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2018+ Softail Models Breakout

Battery Life

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Old Jul 8, 2023 | 10:44 AM
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Modern batteries work all the way up until the point that they die. I don’t want the inconvenience of when a battery decides to die. So, I just replace them between 3 & 4 years. Yeah, you might get more life , but where are you gonna be when it goes belly up?
 
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Old Jul 8, 2023 | 12:37 PM
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Originally Posted by TriGeezer
Modern batteries work all the way up until the point that they die. I don’t want the inconvenience of when a battery decides to die. So, I just replace them between 3 & 4 years. Yeah, you might get more life , but where are you gonna be when it goes belly up?
True fact
 
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Old Jul 8, 2023 | 01:13 PM
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Don't AGM batteries last longer than conventional flooded wet cell? 5-7 years instead of 3-4 years
 
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Old Jul 8, 2023 | 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Old New Rider
Don't AGM batteries last longer than conventional flooded wet cell? 5-7 years instead of 3-4 years
I get 7 or so out of Harley batteries. but lead acid 4 wheeler batteries last about as long too. Batteries and charging systems have come a long way. My trucks got 8-10 years.
 
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Old Jul 8, 2023 | 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Rounders
I get 7 or so out of Harley batteries. but lead acid 4 wheeler batteries last about as long too. Batteries and charging systems have come a long way. My trucks got 8-10 years.
You mean flooded wet cell 4 wheeler batteries? Never heard of those going 8-10 years.

Anything special about Harley batteries? Not overpriced?
 
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Old Jul 8, 2023 | 03:53 PM
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Harley battery for my 19 tri Glide a buck 98
 
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Old Jul 8, 2023 | 04:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Old New Rider
You mean flooded wet cell 4 wheeler batteries? Never heard of those going 8-10 years.

Anything special about Harley batteries? Not overpriced?
I've been getting around 7 years on 4 wheeler. My snowmobile is 2015. My 2010 SXS is on second battery. I over stressed it bunch of short yard trips, and not charging. My 2019 is still factory.

One thing I do is charge before use, so no stressing battery or charging system.

Are harleys better? I don't now know, but I have such good luck with them. And then I come here with people having short lives. Again I am in cooler climate, heat is hard on batteries.
 
Last edited by Rounders; Jul 8, 2023 at 04:41 PM.
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Old Jul 12, 2023 | 04:31 PM
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Well, contrary to my previous post, I let the '19 sit for a week without being plugged in and it barely started, so I'll say "four years and a bit" for how long the battery lasted, as it looks like I'll be looking for a new battery soon.
 
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Old Jul 12, 2023 | 04:32 PM
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Id be pissed if I ever had a battery only last 4 years, other than lawn mower. Those might even get that
 
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Old Jul 12, 2023 | 10:07 PM
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I have an early production M8 softail (07/2017) and retired the HD battery (AGM) at 5y due to age only, for the same reasons others have mentioned. Was still working fine and I at best typically only ever did a monthly maintenance charge with a CTEK 5A smart charger. I typically use the bike once a week for recreational rides only.
I have chosen to replace it with a HD Lithium LIFE battery as a trial and now have a Victron smart charger for Lithium batteries and am following a similar maintenance charge routine for comparison. 12 months on, so far so good 🤞🍻
 
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