Recommendations for replacement battery??
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: League City,TX
Recommendations for replacement battery??
I've done forum searches and haven't seen a thread dedicated to battery recommends. I've always replaced my battery every two-three years since I bought my first bike in 1981. My dad always said that was the way to go. I've also seen this recommendaton in AIM by Chris Maida on a couple of others. After what I've read here on this forum, I'm not so sure?
I read instances of some guys getting 7-8 yrs on their batteries! I've never tried so I don't know. What I do know is that I live in the Houston, Tx area and the summers eat batteries. Two questions - Am I wasting money buying batteries every 2-3 yrs and what brands do you guys recommend??
I read instances of some guys getting 7-8 yrs on their batteries! I've never tried so I don't know. What I do know is that I live in the Houston, Tx area and the summers eat batteries. Two questions - Am I wasting money buying batteries every 2-3 yrs and what brands do you guys recommend??
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,486
Likes: 6
From: Union,Ms
Summers do NOT eat batteries.Batteries sitting around in bikes that rarely get ridden eat batteries. Hook it up to a battery tender when you're not riding for extended periods, they'll last for years.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,630
Likes: 17
From: Central FL
I just replaced the factory one on my '06. The factory one is pretty good and hard to beat for the price. Mine died on a Sunday while I was out riding and the closest dealer was closed. I went to Walmart across the street from the gas station were I was and bought one there. $70.00 for an AGM battery is a pretty good deal and it was made by Johnson Controls which is a pretty big US manufacturer. We'll see how long it lasts. When mine died it wasn't without warning. It had been a little sluggish for a few months but I ride it daily so it stayed pretty well charged. If it would sit for more than 3 days start up was real sluggish.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 366
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From: Rota, Spain
I just changed the factory battery (with another HD Battery) in my 2006 Street Bob and have never had it on a trickle charger. I could tell for over a month that it was getting ready to go. Of all of the motorcycles I have owned, I usually get at least 5 or more years out of a battery. I just recently purchased a trickle charger and will see if it helps it last even longer.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 122
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From: League City,TX
Thanks to all.
Thanks to all for your suggestions, and BTW I do use a battery tender (sorry I failed to mention that) and I get to ride almost every day here where I live. But I do have to respectfully disagree about "summers NOT eating batteries." Not summers, but more specifically heat, definitely affects battery life. I'm an electrical engineer and I could get into a long boring discussion about all of the external factors that affect battery life, but heat is at the top of a long list that includes humidity,etc. Converting chemical energy into electrical energy is always going to be influenced by heat. Blah, blah , blah...... Anyway, sounds like I have absolutely no basis for my compulsive need to change my batteries so often other than sometimes what we learn in college runs counter to real-life application. Thanks again for everyone's input.
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Joined: Feb 2011
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From: SoCal
+1 on the battery tenders.
Look into dry cell Odyssey batteries, lightweight and Mil-Spec. Good luck
Look into dry cell Odyssey batteries, lightweight and Mil-Spec. Good luck
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: SW OH.
There used to be a t-shirt that said "I'd rather push a Harley than ride a Honda",I actually saw a guy wearing one while pushing a Harley and yeah I did laugh.Me I'm not pushing ANY bike if I can keep from it,my battery is four years old and I used a battery tender but I'm going to replace it with a new Harley battery soon.I'm always amazed when a guy who is riding a $15,000 plus motorcycle tries to go low budget on something as important as a battery,the same guy will spend thousands on cosmetic items and buy budget oil filters and batteries.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: League City,TX
There used to be a t-shirt that said "I'd rather push a Harley than ride a Honda",I actually saw a guy wearing one while pushing a Harley and yeah I did laugh.Me I'm not pushing ANY bike if I can keep from it,my battery is four years old and I used a battery tender but I'm going to replace it with a new Harley battery soon.I'm always amazed when a guy who is riding a $15,000 plus motorcycle tries to go low budget on something as important as a battery,the same guy will spend thousands on cosmetic items and buy budget oil filters and batteries.