MO Tested: RidePower Phone Charger
Easy power for your device, straight from your motorcycle
Sure, we all say that we’re going for a ride to disconnect from it all and to free ourselves from our electronic/digital chains. While I’m sure this is true for some, the truth of the matter points otherwise. More and more riders, myself included, are using technology to help them with their riding – even if it’s something as simple as using your phone’s GPS to help you navigate somewhere. Electronics, as we all know, use batteries, and batteries eventually run out unless they have access to power to recharge. This isn’t an issue if your motorcycle already comes with a power outlet, but for those who don’t? Hmm, if only we had a power source to tap into…
Say hello to the RidePower charging system. The brainchild of retired Marine Steve Young (not to be confused for the retired quarterback), the RidePower came about when Young was looking for a way to keep his phone charged while riding his Jet Ski. It would routinely die on him while he checked the weather app for tide conditions and such. Not happy with the products already on the market, he developed his own charging device that could be used not only in the water, but on a variety of powersport vehicles, motorcycles among them.
The Nitty Gritty
For the technical folks, the RidePower is very simple. It’s a water resistant wiring harness able to withstand nearly any weather condition we would ever find ourselves riding in (Young officially claims weather resistance down to 32ºF on the low end and 230ºF on the high end). The harness connects directly to the battery terminals of your motorcycle, and there’s a 7.5 Amp inline automotive fuse to keep things safe should something go awry. It accepts inputs ranging from 12 volts to 48 volts and has a maximum output of 2.1 amps. It’s compatible with nearly all cell phones – iOS or Android – and adapters for micro-USB, USB-C, or Lightning are available should you change phones or need to charge other devices.
Being an Android user, I received the micro-USB kit with a six-foot cable (other lengths are available). As advertised, installation really is as simple as plugging the harness leads into the corresponding battery terminals. From there, connect the charging cable to the harness, tuck the excess cabling behind body panels of the motorcycle – leaving some slack so the bars can move freely in either direction – and lastly, plug the charger to the phone. Just like that, Bob’s your uncle.
“Testing” the RidePower is rather straightforward, as my phone now gets juice when I ride and stays charged when I use my navigation app. I’ve even changed phones since I received the RidePower and Young was kind enough to send me a USB-C adapter to continue using the RidePower with my new phone. Granted, I haven’t ridden with the system through rain showers or extreme weather, so its performance under those conditions is yet to be seen. For $39.99, and an additional $5.99 for the USB-C adapter, the RidePower is a cheap and easy way to get reliable power into your device. Learn more at RidePower.net. Still confused? Here’s a nifty video from Steve Young himself:
Shop for the RidePower Phone Charger here
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Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.
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Bob actually was my uncle, until he passed away a few years back.
Sounds like a great product. As with any device, common sense should be used. If you have a bad motorcycle battery you may not want to charge your phone with the engine off. If you do just enough to make that call. If you maintain your bike well, so good battery, should be no issue to charge your phone with the engine off. I think I will order one of these chargers.