Can You Jump a Motorcycle with a Car?

Planning to jump-start a motorcycle with a car- yes, you can do that!

The only thing to ensure is that the car and bike’s battery should be of similar and exact volts. Like, if the motorcycle battery is 12V, the car’s battery must also be 12V. Fulfilling this requirement will let you easily, quickly, and safely jump-start your bike.

Here on this page, we have provided the most comprehensive details: Can you jump a motorcycle with a car, you can check them out.

The experience becomes messy and chaotic when a bike is unable to start and you have to reach to the desired destination on time. Look for the help around you, car owners might be ready to help you. Their car batteries will push start your bike for sure and that too in less time frame.

Let us read out the remaining guide on jump-starting a bike.

Is it possible to jump-start a bike with a car?

Yes, it is entirely possible to jump-start a bike with a car battery. You must conduct this procedure with great care, attention, and caution. The battery volts of the car and bike should match with each other. In other words, if the bike’s battery is 14V, the car’s battery needs to be 12V, too; only then you can jump-start the motorcycle with utmost safety and convenience.

Remember that a car gives off more power, so matching the battery capacities is necessary. If you manage to execute this process correctly, the bike’s dead battery will definitely become activated and as good as new. According to experts, some risks are involved in following this process, so opt for this method temporarily and not as a permanent fix.

Guide to jump start a motorcycle

The guide below will tell you exactly how to jump-start the bike’s dead battery. Just to give you a quick overview: You must ensure that both vehicles are turned off. Connect the positives first and then proceed to connect the negatives. The rest of the steps are mentioned below:

1. The first step is to turn off the car and motorcycle.
2. Look for the jumper cables and bring the batteries closer to each other. You must use motorcycle-specific cables.
3. Connect the positive side of the batteries and then proceed to connect the ground side of the batteries. Remember that red is marked as ”positive” and black as ”negative”.
4. See if the bike’s battery is getting charged without starting the car.
5. If it does not, turn on the car, and you will see that the bike’s battery will start to get charged.
6. Once your motorcycle starts up, disconnect the cables.

Important points to remember:

• The amp’s coming out of the bike and car battery do not match. There is a risk that motorcycle electronic components might get burned.
• You should have the right jumper cables in your hands.

Other ways to jump-start a bike

There are various ways to jump-start a bike, and below, we have highlighted the details of those methods:

Push start method

Push start is one of the popular methods to jump-start a bike. It is also known as the ”bump start” method. You do not need any external equipment to execute this process. No other vehicle or charging kit is needed.

All you put in is a certain level of strength, biking experience, and competence so that you can safely and hassle-freely jump-start your bike. Furthermore, before push starting, ensure that you bring your bike on a flat or downhill road. The road condition should be safe to proceed.

Using a car engine

You can use a car engine to jump-start your motorcycle. The only drawback of this method is that it can negatively affect your bike’s electrical system and battery life. The car engine gives out too much power, which the bike’s battery cannot handle, and this, in return, damages the electrical components of the bike. 

Using another motorcycle 

The next recommended method to safely jump start a bike is to ”use another motorcycle”. Note that the process looks similar; likewise, you jump start via car. Moreover, you need a pair of jumper cables to successfully conduct this process.

Using a jump starter machine

Using a jump starter machine is a reliable and safer method. It quickly and hassle-freely activates your bike’s drained battery. 

Why does the bike fail to jump-start?

There can be so many reasons that prevent the bike from jump-starting. 

• Carbon buildup on the spark plugs makes the jump-starting process a big ”fail”.
• An empty gas tank prevents the motorcycle from jump-starting.
• Your bike battery has become aged or old, which is why it is not accepting the charge. It is generally seen that batteries wear and drain out over time. A poorly maintained battery cannot jump-start at its best.
• The starter circuit might have a problem; it fails to engage the engine properly.
• There can be an issue in the wiring along the circuit.
• The ”open” in the starter circuit prevents the current from reaching the starter.
• If the wiring and battery are already in good condition, the issue can be spotted in the starter motor. Experts have suggested replacing the starter motor immediately or repairing it on priority.
• If the kickstand is down, the bike will not jump start. 
• Some bikes are installed with the gear shift safety mechanism. This prevents the motorcycle from jump-starting.
• At times, the kill switch stops the bike from properly jump-starting.

Our bonus tip for the readers is first to diagnose why your motorcycle is not starting up and then look for a suitable solution.

FAQs

Conclusion

We hope you have caught up with the basic guide and understood it fully about jump-starting a motorcycle with a car. Feel free to forward us your experiences, honest comments, and feedback regarding whether jump-starting a bike with a car is a reliable method or not! Stay tuned and connected with us.