Charge while you ride

Turn your bike into a power station by fitting a USB socket

1 Be the champ of amps

Fitting your bike with a USB socket is really straightforward, but you do need to choose a port that has the correct power output for your needs. A USB is always five volts – this does not vary – however amperage does. To charge a phone and run it as a satnav without losing charge you need to have a USB output of at least 2 amps or 2000mA.

2 Go for quality components

Online marketplaces make it really tempting to go cheap with this type of accessory, but if you do, be prepared for it to fail after only a few months. A quality item should have a rugged, waterproof outer that’s able to withstand rain and grime. And most importantly, vehicle battery protection to prevent the USB port discharging the bike’s battery when not in use.

3 Get a positive ID

The first thing to do is find out where the bike’s battery is located, as this is where the USB lead will connect. On most bikes the battery is stored under the seat, making it easy to gain access to the terminals and connect up the USB leads. Identify which terminal is positive, this will usually have a red lead attached to it with a ‘+’ mark.

4 Remove bodywork

When connecting electrical accessories, always hide the wires behind panels in order to make a neat job. Also make an effort to try to route the cables alongside the existing loom, this will not only make it look tidy but by following the routing of the wires it will also be safer. On fully-faired bikes you may need to remove the tank cover to gain access to a usable route.