MO Tested: Weego JS6 Lithium Jump Starter + Video

With our heads in the moto-sand, we were unaware lithium jump starters existed until Weego’s motorcycle-specific press release arrived. Now on our radar, the Weego piqued both our interest and disbelief. A smartphone-sized device that can turn over, not only a dead motorcycle, but also automotive engines up to 4.6L! Nah … really?

We caught up with Weego at AIMExpo. Although no dead batteries were Frankensteined back to life while at the show, we were convinced the product was worth an evaluation. Not long after returning from the trade show Weego sent us the base model JS6.

The JS6 is dimensionally equal to an iPhone 6 (with protective case), just a little thicker, and weighs about an ounce more. It’s lithium-polymer battery has a capacity of 6,000 milliamperes (mAh, 1/1000 of an ampere) and is claimed to start engines up to 4.6L – larger than the average-size car, truck, van or SUV. The Standard JS6 retails for $109.99, and is all motorcyclists require, but if you’re of the more-is-more crowd, Weego also offers the Heavy Duty model (12,000 mAh, up to 6.4L, $149.99), and the Professional model (18,000 mAh, up to 9.6L, $199.99).

Testing the Weego JS6 was a simple matter of charging the device, then leaving on the ignition of our Suzuki GSX-S1000 for an overnight drain. Connecting the JS6 to the GSX-S’s dead battery the next morning proved no challenge to the Weego, starting up the liter-size inline-Four as if the bike’s battery was fully charged.

Having also left the ignition of my Toyota Tacoma on overnight I went directly from the dead battery of the Gixxus to the dead battery of the Taco, and the Weego spun the 2.7L engine to life with the same efficiency it did the Suzuki. A press of the Weego’s power button illuminated all four blue lights on the front of the Weego, conveying that the JS6 still retained most of its energy storage capacity. In other words, I could have jump-started at least a few more dead bike and truck batteries before zapping the Weego of its energy reserves. A few weeks after conducting the test the Weego still illuminates all four blue lights (Weego claims all its lithium jump starters lose 2% to 5% of stored energy per month).

Of course, the Weego is happy to charge electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets (Heavy Duty and Professional models will even charge laptops), but unlike more mundane external batteries the Weego can actually get you out of a fix. For iPhone 6 users, a full Weego JS6 should recharge your dead phone about three times per single charge of the Weego (iPhone 6 battery 1,810 mAh).

Like when you buy a new car and you suddenly begin seeing every similar vehicle on the road, I’ve been noticing lithium jump starters everywhere. Typing “lithium jump starter” into a search engine brings up even more competitors. Like Weego, the others come in a variety of shapes, sizes and prices. Besides Weego offering an 18-month warranty, we’re uncertain if Weego’s competitors are better or worse (this isn’t a comparison test), but we do know Weego seems to be supporting the powersports industry (there’s even a motorcycle on the homepage of Weego’s website). So, as a dutiful motorcyclist, if you’re in the market for a lithium jump starter, you should at least consider a Weego product.

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For more info go to myweego.com.