Battery Life
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 32
Likes: 5
From: Ontario
Jeez, the timing of this thread couldn't be more appropriate. I have a 2014 Street Bob (with the original HD battery) and was FINALLY able to get it out for a rip just last night, but sure enough she started running like sh*t almost immediately. Idled fine, but as soon as the RPMs started creeping up under acceleration, it would crap out...almost like there wasn't enough juice to keep up with the faster RPMs. (Not sure if that's the 'kickback' everyone is referring to) Thought at first I may have just needed to burn off the old stale 'winter' gas, but on my return home the engine completely died (no accessories, lights, etc.) and I had to push the sunnovabitch a little ways. Lucky for me I was pretty close to home, but just for sh*ts and giggles, I shut 'er off for a tic and waited a minute or so at the side of the road, turned it back on and somehow had juice again, so I fired it up and limped home. I'm hoping it's just the battery and not some bloody electrical short...I think at this stage I'll just grab a new battery and see if that doesn't fix 'er up nice.
So with time not being a concern (living in Canada with dreadfully awful weather so far...) what's everyone's opinion on the best battery for the buck?
So with time not being a concern (living in Canada with dreadfully awful weather so far...) what's everyone's opinion on the best battery for the buck?
I've got two bikes sitting in the garage, a 2013 Honda and a 2014 Harley, both with original batteries. Honda is for daily commuting, Harley for weekend fun. Both are connected to a battery tender when they return to the garage. Both batteries still going strong.
Jeez, the timing of this thread couldn't be more appropriate. I have a 2014 Street Bob (with the original HD battery) and was FINALLY able to get it out for a rip just last night, but sure enough she started running like sh*t almost immediately. Idled fine, but as soon as the RPMs started creeping up under acceleration, it would crap out...almost like there wasn't enough juice to keep up with the faster RPMs. (Not sure if that's the 'kickback' everyone is referring to) Thought at first I may have just needed to burn off the old stale 'winter' gas, but on my return home the engine completely died (no accessories, lights, etc.) and I had to push the sunnovabitch a little ways. Lucky for me I was pretty close to home, but just for sh*ts and giggles, I shut 'er off for a tic and waited a minute or so at the side of the road, turned it back on and somehow had juice again, so I fired it up and limped home. I'm hoping it's just the battery and not some bloody electrical short...I think at this stage I'll just grab a new battery and see if that doesn't fix 'er up nice.
So with time not being a concern (living in Canada with dreadfully awful weather so far...) what's everyone's opinion on the best battery for the buck?
So with time not being a concern (living in Canada with dreadfully awful weather so far...) what's everyone's opinion on the best battery for the buck?
the kickback I believe eveybody refers to is when you go to start the bike, it makes about half a crank then the starter motor stalls and because it's pulling so much amperage the voltage dips and kills all the electronics momentarily. and if you keep holding down or let off and depress the starter button again the bike fires right back up but the little DIC screen defaults (like it would if you unhooked the battery) back to odometer reading instead of last place it was like say the RPM/gear indicator. At least thats what mine has done a few times when its sat for long periods of time and not been on the tender. My bike runs perfect after this happens and charges right back up.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 200
Likes: 38
From: Warren, Michigan
Battery Life
Just replaced the factory installed battery in my 2013 Street glide. 22k miles. This spring the starter would engage hard and back fire. On the 2nd try it would start but cranking was slower. Battery was always on a trickle charger during the winter. Took the battery to a DEKA battery dealer. They load tested it and said the cold cranking reserves where at 300 amps. Fine for Florida. Here in Michigan not so good. I spent the $102. for the new battery and installed it. Starts like a brand new bike. The battery built date was July of 2012. Not bad!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,282
Likes: 115
From: British Columbia
The battery in my road glide is original, bought the bike January 15/2008. Its always been on a tender, but I cant believe its still works fine!The last few years I check it with a load tester at the start of the season, still holds a load perfect.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 429
Likes: 102
From: Michigan
My cars, trucks, motorcycle, boat, RV, even lawn tractor are always on a Deltran Battery Tender unless they are being used. I had a 2003 Suzuki Hayabusa that I bought new I sold in 2010 with the original battery in it - battery was still strong. I also got 10 years out of the original John Deere lawn tractor battery - it would still start the lawn tractor, but was getting a little weak. Curious to see how the Harley battery does.
Last edited by ludville1; Apr 16, 2018 at 06:49 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,027
From: Carlsbad, CA
- Havent had one single starter kickback
- starter runs faster than ever
- motor starts quicker than before
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 239
Likes: 42
Trickle Charger
I have been told by the dealer that the life of a battery on my 2014 Street Bob is only two years. I didn't believe them but as it turns out every two years I do have to replace my battery . . . is this the truth for everyone else? I've owned multiple bikes and never had short battery life like that. I've looked through the forums and see most people saying 4-5 years and the ones that claim 2 live in super humid areas (I'm in San Diego). I just can't figure out if those 4-5 year projections are weekend riders or dailies as I do ride every single day. Trying to figure out if I actually have an electronic issue to track down, need to buy batteries from someone other than Harley, or really do just have to buy a new battery every two years at the stupid cost the dealer offers. I keep the thing on a tender every night!
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,251
Likes: 30
From: Ashburn, VA
I just put the 3rd battery on my bike since new. First 2 batteries were the Harley battery. Both lasted about 4 years each. I use a Battery Tender religiously. I would have went with Yuasa but I really wanted to ride this past weekend so I online-ordered from the local Batteries Plus and got the same Duracell Platinum battery that one of the other posters just got. Bike fired up like a boss!
You pretty much know when your battery is about to crap the bed, especially if you keep it on a tender. It should start strong every time off the tender. If it's slow at all or you get the kickback, get ready to place an order for a new battery.
You pretty much know when your battery is about to crap the bed, especially if you keep it on a tender. It should start strong every time off the tender. If it's slow at all or you get the kickback, get ready to place an order for a new battery.
Last edited by jmeiers; Apr 16, 2018 at 01:09 PM.