low battery?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,031
From: Carlsbad, CA
EVERY vehicle should last 3 months without a battery tender.
All modern vehicles have electronics, such as burglar alarms, clocks or whatever. These draw negligible current. They are designed with the whole vehicle in mind (including the battery). A battery tender or other charger should never be needed when storing any vehicle for 3 months or less.
All modern vehicles have electronics, such as burglar alarms, clocks or whatever. These draw negligible current. They are designed with the whole vehicle in mind (including the battery). A battery tender or other charger should never be needed when storing any vehicle for 3 months or less.
But, oh yeah...it does sound like the OP has either: large parasitic drain, weak battery, or weak charging system.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 212
Likes: 31
follow up: about 4 wks ago took it to dealer. they did a diagnostic routine and said all starting/charging components okay...
a couple of days ago I rode all day, so had a good charge. next morning would not start. took it to dealer, again. they did battery test and the cca had dropped since 3 wks ago. their machine declared battery was 'good', but dealer replaced it since cca was dropping and since it wouldn't start. problem solved
rem
a couple of days ago I rode all day, so had a good charge. next morning would not start. took it to dealer, again. they did battery test and the cca had dropped since 3 wks ago. their machine declared battery was 'good', but dealer replaced it since cca was dropping and since it wouldn't start. problem solved
rem
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,588
Likes: 329
From: Florida
follow up: about 4 wks ago took it to dealer. they did a diagnostic routine and said all starting/charging components okay...
a couple of days ago I rode all day, so had a good charge. next morning would not start. took it to dealer, again. they did battery test and the cca had dropped since 3 wks ago. their machine declared battery was 'good', but dealer replaced it since cca was dropping and since it wouldn't start. problem solved
rem
a couple of days ago I rode all day, so had a good charge. next morning would not start. took it to dealer, again. they did battery test and the cca had dropped since 3 wks ago. their machine declared battery was 'good', but dealer replaced it since cca was dropping and since it wouldn't start. problem solved
rem
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 289
Likes: 79
From: Nashville, Tennessee
I have a 2014 Low Rider, battery was giving me grief after 18 months (just an FYI, I live in an apartment and the bike stays in the parking lot about 100 ft. away). Several trips to the dealer. According to them nothing wrong. Got tired of it and ordered another battery. Pulled the old battery after the new one came in. Took the old battery back to the dealer and requested that they test it. The old battery tested bad and got a new one under warranty.
'14 ultra
when starting, even if rode the last day, it struggles like low battery. when I asked service manager he said they recommend using a battery tender all the time!
any comments/thoughts? I never had this problem on older bikes, softails, etc. do the electronics really pull that much juice just sitting for a day?
TIA,
Rem
when starting, even if rode the last day, it struggles like low battery. when I asked service manager he said they recommend using a battery tender all the time!
any comments/thoughts? I never had this problem on older bikes, softails, etc. do the electronics really pull that much juice just sitting for a day?
TIA,
Rem
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,643
Likes: 4,880
From: Missouri City,TX
FWIW, I just got my Low Rider back from the dealer today with a new battery installed under warranty. I've had the bike for just over 14 months and have 8000 miles on it.
I have a habit of always hooking the bike up to a battery tender plus every day after my ride...strange that the battery would crap out so fast.
I have a habit of always hooking the bike up to a battery tender plus every day after my ride...strange that the battery would crap out so fast.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,922
Likes: 265
From: Deep in the heart of New Jersey
I've always felt that Harley's charging systems are barely up to the task. Ad the fact that you need to run the motor at 2200 rpm's or higher to put out enough juice to keep the battery charged. If your the type of rider that only goes on mostly short low speed rides, I'd bet you'll barely get the battery fully charged. Ad the fact that when parked you radio presets draw power, as does the alarm. And when the motor is idling, the ignition and light power is coming from the battery. So running in slow or bumper to bumper traffic will suck alot of the juice out of the battery. So will starting the motor 5 or 6 times in the course of an outing. And reading the battery voltage right after you shut the motor off,will always read higher then after it sits for a day without a tender on it. That's more of a true indication of the battery's charge state.,,
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20,530
Likes: 2,305
From: texas panhandle
Take this for what its worth. An alternator is not designed to charge a low battery. One can damage an alternator by operating a vehicle with a low battery. Either charge the battery with a battery charger or replace the battery. Failure to do so could change an small problem into a big expensive problem.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
I just replaced a battery on my Springer, it lasted less than 2 years but I don't ride it but 2-3 times a month and don't use a tender.
Anyway, the parts guy and a salesman both said that the concrete garage floor draws juice from the battery and that the kickstand should be on a piece of rubber floor mat or hardboard or carpet tile. Any truth in this?
Anyway, the parts guy and a salesman both said that the concrete garage floor draws juice from the battery and that the kickstand should be on a piece of rubber floor mat or hardboard or carpet tile. Any truth in this?