USB-C and USB-A plug and play charging, ideal for BMW, Triumph and Ducati.
OptiMate, the battery saving experts, have updated their dual-port USB charger for use with both USB-C and USB-A devices.
Specifically designed with BMW, Triumph and Ducati adventure models in mind, the OptiMate USB O119 and USB O114 plug straight into the standard DIN Ø12mm power sockets found on these bikes, for instant charging without any bulky adaptors or fiddly battery connections.
Riders can choose between the ‘straight’ O119 for dash-mounted DIN sockets, or the O114, which features a 90° angle to suit the Multistrada and Tiger 800/850/900 models, where sockets are fitted below the seat.
Both versions feature two ports: one for USB-C, which is mandated in Europe as the single communication and charging connector for smartphones, sat nav and digital cameras, and the other a ‘traditional’ USB-A, so two different devices can be topped up without the need for separate adapters.
The USB-C socket delivers up to 3300 mA of charge to a single connected USB-C device. When the USB-A port is also in use, power is shared. Like all OptiMate USB chargers both ports are 100% true power rated and deliver a continuous and consistent charge, essential for modern devices.
There’s built-in protection for the motorcycle battery too. When the engine is turned off, the OptiMate USB charger automatically shuts down after one hour. Alternatively, if the battery drops below 12.4 V it also shuts down, ensuring there’s sufficient power left to start the bike.
Like OptiMate’s entire range of connectors and cables, weatherproofing comes as standard, with internal seals to help keep moisture out when a USB cable is plugged in, and a runner cap to seal the socket when not in use.
The OptiMate USB O114 and the USB O119 both sell for £32.90 (including VAT) and come with a handy USB-C to USB-C extension lead, for items with short power cables.
Visit optimate.co.uk to view the complete range of USB connectors, leads and accessories, and battery chargers.
For more info checkout our dedicated Optimate News page Optimate News
See the complete OptiMate range of chargers and monitors at www.optimate1.com.
The ultimate battery charger and maintainer for the latest generation 12V lead-acid and lithium batteries.
OptiMate 4 Quad Program is the ultimate battery charger for the high technology 12V lead-acid or lithium battery, typically found in adventure, touring, cruiser and performance motorcycles. Also suitable for quads, side-by-side off-roaders and personal watercraft, it is the world’s most advanced powersport battery charger.
Without a proper battery care routine, running a bike like BMW’s new R1300 GS can quickly become a costly pursuit – a genuine BMW replacement lithium battery can set you back over £250.
Add on accessories, like on-bike device charging, auxiliary lights and heated grips, which put additional demands on both battery and charging system, and it’s never been more important to invest in a quality battery charger/maintainer.
Works with all types of batteries
Both batteries and motorcycle electrical systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated and sensitive, which makes choosing the right charger tricky – using the wrong one can cause more harm than good.
The OptiMate 4 Quad Program is the perfect solution for owners any motorcycle with a 12V system and is particularly useful for those with more than one bike to look after, because you can select the type of battery that is fitted.
A one-stop solution to battery care, it is a 9-step 1.25A charger and maintainer that can be connected to all 12V STD, AGM and GEL lead-acid and LiFePO4 or LFP Lithium batteries.
Super simple to operate, the user can toggle between main modes at the push of a button, then just leave the OptiMate 4 Quad Program to do its thing automatically.
Gold standard charging and maintenance
Part of OptiMate’s premium Gold Series, the Quad Program will test, assess, monitor and maintain the battery within its safe range, without the need for user input. It automatically adjusts current to match battery size and condition, and will also diagnose battery health, warning when damage is detected. The fully automatic multi-step programme brings it safely to full charge: just select from one of the four programmes:
Lead-acid direct-to-battery
Lead-acid via BMW CAN-Bus accessory socket
Lithium direct-to-battery
Lithium via BMW CAN-Bus accessory socket
OptiMate 4 Quad Program does the rest; no supervision needed.
For long-term use, connect the battery lead directly onto the terminals, and the charger will keep a battery in peak condition and extend its working life. It can also recover a ‘dead’ unit from as low as 0.5V, (most batteries appear ‘flat’ when they drop to 9V and are almost impossible to recover from below 2V).
CAN bus compatible
The Quad programming allows for charging directly to the battery, or through a live (‘hot’) 12V socket, using the optional OptiMate connector. It’s also fully set up to work with the CAN-bus controlled 12V DIN sockets found on many modern BMWs.
It features Automatic Keyless Activation and the built-in BMS (Battery Management System) reset function reactivates Lithium batteries from sleep or deep discharge protection mode, ready to accept a charge.
