Hey there! Have you ever found yourself on a long motorcycle trip, relying on your phone for navigation or wanting to capture every moment with your camera, only to be hindered by a low battery?
The solution is simple: a USB charger for your motorcycle.
With a USB charger, you can charge your phone, GoPro, laptop, power bank, and intercom on the go, giving you the convenience and peace of mind you need to fully enjoy your ride.
Common use cases include:
- Using your phone for navigation for long periods of time with high brightness.
- Recording as much as you want with your camera while swap batteries are being charged at the same time.
- Using the intercom to chat with friends and listen to music on long trips and charge it at the same time.
- Taking your laptop with you and charging it while you ride, making it available for work or video editing in the evening.
So why not enhance your riding experience with the added benefits of a USB charger?
Contents
Motorcycle USB Chargers
Best Overall
#1 EXTRACTME
on/off switch: ✅ Yes
Power: 3 amps per USB port
Mount type: Handlebar
Waterproof: ⚠️ If the cover is closed
Battery Voltage meter: ✅ Yes
Fuse: ✅ Yes
Wire length: ✅ 3 meters
Benefits & Features
✅ Has an on/off switch that allows you to switch the charger off and don’t worry about your bike’s battery getting drained. This is a useful feature if you want to store your bike during winter or don’t plan to ride it for a few weeks. The off position does not drain the battery.
✅ Charge 2 devices simultaneously. There are 2 USB charging ports so you can use your phone for navigation and charge a laptop or other device at the same time.
✅ Track your motorcycle’s battery charge and health through a voltage display. A useful feature to quickly check if your bike’s battery is getting low.
For example, if you notice that the battery voltage drops below 12 volts – it’s time to charge it or replace a battery if it doesn’t hold a charge anymore. Here is a quick guide on choosing a replacement lithium-ion battery that will outlast your bike.
✅ The SAE base attachment can be utilized to connect other SAE-friendly devices. Use it to power the portable tire pump to top up tire pressure on the go. Alternatively, it can be used to connect the battery charger and maintain the battery during winter storage.
✅ Protects your devices from short circuits or high voltage. The Charger comes equipped with a replaceable fuse in the “plus” wire. If you encounter any issues with the USB charger after installation, it’s suggested to check the fuse first.
✅ Clean wiring installation: 3-meter-long cable is long enough for a clean wiring installation throughout your bike.
⚠️ Handlebar Mount might not be big enough for thicker (28mm) handlebars.
⚠️ Shouldn’t be used in the rain, but the same applies to all USB chargers. However, the built-in fuse can help minimize any harm to the charger and your device caused by short circuits resulting from water exposure.
Most Versatile SAE USB Charger
#2 EKLIPES
on/off switch: ✅ Yes
Power: 2 amp USB Port
Mount type: Handlebar
Waterproof: ⚠️ If the cover is closed
Battery Voltage meter: ❌ No
Fuse: ✅ Yes
Wire length: 1.8 meters
Benefits & Features
✅ The connector selection is versatile, featuring a USB charger port and a cigarette lighter socket. The cigarette lighter socket can also accommodate an extra USB cigarette lighter charger, providing an additional USB charging port.
The cigarette lighter socket can be utilized to connect other compatible devices, such as certain types of tire pumps. Additionally, the cigarette lighter provides a 12V output, while the USB port has a 5V output, expanding the range of devices that can be powered from your bike’s battery using the EKLIPES Charger.
✅ Has an on/off switch that prevents the battery drain in the off position.
⚠️ Chrome finish might not fit modern bike color schemes.
Best Low-Profile USB Charger
#3 BikeMaster
on/off switch: ❌ No
Power: 2 amps per USB Port
Mount type: Handlebar / bike specific
Waterproof: ⚠️ If the cover is closed
Battery Voltage meter: ❌ No
Fuse: ✅ Yes
Wire length: 1 meter
Benefits & Features
✅ Clean installation. If your motorcycle has a specific USB socket location in stock – this will fit as if it is a stock part. Usually, such sockets are covered with a round rubber plug. Take it out and insert this USB Charger instead.
