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Jumper pack or jumper cables? Jumper pack or jumper cables?
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Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Hendi Kaf,
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Poll: What do you carry (more than one option)
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What do you carry (more than one option)

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  #1  
Old 16 May 2021
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Jumper pack or jumper cables?
What do you carry?
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  #2  
Old 16 May 2021
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I've never carried any of the options. Now that jumper packs are becoming so compact and affordable, and serve a dual purpose as a power bank for my other gadgets, I have contemplated getting one. Best thing with jumper packs is that you don't need another bike or car.

As for jumper cables, I often travel solo, so unless another vehicle passes by, would be of little use. And, if on a road with other vehicles passing by every now and then, I've been gambling on me being able to flag down a car with cables, or that I could hitch a ride with.

I already carry too much stuff as is.
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  #3  
Old 16 May 2021
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Jumpers go in the pile with stuff (like the torque wrench ) that are just too much weight for too little gain.

Batteries fail slowly. If you have unswitched drains like alarms fitted you didn't prep the bike properly. Old bikes can be kicked, all bikes with semi-dead batteries can be bumped, many petrol stations and owners of old vehicles will help you out.

Andy
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  #4  
Old 16 May 2021
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Threewheelbonnie View Post
Jumpers go in the pile with stuff (like the torque wrench ) that are just too much weight for too little gain.

Batteries fail slowly. If you have unswitched drains like alarms fitted you didn't prep the bike properly. Old bikes can be kicked, all bikes with semi-dead batteries can be bumped, many petrol stations and owners of old vehicles will help you out.

Andy
Says it all.
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  #5  
Old 16 May 2021
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Jumper pack
I have a Ring jumper pack cost about £80.00, it doubles as a light and power pack, about the size of a couple of bars of chocolate. I don't carry much but I like to have it.
Battery is in good nick, always keep an eye on it...I know you can bump start bikes and have much experience 45+ years ago of that with a BSA Lightning, but this is my preference. Thank you Japan for decent electrics.
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  #6  
Old 16 May 2021
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As most fuel injected bikes (like mine) are extremely difficult to start with a completely dead battery, cables are ok when near habitation and you can get a jump from another vehicle However, when you are in the middle of nowhere that is not an option. Resultantly, as I often camp in isolated rural locations, I carry a lightweight pair of cables and a jumper pack. The pack is no more than 1 lb (0.5 kg) in weight. The jumper pack I can also use to recharge anything with a USB charging cable.
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  #7  
Old 16 May 2021
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Whatever you pack with you on a long trip - dont use a bike with the battery placed under the fuel tank! It takes an extra hour of wrenching just to get to the battery. That is if ever get off that bloody tank....

Dont ask me why I know......

That said - I was able to bumb start my Tenere (a bike well beyond the 200 kilos mark without equipement and luggage) several times when the battery was too low to turn the engine around.

If I was to do another long trip Im not sure if I would have taken cabels or a battery pack.... its just another item who «could come in handy but rarely does» and add up weight and space on an already overloaded bike.
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  #8  
Old 17 May 2021
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Almost everything I carry is up for debate, of course. Of repair parts and tools, only half really gets used, and half of the rest seems entirely worth bringing because who can predict with utter certainty what will or won't end up necessary? So I don't bring spare tires, breaker bars or torque wrenches, but I do bring light jumper cables (which plug into the polarized plug I've already got attached to my battery for chargers, air compressors and the like).

The cables probably weight all of an ounce/28 grams, they pack away to almost nothing, and they're basically indestructible, which means I can stuff them anywhere I want. I've used them--in particular, I've used them to start other people's fuel injected bikes, which can't be bump started (they tell me).

I know nothing about motorcycle-sized battery packs, but I'm willing to be educated about them. I do carry one for my car, and it's come in handy from time to time. I carry one for my phone when I'm far from wall plugs. I've carried one for laptops and tablets, and if there were one which worked for my devices and would also start my bike I'd be seriously interested.

Timely reminder: mileage varies.
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Old 17 May 2021
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I own a jump pack. A fairly compact one. I don't carry it on my bike.

If I get a flat battery somewhere far out of town, in a way where a jump pack or cables would actually help... I get someone to push me from behind and bump-start the bike.
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  #10  
Old 17 May 2021
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Madbiker View Post
As most fuel injected bikes (like mine) are extremely difficult to start with a completely dead battery
Are they?

A friend of mine would keep his Hayabusa in an unheated garage overwinter... With two small kids, he didn't get much of a chance to ride it. Fortunately, the garage was at the top of a hill, so it was only ever a mild inconvenience.
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  #11  
Old 17 May 2021
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Jump Pack.. They are smaller in package size and more lightweight than the cables.



Link: The Antigravity XP-10 HD (Heavy Duty)

will even be able to start a V6 Diesel Engine.

Surfy

PS: some reviews mention that it is enough for an V8 Diesel. I can crank but not start with my V8 4.5L Diesel, but was able to fire up the V6 VW Diesel of my mam, with disconnected!!! Batterys
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  #12  
Old 17 May 2021
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I’m using my jump pack right now to charge this iPad I’m using.
As others have said they’re great for charging on the road or, indeed, in the kitchen 😉 and they’re very small.
When the stator backed up on my wife’s bike in the states it ground to a halt. The JumpPack got it going and the bike had just enough power to get to the next town.
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Old 18 May 2021
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Both.

I have motorcycle jumper cables though. They're much smaller and lighter. They fit under even the smallest seat.

I also carry a jumper pack because it charges all my gadgets.

I carry the jumper cables because a jumper pack will completely discharge after 2-3 turns of a starter motor. You might only get one go on a bigger bike.

The chances are, you will need more than one press of the button if you have any kind of fault or you have run out of fuel etc. And then they take 12 hours to recharge from a wall socket.
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  #14  
Old 18 May 2021
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Are you traveling on the bike or in the car? I wouldn't carry any on bike but if cage and you are going into remote areas pack is an obvious choice.

As others mentioned battery fails are rarely sudden if you have old battery with aging signs replace it before the trip good luck.
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  #15  
Old 18 May 2021
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cyclopathic View Post
Are you traveling on the bike or in the car? I wouldn't carry any on bike but if cage and you are going into remote areas pack is an obvious choice.

As others mentioned battery fails are rarely sudden if you have old battery with aging signs replace it before the trip good luck.
Where you are correct that prevention is better than cure; there can be many reasons why you can end up with a flat battery.
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