When the battery is at optimum charge level, the Quad Program switches to continued 24/7 long-term maintenance mode, to keep the battery in peak health.
Energy-saving technology built-in
Completely safe for long-term ‘connect-and-forget’ use, the OptiMate 4 Quad Program comes with full electronic protection, to prevent overcharging or damage to sensitive vehicle electronics.
It has Energy Saving Technology to minimise electricity use (stand-by power is less than 0.5W) and is rated for use down to -40°C. It also features a weatherproof casing, so can be used outside.
The standard OptiMate 4 Quad Program retails at just £83.90 including VAT – much less than a replacement battery – and comes with a 3-year warranty for peace of mind. For charging BMWs using the accessory socket, choose the OptiMate 4 Quad Program Premium which at £95.90 includes the required connector lead.
For full specification and to find your nearest stockist visit optimate.co.uk
Weatherproof 12V battery lead and monitor, for instant checking and easy charging.
Updated for 2023, the OptiMate O-124 is a combined monitor and SAE socket, giving 24/7 battery status in the blink of an LED and hassle-free charging of your motorcycle starter battery.
A must for commuters, touring and year-round riders, the OptiMate O-124 gives an instant health status of any 12V AGM, STD or GEL battery, and will also confirm if the vehicle charging system is working correctly.
When it’s time to top up, simply plug any OptiMate battery charger into the built-in SAE socket; no additional adaptors or leads needed.
Quick and easy to set up, the O-124 connects directly to the battery terminals. It now comes fitted with ringlets that can be converted from M6 (1/4″) to M8 (5/16″), so it will fit the most commonly found sizes of battery terminal bolt.
Unlike app-based monitors, it doesn’t rely on third party applications or devices, and draws almost zero power from the bike’s battery; long term draw is less than 0.2mA.
Fully weatherproof and rated down to -40°C, it’s completely safe to leave attached to vehicles that are parked outside. There’s also an inline 15A fuse to protect both the battery and the bike’s electrical system.
The OptiMate O-124 retails at just £26.90 including VAT – a small price to pay for never being caught out by a dead battery again – and is covered by three-year warranty.
For details of this and all other OptiMate products visit optimate1.com
Thinking about upgrading to a lithium starter battery? OptiMate, the battery-saving experts, say it’s crucial to choose the right one if you want it to last.
Lithium starter batteries are a popular upgrade from the lead-acid units most motorcyclists are familiar with. However, motorcycle riders report being let down by lithium batteries, even though they take care to maintain them.
The team behind OptiMate battery chargers and maintainers first became aware of the problem after being contacted through social media by increasing numbers of bike owners who’d purchased lithium batteries, only to find them failing with no obvious reason.
The root of the problem is that lithium batteries are specified to match or exceed the CCA or Cold Cranking Amps (the power needed to turn the bike’s starter motor) of the equivalent lead-acid battery. However this results in a lower reserve capacity – measured in Amp hours (Ah) – typically half or less than the lead-acid battery it replaced.
A bike needs reserve capacity for two reasons: to power 12V systems before the engine is running, and when the battery is put under extra strain, during slow, stop-start riding and when running accessories like heated grips or fog lights.
So, to cope with the rigours of everyday riding, the buyer needs to make sure the lithium battery they choose has a high enough Ah reserve capacity: at least half of the 10-hr or 20-hr Ah rating of the lead-acid battery it’s replacing.
As an example, the Yuasa YTZ10S, (a suitable lead-acid battery for the Yamaha MT-09), has a CCA rating of 190 Amps and a 20-hr rating of 9.1 Ah. The lithium replacement would need a rating of at least 4.55 Ah to be able to perform in the same way.
Many lithium replacements advertised for the MT-09 have a similar CCA rating, but a capacity of only 4.0Ah or even less, which is not sufficient to keep all systems running.
If you’re thinking of upgrading to a lithium battery, make sure you do that homework. And remember that lithium batteries discharge faster than lead-acid, so it is important to connect it to a smart charger whenever it’s parked up between rides. OptiMate offer a range of lithium chargers and their Duo range can charge both lithium and lead acid batteries, automatically detecting which type of battery is fitted and maintaining it accordingly.
The first USB-C-ready on-bike charger for the latest generation devices.
USB-C has now been mandated in Europe as the single communication and charging connector for smartphones, sat navs and digital cameras, and OptiMate is ready with an on-bike charging kit.
The OptiMate USB O-118 is the first USB-C-ready on-bike charger, delivering 3300mA of fast charge – more than enough for the latest generation smartphones.
