2010 wide glide has been sitting for about 2 months (Syracuse winters suck). went out this weekend to put a licence plate extender bracket on (getting some new bags), but the fob was not working (lights blinking, no start). Changed the fob battery, but no luck. Retrieved the spare one and works fine. bike started up, so the bike battery wasn't dead.

My question--would this thing just go bad? could the bike "forget" the code if battery was low or not used in awhile? it was working when i parked the bike...?

 

The fob should still be remembered even if the battery dies.
Make sure the battery you installed is good.

 

You sure you did not put the battery in upside down. It sounds like the battery is dead with the FOB

 

Similar thing happened to me with my 2010 Street Bob, last month. (Same battery I presume)

I went in and got spare and was on my way. I actually haven't changed the battery yet in the old one to make sure it still works. I will be on the lookout though if I have the same issue as you with the original not working with new battery.

Also, I been riding around with both attached because I have been too lazy to buy a new battery but I was wondering if the spare fob/battery is going to die soon as well because it is same age as original??? Regardless, I need to learn the procedure to bypass the FOB and start the bike. I think procedure is in service manual.

 

+1, Seen it too many times.

Also, "GOOD" Idea to change both at the same time. Well worth the $3-$4 per battery investment.

There should be a card in your Owners Manual that explains the bypass procedure.

 

Batteries never do the same thing as another battery. They have a life and a mind of there own. Have had these batteries bad right out of the package before. I use them on CPU for my work

 

Yes, they do have a mind of their own. Funny you mention that they are the same batteries used on motherboards, I noticed that when I replaced mine. They are also the same ones used in my red dot scope.

Both of mine died at the same time, thought it was the main battery until I did the bypass sequence. Mind you, they lasted 5 years.