I have an 08 ultra and the orginal battery lasted only 2 years, replaced it with a harley battery and that one lasted 9 months. Dealer said the charging system on the bike was working good. Any ideas, I have had batterys on other bikes that last for years. I guess I just got two bad ones.

 

You must have been unlucky enough to have gotten bad batteries. I will keep My fingers crossed. Going on 4yrs with the orginal battery in My 08UC. Good luck with Your next battery!

 

It's a good idea to hook it up to a battery tender when you're not riding for extended periods.

 

Here is my "some what educated guess". You have a voltage draw of some sort. Simplest way to check is to disconect your negative terminal from the battery and put a voltmeter on the neg terminal of the battery and the negative cable to see if there is a voltage draw. Good luck, sometimes hunting them down is a PITA!!!!
Kris

 

You don't say whether you have a security system or not, nor do you say if the bike sits for long periods. Contrary to popular belief batteries will lose more charge in warm weathert than cold. Cold only affects the amt of amps it takes to start the vehicle, be it a bike, a car or whatever. The colder it is the more CCA you need. The battery on my sporty is 2 years old, rkc is original and it is an 08 03 fx I have no clue same one when I bought it 3 years ago. That is the only one I question. It seems a little hesitant some times. I have a tender for each and they are plugged in each time I roll them in for the nite. Summer or winter makes no never mind

 

5 years, original battery, no tender, no problem.

 

08 Ultra original battery..........so far so good, only plug the tender in every couple of weeks in the winter

 

I think batteries are just crap these days. Original battery in my '09 lasted 1.5 years and I put around 350-400 miles per week on the bike. Luckily the dealer replaced it under warranty. I am now putting it on a tender if I don't ride it for a day or two, so we will see if that helps any.

 

The battery in my 09 lasted less than a yr.Sept 09-Aug 10.Charging system checks out ok,I think the battery had a shorted cell.HD covered it.

 

$30 Solution = Batter Tender Junior. I use them on all my bikes.
I just passed the 7yr mark on one bike I have.