Like all OptiMate USB chargers, the O-118 is 100% true power rated, and delivers a continuous and consistent charge, which is essential for increasingly sophisticated modern devices. It automatically adapts the current to the connected device for safe recharging.
There’s also built-in protection for the bike’s battery. The O-118 will automatically stop charging the device when voltage drops below 13.3V, to prevent the bike’s battery and charging system being overloaded. When the engine is not running, it turns off charging after an hour.
As an added bonus the built-in battery monitor enables easy checking of battery health, and of course an OptiMate charger can be plugged straight into the O-118’s SAE connector for easy charging/maintenance.
Weatherproofing comes as standard, with an internal seal to help keep moisture out when a USB-C cable is plugged in, and a runner cap to seal out the elements when not in use.
It comes with M6 (1/4″) rings for connection directly to any 12V AGM or 12.8V LiFeP04 / LFP lithium battery, has a built-in fuse and 200cm (80”) of cable, so the USB-C end can be mounted on the handlebars, in a tank bag or under the seat.
The OptiMate USB O-118 retails for £49.90 including VAT.
For details of these and all other OptiMate products visit optimate1.com
For more info checkout our dedicated Optimate News page Optimate News
See the complete OptiMate range of chargers and monitors at www.optimate1.com.
Has your motorcycle been sitting in the garage or under a cover all winter long?
Batteries lose power over time,but with a few basic checks and a bit of maintenance you can make sure your bike starts on the button whenever you need it. We asked the battery saving experts at OptiMate for their top tips.
Your first job is to figure out the type of battery fitted to your motorcycle – is it Lead Acid (old school), Maintenance Free / AGM (common on most modern machines) or Lithium (becoming increasingly popular on high performance and off-road bikes). Here’s how to tell the difference.
Lead Acid
Conventional Lead Acid batteries will usually be labelled with reference numbers starting with the letters YB, CB or GB (e.g YB14L-A2); Y, C or G (e.g Y60-N24L-A); or 12N (e.g 12N24-3)
They usually have a black top with a row of plastic stoppers (three stoppers in a 6 volt battery and six in a 12 Volt). Inside are lead plates, surrounded by electrolyte mixture (the acid). This needs topping up with distilled water from time to time, so the stoppers can be removed to give access.
Maintenance Free / AGM
Maintenance Free or AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries are the most common type used in modern motorcycles, and normally have reference numbers starting with the letters YTX, CTX or GTX (e.g YTX9-BS).
They usually have a black case and have a stopper sunk into the top. Once filled, these batteries do not need to have the top removed, the acid level checked or be topped up. The electrolyte is suspended in fibreglass mats between the lead plates inside, hence the name.
Lithium Ion
Lithium Ion is the general group name used for all Lithium batteries. There are many different types – Lithium Iron Phosphate, also known as Lithium Ferrous Phosphate, is used for engine starter batteries. These will generally be marked as ‘Li-ion’, ‘LFP’ or ‘LiFePO4’.
Like Sealed/AGM batteries, Lithium Ion batteries usually have a black case, but have no stoppers in the top.
Check the condition of your battery
Multimeters can seem intimidating, but testing your bike’s Voltage with one is super simple, and they are a useful tool that costs little to buy.
With the ignition off, set the multimeter to the ‘20V DC’ (direct current) range. Connect or touch the red probe/clip to it to the positive terminal of your battery and the black one to the negative terminal.
If you’ve done it right, the Voltage should now be displayed on the meter’s screen.
A healthy 12V battery should give a reading between 12.5V and 12.9V. A conventional Lead-Acid should read 12.4V to 12.6V; a Maintenance Free/AGM should be 12.7V to 12.9V; and a Lithium battery will normally be either 12.8V or 13.2V.
Next, start the engine and rev to between 3,000–4,000 rpm. This will indicate the voltage being put out by the alternator – an ideal charging range is between 14V to 14.5V, but down to 13.5V is acceptable.
If you have a lithium battery, your machine’s charging system should be putting out the safe charging rate of 14.4V. If it’s putting out more than that, there could be a problem.
If the reading is too high the voltage regulator could be faulty, which will cause the battery to overheat and fail.
If the reading is too low, the alternator is not generating sufficient current to recharge the battery – again another indication that there is a fault.
To make life easy, the OptiMate TS120 plug-and-play tester uses simple icons to indicate that everything is OK, or to highlight potential problems.
Attach a suitable OptiMate optimiser to your battery and it will test, check and assess your battery’s condition – again, using an easy-to-understand display to keep the user infomed – charging, repairing and even recovering deep discharged units automatically and safely.
