When would you replace your battery.
Hate for it to die during riding season..

 

I'll let you know. My 07 has its original battery. Charge it in the off season. Load test every spring. If it fails I will change it. So far so good.

 

Replace it if you ever fully discharge it to the level it won't crank the starter.

Then for good measure, I replace mine every three to four years. They eventually fail..why wait for it to fail?

And put it on a battery tender anytime you are not riding for a few days. That's easy and cheap insurance.

 

The battery in my '02 lasted 7 years (it died on the battery tender over the winter), the battery in my '10 lasted 3 1/2 years (replaced when it didn't pass the voltage test), the battery in my '12 is original and looks like it will make it past 4 years.

Based on my experience, I would change batteries every 3 1/2 - 7 years. I can also agree with always using a battery tender.

You can tell when a battery should be replaced by checking the voltage drop across the battery. The voltage test is described in your service manual and is a pretty simply procedure.

 

Mine sits on a tender. My bike cranked slow and spit a little.

New battery and all is good.

 

When your engine begins to turn over slower on start-up it's usually an indication that the battery is degrading (starting to fail). You can verify with a voltmeter.

I typically get 4-5yrs out of a battery, but I've had them fail after one season (OEM battery). I've had others last 7-8 years.

Battery technology and manufacturing processes aren't perfect. It's old technology and a lot of things can cause problems..especially the age of the battery when installed, and whether it has been properly formed (charged prior to installation) and stored.

 

I got about 3 years and 37,000 miles on mine. A load test said it was going, so I replaced it. (I keep it on a tender year round when not riding.)

 

That's a telltale sign. Just watch out for the spitting.

 

I hate it when that happens.

 

PO put 2nd HD battery in 7 years before I bought bike last year. So I got new before heading out of state just to be safe it seamed fine.