Alarm
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 12
From: Commerce, Mich.
Not all dealers state that it n't draw down the battery.
My dealer told me straight up..you want to plug in a tender during winter and long periods of not riding, OR remove the battery. He was honest, and I followed that advise and to date have had no problems.
My dealer told me straight up..you want to plug in a tender during winter and long periods of not riding, OR remove the battery. He was honest, and I followed that advise and to date have had no problems.
This is what the owner's manual says about the factory security for our SE Deuce. 
"Storage Mode Configuration
The security system has a special mode for long term storage. This mode prevents the security system from discharging the battery after a period of days (20, 60, 90, or infinite) without any ignition/headlamp key switch activity.
If the security system is set to infinite, the system will not go into storage mode. In this case, the customer must use a trickle charger to keep the battery from discharging after 60 days of storage.
Vehicles will enter storage mode whether the security system is armed or disarmed.
In storage mode, all alarm functions are suspended and the receiver is shut down and will not respond to the key fob. The vehicle is immobilized because the starter motor and Ignition/EFI controllers are disabled. When the storage mode is entered, the security lamp stops flashing to conserve power."
From reading this, it sounds as if the dealers are correct in saying the alarm will not draw the battery. If you had it in storage for less than 60 days, or the alarm was in storage mode and you still had problems starting your bike, you probably have a bad battery. We have our Deuce set to go into storage mode after 20 days (the factory setting) and we have never had a problem with the battery, nor do we use a trickle charger.
"Storage Mode Configuration
The security system has a special mode for long term storage. This mode prevents the security system from discharging the battery after a period of days (20, 60, 90, or infinite) without any ignition/headlamp key switch activity.
If the security system is set to infinite, the system will not go into storage mode. In this case, the customer must use a trickle charger to keep the battery from discharging after 60 days of storage.
Vehicles will enter storage mode whether the security system is armed or disarmed.
In storage mode, all alarm functions are suspended and the receiver is shut down and will not respond to the key fob. The vehicle is immobilized because the starter motor and Ignition/EFI controllers are disabled. When the storage mode is entered, the security lamp stops flashing to conserve power."
From reading this, it sounds as if the dealers are correct in saying the alarm will not draw the battery. If you had it in storage for less than 60 days, or the alarm was in storage mode and you still had problems starting your bike, you probably have a bad battery. We have our Deuce set to go into storage mode after 20 days (the factory setting) and we have never had a problem with the battery, nor do we use a trickle charger.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: North Jersey
I'll look into that storage mode on the alarm and give it a try. Like I said, I was really just venting. Its a little frustrating when you go the garage and the 10 year old bucket of bolts fires right up as well as the 7 year old Sporty while the new bike is dead. If plugging in the tender is the worse thing I have to deal with I'm doing OK.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Camden AR
I went to a dealer in Texarkana. They had 12 Heritage and 3 Fat Boy Harleys. Every one of them had the security/alarm system. I realize the more options and accessories the bike has the more the dealer makes, but that is ridiculous. The salesman said, I doubt if you can find one without the security system on it. I hate to hear you are having a problem reds2harleys. That is the reason I did not want one on my Harley.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Being military and prone to being away for long periods of time I just unhook the battery and put it on a block of wood while I am gone. The first time I went away from my '04 Wideglide back in November of '04 I came back to a dead and bad battery in January. Once it was replaced and I started unhooking it I have had no more problems. We don't need no stinking battery tender!
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: NC
Just leave the key fob on the bike somewhere and the alarm wont arm itself. Of course there's a wholenother set of problems with that. You would have to hire a guard to sit there with it to make sure no one steals it and of course you could buy a battery for what that would cost. but then on the other hand....well you get the picture.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 71
From: Belleville Mi.
Hey Red,
I have never heard that from Harley. I've never heard any one at the dealer say any thing to that effect either. I gotta go to the dealer this week to pay my HOG dues. I'm gonna ask my sales guy and see what he says. I'll let ya know. I took out the battery in my 02 EGC when it was 4 years old because I was having an electrical problem. New battery didn't correct the problem so the old one was still good. The old battery was always kept on a tender. A friend of mine needed a battery and was broke so I gave him my battery from the 02. That was in 06. He keeps it on a tender and it is still going good. I guess its obvious that if some thing is drawing electricity sooner or later its gonna run the battery down......
Trucky 911
I have never heard that from Harley. I've never heard any one at the dealer say any thing to that effect either. I gotta go to the dealer this week to pay my HOG dues. I'm gonna ask my sales guy and see what he says. I'll let ya know. I took out the battery in my 02 EGC when it was 4 years old because I was having an electrical problem. New battery didn't correct the problem so the old one was still good. The old battery was always kept on a tender. A friend of mine needed a battery and was broke so I gave him my battery from the 02. That was in 06. He keeps it on a tender and it is still going good. I guess its obvious that if some thing is drawing electricity sooner or later its gonna run the battery down......
Trucky 911
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: Port Deposit, Md
I went to a dealer in Texarkana. They had 12 Heritage and 3 Fat Boy Harleys. Every one of them had the security/alarm system. I realize the more options and accessories the bike has the more the dealer makes, but that is ridiculous. The salesman said, I doubt if you can find one without the security system on it. I hate to hear you are having a problem reds2harleys. That is the reason I did not want one on my Harley.
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