Battery Tender
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 347
Likes: 3
From: Virginia
Keep mine on the tender if I an not going to ride it the next day. The newer bikes with security, radio memory, etc. use some battery all the time.
The parts manager at a local stealership said he tested the battery and charging recovery on his bike (touring model) and he said it took a 27 mile ride to bring the battery back to a full charge. Not sure if true but he swears by it.
The parts manager at a local stealership said he tested the battery and charging recovery on his bike (touring model) and he said it took a 27 mile ride to bring the battery back to a full charge. Not sure if true but he swears by it.
Banned
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,820
Likes: 6,615
From: Northern California
I rode my RG every day, and a Battery Tender went on it if it sat for more than a day or two.
The battery never got weak. But after a couple of years, one night it began shorting on the way home, and the bike eventually drug itself down to a complete stop. But I hit the starter button and it fired RIGHT up ! And then continued to briefly short out until it eventually crawled to the batteries final death a couple of miles from home. The battery was about 2-and-a-half years and 65,000 miles old, and never showed a sign of weakening until it just quit. Even in its death throes, it still showed plenty of strength.
Just throwing it out there. I'm not gonna let a battery go that far and long again, because it was very strong until it almost stranded me in Oakland, Richmond, or Vallejo at midnite, or on a 4-lane bridge with no shoulder. Often slowing down to about 15mph on a dark 65mph Interstate. It was not a fun ride.
The battery never got weak. But after a couple of years, one night it began shorting on the way home, and the bike eventually drug itself down to a complete stop. But I hit the starter button and it fired RIGHT up ! And then continued to briefly short out until it eventually crawled to the batteries final death a couple of miles from home. The battery was about 2-and-a-half years and 65,000 miles old, and never showed a sign of weakening until it just quit. Even in its death throes, it still showed plenty of strength.
Just throwing it out there. I'm not gonna let a battery go that far and long again, because it was very strong until it almost stranded me in Oakland, Richmond, or Vallejo at midnite, or on a 4-lane bridge with no shoulder. Often slowing down to about 15mph on a dark 65mph Interstate. It was not a fun ride.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,243
Likes: 3,267
From: west Michigan
In all my years of riding, I've never used a battery tender. I leave the batteries in the bikes and charge them twice during the Michigan winter. My '04 Road king still has its original battery. If a motorcycle battery needs to be connected to a charger during the riding season, something's wrong.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,432
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida, USA
I have an '07 FLHTCU purchased new and I just replaced the original battery this weekend. The old battery was still okay, but I could tell it was past it's prime as the dash lights were dim, the bike just didn't ride as crisp as when new, and the starter was beginning to labor to fire it, especially when the motor was hot. I ride year-round here in Florida so keeping it charged isn't an issue. It's the heat down here that kills the battery.
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