Battery Tender
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 1,046
From: Southwest Desert
They are about $45.00 for the full size tender on Amazon....Just remember that a Battery Tender is not a full on battery charger, just a float charger that maintains your battery near the top. I had a big inch cruiser that needed more than a battery tender would charge to start. It needed a stronger battery charger that hummed when it ran, so my battery would reach full charge. I think it had a 1.7Kw starter. Any stock Harley should be fine though on a BT.
I no longer keep mine plugged in all the time. My bikes start with out it, and in my opinion, (experience) battery's last a little longer. I buy middle end price batteries 100-120) and get about 3 years out of them. I have had my Battery Tender long enough to go through many batteries. That goes for my cars, and Quad racer, and lawn mower too. if you are using your bike regularly, you don't need to have it plugged in all the time. Some may disagree. Just my .02
I no longer keep mine plugged in all the time. My bikes start with out it, and in my opinion, (experience) battery's last a little longer. I buy middle end price batteries 100-120) and get about 3 years out of them. I have had my Battery Tender long enough to go through many batteries. That goes for my cars, and Quad racer, and lawn mower too. if you are using your bike regularly, you don't need to have it plugged in all the time. Some may disagree. Just my .02
Last edited by SirHarley; Mar 3, 2020 at 02:09 PM. Reason: addendum correction
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 18
Likes: 1
From: Illinois
Bought a tender plus. Put it on. Light will only flash, which according to the manual means the battery is defective. The voltmeter on the bike says it's at about a 9. I was hoping to avoid taking the seat off and getting into the battery. I have a bigger charger - but obviously can't hook it up without a little disassembly.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 1,046
From: Southwest Desert
That's why I don't like the BT as an only charger. A regular battery charger will charge a battery that is otherwise discharged. The BT only float charges at the top level. That being said, you need to take off your seat once in a while if you are going to own a motorcycle. You may already have a bad battery though. Charge yours fully, and test. If you don't know the history of the battery, it is likely time for a new one.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,032
Likes: 12,559
From: South Carolina
Once battery is fully charged, it switches to float charger mode. Why muck around with two pieces of equipment when one will do the job (I already have way too much stuff in my garage
).
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 1,046
From: Southwest Desert
Last edited by SirHarley; Mar 4, 2020 at 09:12 AM. Reason: addendum correction
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,076
Likes: 3,293
From: Plover, WI
Bought a tender plus. Put it on. Light will only flash, which according to the manual means the battery is defective. The voltmeter on the bike says it's at about a 9. I was hoping to avoid taking the seat off and getting into the battery. I have a bigger charger - but obviously can't hook it up without a little disassembly.
If the green light is flashing, you may need to give it more time.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,032
Likes: 12,559
From: South Carolina
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 1,046
From: Southwest Desert
I think the Battery Tender is Over rated, and a bit gimmicky. I expect my bike to start on it's own or something is wrong. Once in a great while (winter) I need a charge to start up after a long hibernation with an older battery. Then I hook it up and charge away. I don't see it as preventive in anyway for battery problems. Even if my battery should be low, my bike still starts, and it's charging again before I reach the end of my driveway.
Last edited by SirHarley; Mar 4, 2020 at 11:38 AM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,032
Likes: 12,559
From: South Carolina
I agree there is no need to put a bike on a battery tender if it is ridden, I think the internet has people obsessed with the battery tender, hooking it up even if the bike is regularly ridden (do they hook one up to their car all the time).
If a bike needs to be on a tender during riding season, there is something wrong.
When I lived in New England, I would connect the tender about once a month just to make sure the batteries were not going dead.
I do not think using a battery tender extends the life of a battery.
If a bike needs to be on a tender during riding season, there is something wrong.
When I lived in New England, I would connect the tender about once a month just to make sure the batteries were not going dead.
I do not think using a battery tender extends the life of a battery.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 433
From: Arkansas
You are going to have to pull the seat and check the termi Al's to ensure that someone didn't swap them when replacing the battery. Personally I have 2 battery tenders (1 for LiPo and AGM batteries and 1 BT+) I also have a Harley LiPo charger and an Optimate 4 charger. All 4 of them work well, the Optimate will bring a battery back from the dead.