Power up: Best motorcycle battery chargers

With any motorcycle using CAN-Bus technology (Controller Area Network Bus, which allows systems to communicate effectively), this improvement in efficiency also means a different approach on occasion. This charger from Optimate can either connect directly to the battery or via a 12V power socket and will test the battery before applying the appropriate charging current. It is good for lead-acid batteries and can be left for long periods to maintain its condition. Comes with BMW DIN plug cable.

CTEK has an enviable reputation for chargers and conditioners, and this is its bread-and-butter charger. The MXS 5.0 is hardy (IP65 rated), reliable, and clever. It's reasonably good value too. Like its CT5 counterpart above and the NOCO, it reconditions as well as charges batteries (lead-acid batteries) - good for cars and motorbikes - via an eight-step program that helps prevent the plates in the battery sulphating, which can reduce its life and capacity.

Perfect for bikes kept in a shed or a portable garage-style shelter with no access to mains power, this solar charger will trickle charge a battery to keep it healthy using just solar energy. Of course, the charging rate will depend on the time of year as well as the weather, but Oxford quotes from 10mA to 100mA, and the solar panel can be fixed inside a window, though it is also described as 'weather resistant'.

The entry-level charger/optimiser from OptiMate will maintain any kind of 12V battery, including lead-acid, AGM or gel and lithium and keep a bike's battery healthy throughout storage. It provides a relatively low 0.8A charge rate for motorcycles that are largely used infrequently, and operation is automatic, delivering only what the battery needs.

Using a 10W solar panel (bigger sizes up to 80W are available), this charging system will also work perfectly for storage facilities with no access to mains power. The solar panel supplies energy to a charge controller to make sure the correct voltage and charge are supplied to the battery, and it has three modes; save, charge and maintain for long-term storage. The 10W panel will supply a maximum of 0.83Amps in ideal conditions, perfect for motorcycles.

This unit looks after all types of batteries, including lead-acid, lithium and gel and has three charging modes; low-current for motorbikes, higher current for cars and a winter mode for looking after batteries in storage. It will recover deeply discharged batteries and cycle-charge them to prevent the plates from sulphating and is fully automatic.

At the other end of the charging scale from Oxford is the 601, a charger/optimiser that is designed for lead-acid and gel-type batteries and can manage up to 30Ah-sized items. The charger selects the appropriate charging rate, and if there is a load on the battery, such as a tracker, for example, adjusts the rate accordingly. It will also help recover batteries that are deeply discharged and can be left connected for long periods, such as over winter.