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Can you use a car jump starter on a motorcycle?

Updated September 18, 2026

Usually yes. Battery maker Yuasa says motorcycle batteries can be jump started from a portable jump starter, and NOCO lists motorcycles among the 12 volt vehicles its packs can start. The two things to check first are your battery's voltage and its type.

Check these before you clamp on

• 12 volts. Our picks are 12 volt packs. Some older bikes use a 6 volt system. Do not connect a 12 volt pack to one.
• Battery type. NOCO's support FAQ says its Boost packs are made to jump 12V lead acid batteries, which includes wet, gel, maintenance free, EFB and AGM. If your bike has a lithium battery, read your bike manual and the pack manual before you try.
• Is it really the battery? Yuasa lists three things that stop a bike from starting even with a good battery: the kickstand switch, the gear or clutch switch, and the kill switch. Check those first.

Size is the easy part

Motorcycle engines are small next to car engines. A 1.0 liter bike in cold weather needs a maker gas rating of about 1.5 liters by our rule of thumb. A 1.8 liter cruiser in severe cold needs about 3.6 liters. Every pick on our list covers both: NOCO Boost GB20, NOCO Boost GB40, NOCO Boost GBX75, GOOLOO A3 with air compressor, GOOLOO GP4000.

So the choice is about size in your saddlebag, not power. The NOCO Boost GB20 is the smallest pick and NOCO names motorcycles on its GB20 support page. Its caveat is that the listing shows two different weights, so check the box before you plan space around it. The NOCO Boost GB40 is listed at about 2.4 pounds and gives more margin if you also own a car. Its caveat: the bullets we read did not name a storage temperature, although NOCO's support FAQ does.

How to connect

1. Key off, lights off.
2. Red clamp to the battery positive terminal.
3. Black clamp to bare, unpainted metal on the frame, away from the battery. Yuasa says this keeps any spark away from battery gas. Some pack manuals say the negative terminal is fine. Follow yours.
4. Turn the pack on, wait for the ready light, then start the bike.
5. Turn the pack off, then remove the clamps in reverse order.

Yuasa also notes that a battery drained very low may keep giving trouble after a jump. Charge it fully at home and have it checked. For every step in more detail, see how to use a jump starter.

Safety: never let the clamps touch each other while connected to the battery. Never jump a battery that is cracked, swollen or leaking. Wear eye protection and follow your bike manual.