Older motorcycles tend to use a range of different types of 6V and 12V lead-acid batteries, and you can easily end up with a matching collection of separate battery charges to try and keep everything powered. But now the new OptiMate 5 Select covers classic bike battery care with one device, saving space, cost and rooting through your garage for a charger you haven’t seen for 12 months.
All you need to do is select the voltage you want, and the OptiMate5 will diagnose, recover, charge, check and maintain everything automatically. And the unique 24-7-3365 programme means you can leave it connected for extended periods, including winter storage or if you only use your classic bike occasionally during show season. Plus it’s rated IP54 for dust or splashes of water, and has been tested down to temperatures of -40°C.
It might not be as sexy as the latest carbon fibre helmet or bike part, but classic motorcycles can be tricky enough to start and maintain at the best of times. And it can potentially even save you cash, being able to recover batteries from as low as 0.5 volts rather than forcing you to try and source a replacement at short notice.
The OptiMate 5 covers all types of 6V and 12V lead-acid batteries, including STD, AGM, GEL, SLI and deep cycle, from 3-120Ah (up to 160Ah for 6V). It will adjust the rate of charge to prevent over or under-charging, and there’s a built-in spark suppression with automatic shut down to prevent issues with short circuits or disconnected batteries.
Complete with a three-year warranty and TUV/GS certification, the OptiMate 5 Select 6V/12V costs £84.90, and you can order it directly from the company website. Other retailers stocking OptiMate products include Demon Tweeks, and Amazon (some of these links will be affiliate links to help support the running of Rescogs)
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