what? Been running a Lith-Iron ( not Ion) battery in my Dyna for a bit now, lower rate of parasitic discharge versus AGM, higher Amp hour rating than a comparable AGM battery as well. No issues at all, but I don't live in a cold climate area, eh. Each to their own, but I would not consider the HD branded Lith battery- better out there for less.

 

My experience with Lithium batteries.
I currently have Lithium batteries in the following bikes
1) 2015 SG - Original HD model Lithium (small orange battery with a tray to take up the extra space). Been running this for a year. No issues. Turns the bike over faster than the OEM battery which lasted 6 years on a tender. I don’t leave the new bat on a tender. Just plug it in once a month and it tops it off in a hour or two - probably not even necessary, but I’m curious on how much the battery drains with the security system - apparently not much. This battery was run on a Trike for the first 6 months, and has a total of 21,000 miles on it.
2) 2021 RG - The new HD model white Lithium battery that is the same size as the OEM, so no spacers needed. Been running this for 8 months. No issues. Turns the motor over very quickly. Again, not plugged into a tender and very little drain, even with a security system. Word is that this battery Is from a different - higher quality - manufacturer, and has an improved Battery Management System. Comes with a 5-year warranty.
3) 2004 Sportster. Original style HD orange lithium battery. Turns the engine over REALLY fast. The old battery struggled, and would almost completely stop on the compression stroke. Being a carb’d bike this battery fires the engine so much quicker. Very impressed. Been running this for a year. No issues.
4) 2014 Dyna. Off brand Lithium via EBay. Very small battery, like a dirt bike battery. Starts the bike like a champ. But I did read reviews that this battery was no longer recommended for HD - and some heating/melting issues. Used for two years with no problems, then went back to the stock HD lead battery. I use the lithium battery in a side by side now, and it only gets used once a month. I pull the battery out and store it in the garage between uses.

For all the bikes that get put into seasonal storage, I pull the batteries and store at room temp. The lead batts sit on a trickle charger. The Lithium ones get a quick top off at three months and six months.

Only time will tell if the extra $75 to $100 per battery was worth it. HD says to expect a 10 year life.
The advantages so far have been easier starting, no need for a constant maintainer, less weight (which makes pulling the battery way easier, especially on a touring bike).

 

Do any new motorcycles come standard with lithium starting batteries? Do any automobiles?
If not, one has to wonder why if they are so much better.

 

Cost

 

I believe it is not as much cost as it is a liability thing the manufacturers don’t want to assume. Lithium does not like to be constantly charged like a vehicles charging system does.

 

Hearsay again. That's what BMS takes care of, see post #16

 

I recently switched over to a NOCO Lithium NLP20, Group 20, 600A Lithium Powersport Battery, having used LifePo batteries in my RV for a few years now and very happy with it so far, certainly fires up faster. I was concerned about cold weather since the typical LifePo does not do well if charged below 45 degrees, I have not seen this issue with the motorsports battery in my Dyna but it has only been in for 1 winter so far.
I rarely if ever use a trickle charger because I prefer to ride it whenever possible, but certainly would not use a standard trickle charger on LI batteries.
If I continue to see the trouble-free performance I have seen so far, it will be an upgrade for all 3 of our bikes as time for new batteries comes along.

 

Got my new battery over the weekend. Put it on the brand new charger until it was 100% and "optimized", took about 2 hours straight out of the box. Bike starts like a champ, much stronger spin on the starter, that's for sure. I'll update if anything comes up, but I expect that this is the end of the story. I am very pleased. Oh and for chuckles I weighed both, OEM battery is 14.5lb, new Lithium is 3.95lb. As others have stated, it feels like it's fake.

 

Do any new motorcycles come standard with decent tires?.

I drive my bike every day in the city: start, turn off, start, turn off. I don't have a plug in the garage for a battery tender, and my Dyna ate the AGMs in less than two years when due to lack of time I could not do long weekend routes
Install a lithium battery and after 1.5 years it still starts very well and very strongly.
This is how my Fat Bob starts after 5 weeks without use, alarm connected and without battery tender

Video

 

Haven't had a lot of time to ride so far this Spring. Here's my wife's brand new '22 FXBBS sitting on the trickle charger next to my untended, 7-year-old, Lithium powered Dyna that's just waiting to go. If you ask me, there's something wrong with that.