much power is delivered too quickly, this could overload the motorbike’s battery.

Here’s how to jump start your motorbike with a car battery in the safest manner possible:

  • STEP 1: Make sure both your motorbike and the car are off
  • STEP 2: Connect the jumper cables
    • Attach the (positive) red handled clip to the positive terminal (usually with a red cover) of the dead battery.
    • Attach the other positive clip to the positive terminal of the good battery (the car).
    • Attach the (negative) black handled clip to the negative terminal of the good battery (the car).
    • Attach the other black handled clip to a bare metal surface on the dead bike (you could use the footrests as an example).
  • STEP 3: Start your motorbike
    • Do NOT turn the car on as it will likely burn out your bike’s electrical system.
    • The motorbike should start up right away, maybe even more powerfully than usual.
    • If it doesn’t start right away, wait a few seconds, and try again for no more than two seconds of cranking at a time.
  • STEP 4: Disconnect the jumper cables
    • Do this in the reverse order of how you put them on, starting with the negative on your motorbike.
    • Ride around for 20 or so minutes to recharge the battery.

By using one of the four methods mentioned above, you should be back on the road in no time!

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