Charging and maintaining
Regularly charging and maintaining your battery not only keeps it working to maximum capacity, it can also double its working life, as well as significantly reducing the likelihood of it failing.
There are many smart chargers on the market, which are designed to be attached to your motorcycle’s battery whenever it is parked up for long periods of time (more than a few days). These should not be confused with simple ‘trickle chargers’ which charge a battery slowly and then stop charging once a certain voltage is reached. Trickle chargers aren’t designed to be attached to batteries for long periods of time and won’t maintain a battery in the same way as a smart charger.
Recommended by most major motorcycle manufacturers, OptiMate chargers and optimisers can maintain, test, charge and even repair a bike’s battery, all completely automatically.
All OptiMate chargers run a unique ‘connect and forget’ 24hr, 7 days-a-week, 365 days-a-year program, so they can and should be connected to your bike’s battery and left to do their work – no user input needed.
OptiMate Bronze series chargers automatically detect whether the battery is AGM or Lithium and charge accordingly – no need to pre-select or remove the battery from the bike – and will be suitable for the majority of modern bikes..
Vehicle batteries come in many different shapes and sizes, so choosing the perfect battery charger can be bewildering, especially if you own more than one set of wheels.
To help find the perfect partner for your motorcycle, car, quad or boat, OptiMate have divided their market-leading lead-acid battery chargers into three series – Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Silver Series chargers are designed for riders who need a smarter charger, with more power and capabilities to maintain and recover AGM (lead-acid) batteries on motorcycles and more.
OptiMate 3 – its automatic multi-step programme will test, diagnose, charge and maintain and can recover a ‘dead’ motorcycle battery from as low as 2V. RRP £67.99 including VAT.
OptiMate 5 6V/12V – Ideal for owners of vehicles with 6V and 12V lead-acid batteries of up to 120Ah capacity (so powerful enough for cars too). Simply connect the OptiMate 5 to the battery, select the appropriate voltage and it does the rest automatically. RRP £83.99 including VAT
OptiMate 6 Ampmatic – The fully automatic, 9-step 6 Amp plug-n-play charger for the 12V lead-acid batteries in your motorcycle, car, van, boat or camper, up to 144Ah capacity. Automatically adjusts current to match battery size and condition.. RRP £110.99 including VAT
OptiMate 7 Ampmatic – The smartest and most powerful charger in the Silver Series, suitable for batteries up to 240Ah capacity, covering everything from motorbikes to farm machinery. It can save a ‘dead’ battery from as low as 0.5V and uses energy-saving technology to minimise running costs. RRP £144.99 including VAT
All are designed to be connected long-term, with built-in protection from spark, overcharge and short-circuit. They will keep the battery at 100% charge, ready for action, and can recover deep-discharged batteries as well.
See the full range of OptiMate Bronze, Silver and Gold battery chargers at optimate1.com
OptiMate Bronze Series Duo chargers make winter battery care foolproof and futureproof, automatically charging and maintaining both regular AGM and Lithium-ion (Li-ion) LFP starter batteries.
Motorcycle batteries take a real hammering during the winter months – whether riding or storing. Lower temperatures slow the chemical reaction inside, reducing capacity, and the battery also uses energy to keep itself alive. On top of that, charge is lost to alarms, immobilisers, clocks and on-board computers.
Regular maintenance is crucial to keep the battery working at full capacity, and reduce the likelihood of failure, even more so if the bike runs a Lithium-ion (Li-ion) LFP starter battery.
Increasingly widespread as OEM units, Li-ion batteries need considerably more charge and maintenance than their AGM counterparts, yet often owners aren’t aware whether their machine has one fitted. Attempting to top up a Li-ion battery with the wrong charger can cause overheating, resulting in complete failure and, in extreme cases, fire.
OptiMate Duo battery chargers automatically detect whether the battery is AGM or Lithium and charge accordingly: no need to pre-select or remove the battery from the bike.
OptiMate 1 Duo (RRP £39.99 inc VAT) is ideal for charging and maintaining most motorcycle and scooter batteries under four years-old.
OptiMate 2 Duo (RRP £67.99 inc VAT) delivers 2 Amps charge current for larger 12V motorcycle batteries, as well as cars, ride-on mowers, etc.
Both versions are compatible with all 12V AGM, GEL and STD lead acid batteries, as wells as 12.8V / 13.2V Lithium-ion LFP (LiFePO4) units, keeping the user informed about battery condition and state of charge with an-easy-to-read LED display.
Designed to be connected long-term, with built-in protection from spark, overcharge and short-circuit, they keep the battery at 100% charge, ready for action when you press the starter button for the first time in weeks or even months.
