Noco has been in the business of automotive battery accessories since 1914. It’s still a family-run business, but has expanded massively with numerous new products across multiple markets, but always related to batteries.
It’s a strongly competitive market, so we tried out the GPX45 Boost X jump starter and the AL5 battery-powered inflator to find out what makes Noco stand out from the crowd.
The first impression is of a premium product, thanks to the box’s glossy outer sleeve with a fancy spot varnish print, and an Apple-esqe inner box which glides open to reveal the product. In the hand, both also feel suitably robust, with tough matt plastics that feel like they will survive a drop or two.
The £134.95 SRP GBX45 comes complete with a USB-C charging cable, chunky alligator clamps and a microfibre storage bag. Its 1250A output claims to be enough to start petrol engines of up to 6.5 litres, more than enough for any production motorcycle, and it doubles-up as a torch, with a pair of bright LEDs. It can also be used as a power source to charge a phone, tablet or other device with an output of up to 60W.
Operation is simple, with just three buttons to worry about: one to turn it on, one for the torch, and an Override button which allows it to communicate with severely depleted batteries. Having flattened my bike’s battery, I set up the GPX45 and it effortlessly started the engine with barely a murmur. So, to give it more of a challenge I dug out a very dead battery and strapped it to my car’s 2.1-litre diesel engine. The battery was only showing 8V, and turning the key merely resulted in all the dash lights going out. The GPX45 made short work of that too, starting the car within a fraction of a second. Repeated efforts saw the same result. A resounding success.
On to the £69.95 AL5 lithium-powered pump. The biggest advantage is convenience: the lack of cables and long-reach hoses making the whole job much easier. It comes with an array of adaptors to allow it to connect to car, motorcycle and bicycle tyres, as well as footballs and dinghies. My bike’s 180/55 R17 rear tyre provided a test bed, the AL5 taking it up to 42psi in 4min 45sec, around a minute slower than my 12V-powered AA-branded pump. It managed this just once before requesting to be recharged, which took 1.5 hours, so it’s better to ensure any puncture repair is done right the first time. On a bicycle tyre, it managed to go from 0-100psi in just 45 seconds, with a claimed max of 130psi available.
Both units are compact, solidly built and feel like they will work for years to come. Well worth sticking in a pannier for peace of mind, or to help out a stranded biker.
Bickers; 01394 604040;Â [email protected]