Battery flat already?
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 865
From: SW Ohio
Glad they are taking care of it. My bike sets outside (no garage). It was 34 degrees this morning and my bike had set for a couple days. It started right up this morning. I don't put my bike on a tender until I put it in the barn around January.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,031
From: Carlsbad, CA
Gave the dealership a call, they agreed that for it to go totally flat in a few days is not normal. The only scenario for that to happen is if the alarm was going off all night, which I doubt was happening.
Will hook it up to a trickle charger and see how it does tomorrow, will leave it overnight.
Will hook it up to a trickle charger and see how it does tomorrow, will leave it overnight.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 679
Likes: 120
From: Fairbanks, AK.
I've found that the current M8 batteries last about 3 weeks sitting at room temp then get down to the 12.5-12.6 ~75% range. If I use an AGM charger (CTEK 4.5A) and run it 14.6-14.7 it takes an hour or two to get back to 12.7-12.8 ~90% after the 13.0V surface charge dissipates. Putting the bike in security system transport mode seems to reduce the draw when shutdown. Bike on then off then quickly press both turn signals and release.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,760
Likes: 211
From: Manila, Philippines
My bike, a 2018 heritage, battery died a week after delivery. Dealer just gave me a new battery without even checking the old one as I didnt want to have it towed there. They said its common enough problem of having bad batteries from the start.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 22
Likes: 6
From: Vancouver
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 22
Likes: 6
From: Vancouver
Will get the battery charged and get it back to the dealer for them to do a check, just to make sure that the charging system is all good.
This will be the second time back to the dealer in 3 weeks with the bike...
This will be the second time back to the dealer in 3 weeks with the bike...
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,851
Likes: 420
From: Santa Fe NM
At least they are minor issue and your bike won't be in the shop for days or anything. Enjoy the new ride.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 679
Likes: 120
From: Fairbanks, AK.
One thing that's rough on batteries is sitting and slowly discharging. Manufacturers buy a new battery possibly with partial charge, build a bike, ship it to the dealer. It may or may not get charged during predelivery except for a short test ride especially if the dealer hopes for a quick flip. Then it sits on the floor until sold getting weaker...especially if the bike is cranked up by potential customers or sales people demonstrating features. The new owner may do a few short rides and then has a problem maybe with an already compromised and sulphated battery.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 13,456
Likes: 10,452
From: Sunshine State
Lil food for thought: At my 1K service I had the bars changed to apes, and a stage one set up with a new full exhaust.
Service manager dropped the ball ordering the correct parts and it sat at HD almost 3 weeks.
In the end upon delivery they call me up and another delay, battery was bad and they needed to swap it out.
Also in the end, my patience was wearing very thin.
Service manager dropped the ball ordering the correct parts and it sat at HD almost 3 weeks.
In the end upon delivery they call me up and another delay, battery was bad and they needed to swap it out.
Also in the end, my patience was wearing very thin.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 230
Likes: 76
From: MD, USA
Wow, this is the EXACT situation I'm in with my 2019 Street Glide Special!
I bought it mid-October, and it was in the dealer's demo fleet, so she had ~2950 miles on her and was 1 year old at that point. I rode every few days until last week, when daytime temps were below 40, and night time temps were mid-20s to mid-30s. After sitting in my trailer for 6 days, the bike would not start. Clicked a couple times and that was that.
I fully charged the battery with my 3A battery tender for 1 hour, bringing it to full charge according to the tender.
Fast forward to Tuesday morning (yesterday) and the bike would not start in gear, but once I got it into neutral, it took 8-10 seconds of holding the start button and listening to the engine groan before she lighted and then ran.
I suspected a faulty battery and called the dealer. They sent out a truck to take my bike to the dealership, and called today to tell me the battery checked out fine and they had no issues starting it. The lady on the phone said the bike discharges the battery at 6% or so per day, double that if the ambient temps are <40 or >80, and that even the owner's manual states to keep the battery on a tender 24/7. I'm shocked.
My previous bike was a 2016 Kawasaki Vaquero (their version of the Road Glide), and it could sit for weeks without being on a tender, and still start right up. So is the dealer lying, or are the electronics on these bikes that power hungry?
Thanks,
-John
I bought it mid-October, and it was in the dealer's demo fleet, so she had ~2950 miles on her and was 1 year old at that point. I rode every few days until last week, when daytime temps were below 40, and night time temps were mid-20s to mid-30s. After sitting in my trailer for 6 days, the bike would not start. Clicked a couple times and that was that.
I fully charged the battery with my 3A battery tender for 1 hour, bringing it to full charge according to the tender.
Fast forward to Tuesday morning (yesterday) and the bike would not start in gear, but once I got it into neutral, it took 8-10 seconds of holding the start button and listening to the engine groan before she lighted and then ran.
I suspected a faulty battery and called the dealer. They sent out a truck to take my bike to the dealership, and called today to tell me the battery checked out fine and they had no issues starting it. The lady on the phone said the bike discharges the battery at 6% or so per day, double that if the ambient temps are <40 or >80, and that even the owner's manual states to keep the battery on a tender 24/7. I'm shocked.
My previous bike was a 2016 Kawasaki Vaquero (their version of the Road Glide), and it could sit for weeks without being on a tender, and still start right up. So is the dealer lying, or are the electronics on these bikes that power hungry?
Thanks,
-John