International Dealer News IDN 141 February/March 2018 | Page 59
PRO GuIDe
Off-grid solutions -
OptiMate DC to DC
If a rider is nowhere near an AC power outlet and the
motorcycle’s battery needs charging, most of the
options he or she has are halfway between less than
ideal and impractical.
A 12V battery can be jump-started from another
vehicle or a friend’s motorcycle - but where are the
correct jumper cables when you need them?
You can use one of those nifty lithium jump packs,
that is, if you’ve not cooked it to death in your
saddlebag! However, the problem remains after
starting, and even after many hours of riding to
recharge the battery - if that battery has developed
sulphation, it has lost its ability to hold charge; or to
put it into real world perspective, the ‘no start’
problem will repeat the next morning.
If you have a flat 12.8V-13.2V lithium battery, jump
starting is risky. A flat lithium battery can suffer
permanent damage if high current is dumped into it.
A low volt lithium battery needs to be nursed back to
health (in reality, slowly charged back up to at least
10-20 percent) before it can take and deliver high
current.
The new OptiMate DC to DC is “a perfect and safe
solution for any powersport battery,” according to
TecMate CTO Martin Human, “including for 12.8V-
13.2V lithium (LiFePO4) batteries.
“It is fully automatic, so there is no need to figure out
what battery type is in the vehicle. Simply hook it up
to a fully charged 12V source battery (e.g. a good
Samaritan’s car or pickup truck) and then within a
minute to the flat 12V lead-acid or 12.8V-13.2V
lithium (LiFePO4) battery — even a lithium battery
with built in BMS (battery management system)
protection.
“The OptiMate DC to DC model TM500 will
automatically reset the BMS (if the battery has one)
and save/recondition that flat low-volt battery, charge
it at 2 amps, then test and maintain the battery.
“The good news for those impatient to ride, with a
charge rate of 2 amps the battery will be good and
ready the moment the green test LED lights up, which
means 1-2 hours for your typical lithium battery or 4-
6 hours for an AGM lead-acid. That battery will be
reconditioned and ready to ‘start your engine’ the
next morning.”
TECMATE
Tienen, BELGIUM
Tel: +32 (0)16 805440
www.tecmate.com
www.optimate1.com
X.G200 classic design off-road helmet
Portuguese manufacturer Nexx says “the
classic aesthetic proportions of the X.G200,
such as the extremely round shell, the
strong chin line and the design of the
peak, recall the dirt helmets of days
gone by”.
The X.G200 is designed as an
off-road helmet, and thanks to its
X-Matrix composite shell, a technology
that combines multiaxial fibreglass, 3D
organic fibres, special aramid fibres and
carbon reinforcement, it features a super
strong and lightweight shell, said to be
35% stronger for extension and bending
resistance than normal fibreglass.
The rounder base in the chin area
combines its unique shape with a special
reinforcement in carbon fibre “for the
ultimate protection”. The X.G200 comes in
two shell sizes, and the interior X-Mart Dry
technology provides a soft tou ch and
an advanced cooling system
featuring a drying rate
twice as fast as normal
cotton that also gives
extra insulation on colder
days. All the interior pieces
are fully removable and
washable, anti-sweat and
anti-allergic.
Inspired by the 50s primary
colour styles to the acid-washed
80s and 90s colours, plus fresh off-
the-rack designs with a modern
twist, the X.G200 offers a big range of
options with Desert Race, Dirt Fever, Dusty
Frog, Rok’On, Superhunky and Flat 6
designs. A wide range of accessories are
available to match the vintage inspired
designs.
NEXX HELMETS
Anadia, PORTUGAL
Tel: +351 231 590010
[email protected]
www.nexx-helmets.com
INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018
59