The Better Battery Charger

There’s plenty to be said for collecting cars and motorcycles, ranging from the sheer pride of custodianship to the intimate learning of their various quirks. Even modern machines, however, when used only sparingly demand some basic upkeep – especially the maintaining of a charged and healthy battery. This task has never been easier, thanks to the Swedish-engineered CTEK battery charger (from $169), a fully automatic device that doesn’t just charge a 12-volt automotive battery but checks and tests its condition, maintains a 24/7 care mode and can even recondition deeply discharged batteries. If you’re in the latter predicament, the CTEK CT5’s unique “time to go” LEDs signal the time until full charge. It’s not just suitable for classics and occasional-use cars: all this set-and-forget battery care can extend the life of any automotive battery by up to three times, making the CTEK even more of a bargain. Although, if you’re already that way with cars and motorcycles, you won’t be able to stop at just one.