⚠️ While the wire length is sufficient for most cases, it may prove inadequate on certain bikes if the battery is situated far from the handlebar, requiring a complex wiring route through the bike.
Best for Charging Devices in Panniers
#4 Heagstat
on/off switch: ✅ Yes
Power: 2.4 amps per USB port
Mount type: Zip Tie
Waterproof: ⚠️ If the cover is closed
Battery Voltage meter: ✅ Yes
Fuse: ❌ No
Wire length: 1.1 meter
Benefits & Features
✅ Easy to install inside the top box or under the seat using a zip tie. If you plan to take a Laptop with you on a motorcycle trip or want to charge GoPro batteries stored in your pannier. Simply attach the provided SAE connector to your battery, plug in your devices, and enjoy charging on the go while you ride.
✅ Many installation options. May be zip tied to the clutch or brake cables, mirror stands, under the seat, or glued to the wall inside the pannier or top box.
✅ Has a Volt meter so you can track the charge of your battery if you are plugging in your devices in the evening with the engine turned off.
Best for Phone
#5 iMESTOU
on/off switch: ✅ Yes
Power: 3 amps
Mount type: Handlebar
Waterproof: ⚠️ if USB port closed with a cap
Battery Voltage meter: ❌ No
Fuse: ✅ Yes
Wire length: 1 meter
Benefits & Features
✅ Supports wireless charging. Convenient for city riding or couriering on your bike since you have to take the phone on/off the handlebar often and connecting/disconnecting a wired USB charger will get annoying.
✅ Kill two birds with one stone if you need both a phone mount and a charger.
⚠️ The wire might be short and not reach the battery.
USB Charger Buying Considerations
Deciding on the right device for your motorcycle and smartphone can be challenging. To help you out, I have gathered the three most critical features to consider
Number of Ports
How many devices do you need to charge simultaneously? I recommend opting for a dual USB charger or having a combination of a USB charger and a cigarette lighter socket like EKLIPES charger has. Additionally, consider the type of USB port required by your devices as they might require different connectors.
Charging Speed and Safety
When using your phone for navigation on a bright day – you may need to switch the screen brightness to max. It is not uncommon to see your phone’s battery percentage drop despite it being charged due to a low-power charger.
I recommend choosing a USB charger with a 2 amp output as a minimum, ideally 3 amps. But don’t get too high since too powerful chargers will decrease the life of your phone’s battery.
Moreover choose chargers that have overcurrent and overheating protection, auto-shutoff, and weather-resistant materials. All chargers presented in the list above have these properties.
Size, Design, attachment type.
Additional features include a voltage meter that allows you to check if your bike’s battery is getting low. The led lighting inside the USB port so you can easily find it if it is dark outside.
Also, consider where you want to install the USB charger and what devices you are planning to charge. Charging a phone is the most common use case, and a handlebar mount is the most convenient option. However, if you plan to charge a laptop or other devices, consider something that is easier to store in the pannier or under the seat.
FAQ
Will USB charger drain the motorcycle battery?
Using a USB charger on a motorcycle will consume some of the battery’s power, but it should not drain the battery if the motorcycle is running or if it is regularly ridden.
A USB charger typically draws a very small amount of power, usually less than 2 amps, which is unlikely to drain a healthy motorcycle battery in a short amount of time. However, if the motorcycle is not ridden regularly and the battery is not charged, then any power draw, including that of a USB charger, can eventually drain the battery.
To avoid draining the battery, it’s a good idea to turn off the USB charger when the motorcycle is not in use, to prevent any unnecessary power draw. Most chargers have an on/off switch. However, a healthy motorcycle battery should be able to handle having a USB charger attached for a few weeks without being ridden and still have enough power to start the bike.
Alternatively, you can install the USB charger in such a way that it automatically turns off when you remove the key from the ignition. For that, you would have to attach the “plus” wire after the ignition switch and the minus to the negative terminal on the battery.
