Need New Battery !
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,737
Likes: 17,577
From: Driftless Area
I always scribe the date at the top of a new battery when I install it. Just replaced the old-fashioned lead-acid one in my Shovelhead, It was just over six years old. As I recall, the last one went 7 years. With that track record, I see no reason to change to something else.
Don't remember how long the AGM in my Evo lasts (I'll have to check the date before I go anyplace really far).
Newer bikes have more demand on them. Just get the recommended cold-crank amperage for yours.
Don't remember how long the AGM in my Evo lasts (I'll have to check the date before I go anyplace really far).
Newer bikes have more demand on them. Just get the recommended cold-crank amperage for yours.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,982
Likes: 5,220
From: Michigan
I always scribe the date at the top of a new battery when I install it. Just replaced the old-fashioned lead-acid one in my Shovelhead, It was just over six years old. As I recall, the last one went 7 years. With that track record, I see no reason to change to something else.
Don't remember how long the AGM in my Evo lasts (I'll have to check the date before I go anyplace really far).
Newer bikes have more demand on them. Just get the recommended cold-crank amperage for yours.
Don't remember how long the AGM in my Evo lasts (I'll have to check the date before I go anyplace really far).
Newer bikes have more demand on them. Just get the recommended cold-crank amperage for yours.
I rode that bike ONCE and let it set for three days and the battery would NOT start that bike!
IF I may ask, what type, and how much riding do you do annually?
I've owned (many) bikes starting in '69 and I have NEVER managed to get 4 years (or less) out of a battery!
I keep my bike(s) on a battery tender when they will not be ridden for several days and most frequently my riding consists of short, local rides but when I do take trip(s) they tend to be multiple, long day rides and I've always suspected that may be contributing to shortened battery life.
I know a lot of guys that ride locally (weekend warriors and Sunday riders) and they have batteries that have lasted up to 9+ years!
Last edited by 2AMGuy; Feb 26, 2025 at 12:17 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,243
Likes: 3,267
From: west Michigan
I removed the OEM battery from my '18 Tri-Glide in the spring of '21 and placed it in my '13 CVO Ultra.
I rode that bike ONCE and let it set for three days and the battery would NOT start that bike!
IF I may ask, what type, and how much riding do you do annually?
I've owned (many) bikes starting in '69 and I have NEVER managed to get 4 years (or less) out of a battery!
I keep my bike(s) on a battery tender when they will not be ridden for several days and most frequently my riding consists of short, local rides but when I do take trip(s) they tend to be multiple, long day rides and I've always suspected that may be contributing to shortened battery life.
I know a lot of guys that ride locally (weekend warriors and Sunday riders) and they have batteries that have lasted up to 9+ years!
I rode that bike ONCE and let it set for three days and the battery would NOT start that bike!
IF I may ask, what type, and how much riding do you do annually?
I've owned (many) bikes starting in '69 and I have NEVER managed to get 4 years (or less) out of a battery!
I keep my bike(s) on a battery tender when they will not be ridden for several days and most frequently my riding consists of short, local rides but when I do take trip(s) they tend to be multiple, long day rides and I've always suspected that may be contributing to shortened battery life.
I know a lot of guys that ride locally (weekend warriors and Sunday riders) and they have batteries that have lasted up to 9+ years!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,982
Likes: 5,220
From: Michigan
I ruined a battery back in the early 90's using a trickle charger but the tenders are just over 1 amp.
Some of the people who do get longer battery lives use them and that's why it may be the longer trips especially in hotter temps that may shorten battery life.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,737
Likes: 17,577
From: Driftless Area
The Shovel is semi-retired, but I like it and will do out-of-state trips on it if the weather is nice (no windshield).
The Evo does trips up to my barn property every two weeks or so (250 miles one way).
Both are kept on tenders, but you need to watch the water level on the lead-acid one in the Shovel. Both are well over 100,000+ miles.
I did boil the EVO battery once in Wyoming, but that was years ago, and was still lead/acid at the time.
The Evo does trips up to my barn property every two weeks or so (250 miles one way).
Both are kept on tenders, but you need to watch the water level on the lead-acid one in the Shovel. Both are well over 100,000+ miles.
I did boil the EVO battery once in Wyoming, but that was years ago, and was still lead/acid at the time.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,901
Likes: 11,343
From: NE Ohio
I average a tik over 4000 miles a year, all short rides rarely ever over 100 miles round trip
Never use a tender, I'll 2 amp charge it once in thru the winter, then again when I bring it out of hibernation in the Spring
I figure I'll buy another Harley AGM
KTF
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,243
Likes: 3,267
From: west Michigan
I'm using battery tenders NOT "trickle chargers.
I ruined a battery back in the early 90's using a trickle charger but the tenders are just over 1 amp.
Some of the people who do get longer battery lives use them and that's why it may be the longer trips especially in hotter temps that may shorten battery life.
I ruined a battery back in the early 90's using a trickle charger but the tenders are just over 1 amp.
Some of the people who do get longer battery lives use them and that's why it may be the longer trips especially in hotter temps that may shorten battery life.
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 911
Likes: 647
From: west coast
It might be worth trying repair mode on a charger that has one, like the Noco Genius 5, my older Noco G3500 revived two weak Harley batteries...though the improvement only lasted 2 weeks on one of them.
I personally like the terminal design with threaded inserts on stock HD batteries plus no spacers are required. I had chronic terminal loosening problems when I was running a Yuasa on one of my HD's and star washers etc. didn't help.
I personally like the terminal design with threaded inserts on stock HD batteries plus no spacers are required. I had chronic terminal loosening problems when I was running a Yuasa on one of my HD's and star washers etc. didn't help.
Last edited by 08xl1200r; Feb 26, 2025 at 10:05 PM.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 658
Likes: 52
From: Lakeshore Wis.
Thanks for all the replies. I live in Wis. so only half the year. Usually longer rides to get away from the lake. I've had 13 bikes. My 2nd and my last bikes are the only 2 I have ever had to replace the batteries in. Most of the earlier bikes had acid batteries. Those all lasted as long as I had the bike. Usually 4 to 7 years. Since the new style came out, (sealed), on my current 2018, the original battery only made it less than 4 yrs. I always put a tender on it if it is going to sit longer than a week.
So we go to Florida for 2 weeks in Feb. or March. I take off the tender min
Put a brand new battery in yesterday morning. $205. WE drove about 40 miles to destination Daytona after breakfast. It started pretty slow so I decided to have it checked out. Since I don't know of any independent shops in the area, I went to the dealer. Turned out to be the regulator. Go figure. Well, I'm on vacation, not here to fix **** in a parking lot at a hotel. So I told them to fix it. $$$ But it is guaranteed, and if it messes up in the next 2 weeks while I'm here, they can fix it.
So we go to Florida for 2 weeks in Feb. or March. I take off the tender min
Put a brand new battery in yesterday morning. $205. WE drove about 40 miles to destination Daytona after breakfast. It started pretty slow so I decided to have it checked out. Since I don't know of any independent shops in the area, I went to the dealer. Turned out to be the regulator. Go figure. Well, I'm on vacation, not here to fix **** in a parking lot at a hotel. So I told them to fix it. $$$ But it is guaranteed, and if it messes up in the next 2 weeks while I'm here, they can fix it.