One charge for 20 starts, Clarke’s tiny powerhouse

If there’s one thing long-distance riders, trackday regulars and even everyday commuters know, it’s that batteries have a habit of quitting at exactly the wrong moment. 

That’s where the Clarke JSM1200 Micro Jump Start earns its space in the tankbag, pannier or toolbox. It’s been named WhatCar’s “2024 Best Overall Jump Starter,” but more importantly, it’s small enough to forget about until you really need it. At 498g, it weighs less than a decent breakfast bap from the cafe, is genuinely pocket-sized, yet promises up to 20 jump starts from a single charge.

For touring riders heading across countries or campers relying on gadgets, the JSM1200 doubles up as a power bank with two USB outputs (3.0A and 2.1A), meaning phones, action cameras and even tablets can stay alive without hunting for the next service station. Track riders might appreciate the peace of mind too. After a long day of track sessions, there’s nothing worse than a dead van or bike battery when it’s time to pack up and go home.

Punch-wise, it’ll fire up petrol engines up to 5.5 litres and diesels up to 3 litres, with a peak current of 1200A. The smart heavy-duty leads include LED connection status, and the digital display means you actually know how much charge is left. It’s lithium polymer too, so it only needs around seven hours of monthly charging if it’s not being used.

It also makes a decent emergency torch, with illumination, strobe and SOS modes, useful if you’re stuck by the roadside in the wee small hours. A carry case, USB multi-adaptor and 12V adaptor are included, as is a 12-month warranty.

It’s the kind of kit you hope you’ll never use, but when you do, you’ll be glad it was buried in the luggage.

You can check out the JSM1200 1200A Jumpstart on the official website.

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