4 years out of my stock battery, on a tender since new. Replaced it with a big crank and it's on the tender now. So far it's been working great.

 

It's not a Softail but my 07' Wideglide is still living on its original battery.

 

I bought my 07 FXSTC in Aug. 06. Just replaced the original battery today. I install a tender pigtail the day I bring a bike home. It stays plugged in until I go on a ride and gets plugged back in as soon as I return. Batteries routinely last me 9 years 9 months with that routine.

Did a set or tires last year and a fuse the year before. For my experience H'D's are cheap to keep.

 

My 06 original Harley battery got replaced 2 weeks ago..Been on tender anytime it was not being ran.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I always used my tender religiously...up until this spring, I got a little lax....the end result to that? I need a new battery!


Now that it is back on the tender its been starting. Did it just go low and recharge with the tender or is it done and no longer trustworthy?

 

I got curious about the same thing, so I unplugged it about 6 weeks ago to find out if it was "good to go". It still starts every time I leave the house and still not plugged in, so I am not worried. If it had acted even a little strange I would have replaced it.

 

10 yrs on Org batt---and you think it's Pretty darn good.... **** that's almost unheard of..

5yrs is pretty darn good.... and on the newer one's 3 yrs is about it...

I am on my second one in 9yrs and I am thinking it's about time for a new one.

 

This is the 3rd year for my OEM battery. Though it still seems to be functioning fine, I was nonetheless going to replace it as a precautionary measure. Then I read the great reviews on the XP-1 and got one.

http://themicrostart.com/products/micro-starts/

It will keep me from getting stranded, run my tire pump, charge other stuff and has a flashlight. Now I can run my "under-the-seat" battery to its bitter end without worry of getting stranded. Yep, I have roadside assistance too but we're a rural demographic and cell phone coverage isn't universal nor is assistance instantaneous. Self-sufficiency is a virtue here.

 

My original lasted 7 years. I keep it on the charger when it sits. Put a Deka in 2 years ago and has been perfect so far.

 

In over 40 years of riding I've never gotten more than 2 1/3-3 years out of a battery. Especially in the hot, inhospitable environment of a horseshoe oil tank like on the Softail.