Need a new battery questions...
 

Map should be retained. Would tell you about the battery but it'll just start a fight with another forum member here who apparently has sexual relations with his Deca batteries.

The first thing I know about Lithium batteries is they are lighter. the other thing I forgot, which happens alot now.

lighter,more cranking amps,and last alot longer..have one now that is 10 years old and still cranking well

When HD battery failed on last bike I went with lithium. It was much stronger, much less dependent on tender, much lighter. Only down side was initial cost - otherwise totally positive.

Any recommendations on brands or models? Also, if or when is a tender or charger needed? I've been thinking about switching my bikes over to lithium, my Rocker has a security system and I'm not sure if I'll need a charger because of the constant drain?

good ole cheap dumb battery chargers will charge lithium's properly. Do not get the fancy ones with the desulfation mode or weird do dads. The original battery tender or the Duraboost Battery Maintainer 1000 works. I have the duraboost hooked up to my KTM but as soon as i plug it in, the battery states it's fully charged. That's how awesome these new Lithiums are.

The only quirks that lithiums have is that in the winter when its cold, you have to warm up the battery like you are starting it, wait a few secs and then hit the start again.

That's good to know, I thought (when needed) the lithium's required a specific kind of fairly expensive, charger/tender.

They do make lithium specific chargers which cost less then 50 dollars now, but they are no different from the regular battery chargers out there. So if you do buy one, you can use that to charger regular acid type or gel batteries.