I replaced the battery in my 2019 Softail Sport Glide recently and did lots research to decide what brand do I buy this time?
I decided once again on the AGM Factory Spec replacement from my local O'Reilly Auto Parts. Why this battery?

My research suggested this is the exact same battery I would buy at my local Harley dealer minus the logo on the front and price. Both the Harley and This O'Reilly battery are the exact same spec, same size, same CCA, look exactly alike minus the logo. Both AGM's are made by East Penn Manufacturing ( Deka Brand ) In Berks County Pennsylvania USA!

The Harley Brand is more expensive but it does have a 1 year warranty when the O'Reilly Battery has 6-months, My thought was IF I buy the more expensive Harley battery and it dies in that year chances are that will be when my local Harley dealer is closed as my Harley dealer hours stink! Closing no later than 5pm and closed on Mondays when O'Reilly is open 7 days a week till 9pm and o'Reilly is like a mile from my house.

Also, if you are looking at other 3rd party brand AGM batteries, ALL the other off brands I could find NOT made by East Pen do not have that same direct screw in like the factory battery and the O'Reilly battery does.

I considered the new hight tech lithiums but then I thought If it ain't broke don't fix it! I am approaching my 30th year owning a Harley and as I have had 30 years of replacing batteries, I now own 3 bikes, I always use a tender on all and always have 24/7 the last 29 years and have always ONLY purchased AGM East Pen made batteries be it HD or other, all made by East Pen.

In 30 years I always get 4-7 years on a battery average (5) years, I have never not had enough power, I have never been stranded, I have never had a bike not start until that over the 4 year mark and its always that first start of the spring season in my garage and it s always after the 4-5 year mark.

A East Pen AGM does what I need it to do, Start my bike every time for 4-7 years and a lowest possible price I can pay! What else do I need a battery to do? What exactly would an expensive Lithium battery do for me? If I had lots of audio amps, subs and such perhaps something else but I just need my bike to start, each and every time...

When the battery does act up that first start of the season 4-7 years in, No battery testing needed, I know if its over 4-5 years and it acts strange head to O'Reilly and replace the battery that day!

 

Funny you should mention this. Glad you did the research for me, lol.

3 years ago, while on a road trip thru AZ and I was staying at an AirBnB in Payson. After riding around that area for the day, I got back to the house, pulled into the garage, turned the bike around to head out the next morning, forgot to turn the ignition off and didn't notice because the garage door was up and the sun was shining in so I didn't notice the headlight was still on. Any how, woke up the next morning to a dead battery. Called around and the local O'Reilly Auto had one for my 14 SGS. Walked a mile and 1/2 there with the old battery in a doubled up grocery bag, and then back to the house. Point is, that battery has been flawless for me for all this time. Before this most recent 2 month trip, I took the battery out and hauled it down to my local O'Reilly for a solid battery load test. All checked out good. Unfortunately, that bike died in VA this summer and had to have it shipped back here to CA, so the battery is disconnected with a full charge for now.........

 

I have used Harley batteries with good results - just stick with lead acid and stay away from Lithium Ion - I once tried a LI Ion Harley battery and it was cranking really slowly after only about 2 months. It also needed time to "wake up" when cold - absolute rubbish.

 

I'm not saying your wrong, and I have no personal insight of HD's contract with East Penn, but here's just some food for thought...

East Penn can make any battery their vendor directs them to make. Not all batteries from East Penn are the same quality.

There are reasons why one battery, that looks exactly like another battery, could cost more.

One difference in price could be because of the battery's warranty. Often, the potential cost of a longer warranty, is figured into the price of the battery.

Another is that one battery may actually be a slightly better battery. It could have better lead (higher % virgin lead) in the plates. It could have slightly thicker plates, and/or other minor improvements to performance not visible to the naked eye.

I offer this information because when a vendor orders a battery (or most brand labelled parts) to their specifications, and it's a large contract (like the Harley OEM battery contract would be), the contract will most often stipulate that the manufacturer cannot make the exact same battery for any other vendors while the contract is active.

East Penn makes several Harley spec batteries that don't have the "same direct screw in like the factory battery". That could be one difference between the HD OEM battery, and others very close to the same battery as OEM in performance, made by East Penn, to avoid violating their contract with HD.

I doubt East Penn would do something to jeopardize their contract with HD, like making the exact same battery for O'Reilly.

But again, I have no personal insight in the East Penn/HD contract, so I don't know for sure

 

If there is an ACDelco distributor in your area, check them out. They obviously know batteries, they've probably got one that exactly matches the OEM specs, and the price can't be beat. I've got one in my Wing, and I've turned my local riding buddies on their Harleys on to them. We're all happy. The Yuasa OEM battery was $140-$190 depending on supplier, the ACDelco was $93. No kidding. Two plus years so far, and absolutely perfect.

 

Good points Hat.......

 

I've done 2 batteries on my bike so far. first was a Yuasa which i got because i was able to find it for half the price of any other at that time. this last time all the batteries i was looking at were the same price so i just went a mile down the road and picked it up at the dealer.

 

Duracell (the gray one). The Duracell gray case battery is American made. The black one is imported.

 

New lithium batteries are lithium iron phosphate, not lithium ion.

 

Are they still taboo for the 23.5 and up glides?