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