Oxford Oximiser Pro 5000 Review: The Battery Charger to Beat?

• Intelligent charging and maintenance could help extend the life of suitable motorcycle batteries.
• The Oximiser Pro range includes four models for different battery sizes and applications.
• The Pro 5000 is particularly useful for larger vehicle batteries, but smaller bike batteries may need another model.

Oxford’s clever new battery optimiser promises easier maintenance and a chance to recover some tired batteries. We put the Pro 5000 to work.

There’s one sound every motorcyclist dreads. You’re all kitted up, ready for a ride, you press the starter and… click. Nothing. The battery has given up before the ride has even begun.

If you’ve got more than one bike, keeping batteries healthy can become a bit of a juggling act. Some bikes get used regularly, others sit for weeks, and modern electronics can quietly nibble away at the charge. Leave a battery discharged for too long and it may never properly recover. Replacement batteries aren’t cheap, either.

Which brings me to Oxford’s new Oximiser Pro 5000. I’ve been testing one and, even at this early stage, I reckon Oxford has produced the battery charger that others will be judged against. That might sound like a big claim for something that lives in the garage, but this is a lot cleverer than simply pumping electricity into a battery.

More than a charger

Oxford has been making motorcycle battery chargers for more than two decades, so it knows the problems riders face. The Oximiser Pro range is designed to analyse a battery, charge it in controlled stages and then maintain it while the vehicle is parked. On the appropriate models and battery types, there’s also a desulphation process intended to help recover some lead-acid batteries that have deteriorated after being left discharged. That is the potential game changer.

We’ve all had a battery that seems to have gone past the point of no return. A charger that can sometimes give one of those batteries a second chance could pay for itself remarkably quickly. It’s not magic, of course: a worn-out or physically damaged battery can still be beyond saving.

I’ve already had an encouraging result. I connected a battery that had run down, let the Oximiser work through its automatic programme and the display eventually showed 100%. That’s not a laboratory test of recovered capacity, nor proof that it would revive a completely dead battery, but it’s a promising start. I’ll be interested to see what happens with longer-term use.

This is shaping up to be the battery charger that all others will be judged against.

Clever without being complicated

For me, one of the biggest attractions is how little you need to think about it. Choose the correct programme for the battery, connect it and let the electronics take care of the charging and maintenance. That’s exactly what I want. I don’t need another gadget that requires a manual every time I use it.

If you do want to get more involved, there are settings for different supported battery types and charging requirements. The important thing is choosing a programme and a model suitable for the battery you’re connecting. The biggest charger in the range isn’t automatically the best charger for every motorcycle.

A proper garage tool

The Oximiser Pro units are designed to cope with real-world garage conditions, with IP65-rated weather protection. The NZ importer told me that, during a visit to Oxford Products in the UK, they even saw chargers operating in fish tanks as a demonstration. It’s a great story, although IP65 is not an immersion rating, so don’t take that as an invitation to use one underwater.

The practical point is that a charger used around motorcycles needs to handle a damp shed, splashes and general workshop life. Oxford appears to have taken that seriously.

“There’s also a desulphation process intended to help recover some lead-acid batteries that have deteriorated after being left discharged.
That is the potential game changer.”

Which Oximiser Pro should you buy?

There are four models: the 900, 1250, 2000 and 5000. The number broadly reflects the charging output, but the key thing is matching the charger’s supported battery chemistry and amp-hour (Ah) capacity range to your actual battery. Ah is the battery’s capacity; a larger battery generally needs a charger capable of managing more stored energy, while a small battery may require a gentler charging current.

The Pro 900 is aimed at smaller compatible batteries and straightforward charging and maintenance. The Pro 1250 adds more battery-type flexibility and the more sophisticated recovery-oriented charging programme. The Pro 2000 offers greater output and a broader capacity range, making it a strong option for riders with several bikes. The Pro 5000 is the larger-capacity choice, which is why I went for it: as well as the bikes, there’s the car and the BRM van to consider. One charger for those larger jobs is appealing.

However, some smaller motorcycle batteries sit below the Pro 5000’s stated minimum capacity. It’s worth checking the label on your battery and the latest Oxford compatibility guide before buying. For many ordinary motorcycle batteries, the 1250 or 2000 could be the better match.

Oximiser Pro range at a glance

The real benefit is not hearing that click

The Oximiser’s biggest achievement might be the one you never notice: a battery that’s ready to go when you are. Keeping a battery properly maintained should help avoid the slow deterioration that comes from being left discharged, and potentially extend its useful life. If it saves even one premature replacement, that’s money back in your pocket.

Initial verdict

I don’t often get excited about battery chargers, but this one has genuinely impressed me. It’s easy to live with, it’s built for garage use and it has some seriously clever battery-management features. I still want more time to judge its recovery ability and long-term effect on battery life, but the early experience has been excellent. The Oxford Oximiser Pro range is shaping up to be the benchmark other chargers will have to match.

Where to buy

Find the Oxford Oximiser Pro 5000 at Bits4Bikes. For the full range and battery compatibility information, visit Oxford Oximiser.

Product images supplied.