My point, if you're smart enough to get it was, Harley Batteries are extremely reliable and durable. Walmart is notorious for selling Chinese products. Believe it or not, I already knew Yuasa makes them. You call people fools and idiots that you have never met. Name calling is for children on schoolyards. How old are you? I have rebuilt many Harleys in the last 40 years, but only because they were ridden a long way. I still own my '72 AMF bike that I rode 80,000 absolutely trouble free miles, and rebuilt because it was losing a little compression. It now has over 150,000. Pretty ridable. My '67 motor and trans went into a rigid in '73 and won 1st place in Ray Fahrner's National Motorcycle Show in Denver twice. I rode it 5 more years before selling it. Now I don't work for Harley, but I worked for two American manufactures. Your comment about Harley taking the cheapest bid is ludicrous. It ain't so. Manufacturers make suppliers and vendors jump through hoops to "qualify" their products for quality and durability. I know you state you don't like contracts, but those suppliers sign them, and they include penalty clauses. If you've really been around Harleys a long time, as you insinuate, you'd know that the huge majority of Harley parts an accessories are of excellent quality. Hell, even their leather Jackets back in the sixties were the best. Way over priced, I couldn't afford one, but they were best quality I could find. I'm familiar with Johnson Controls, and Allen Bradley and even Siemens. I'm not familiar with their batteries, but I know that my '02 OEM battery lasted until '09 and my girlfriends '03 lasted until '09 also. The price of Harley's batteries increased lately, but considering their track record to an unknown quantity from Wal Mart, it's hardly foolish to spend the money and have peace of mind. I guess your statement about "having to rebuild them to make them rideable" says it all. Other than the E.P.A. mandated lean condition, which does need to be dealt with, not Harley's fault, and certainly not a "rebuild", these current bikes are exteremly "rideable" and quite durable.

 

I just bought a new battery for my '07. I hear that a new battery is worth about 50 cranks. That seems kinda low to me. I replaced my Harley battery with another $95 Harley battery last month. I had been told to only use Harley batteries because the others aren't worth a damn. Well, After three cranks, the new Harley battery wouldn't turn over my bike. After recharging and load testing at the shop, it was given back to me. They said it was okay. I brought it home installed it and was backing out to meet some friends for a ride.....It just clicked at me. Long story short: My first Harley battery lasted two years, my second was crap. My third is doing good for now. So, I'm not sold on the quality of Harley batteries. I have installed a battery tender jr and hope to get a little longer life out of this one.
As for mom and pop stores....it depends on who the mom and pop are. Besides, it's hard to dispute the fact that Wal-mart offers more jobs for Americans than mom and pop. So why don't we do the real American thing and shop where we want, buy what brand we want, from who we want. After all, it's a free country.....for now

God Bless

 

I just replaced the battery on my 05 Heritage about a month ago. I figured it was due since I live in Florida and the heat usually doesn't help batteries. Seems I might have been a bit hasty. It holds steady at 12.5 volts sitting on the shelf and when I put the battery tender on, it full charges in just an hour or so. I went with the HD battery mostly due to reading the specs on it on their website.

 

I've tried the so call bargin batterys.......screw that. Pushed it home one day. a good battery (doesn't have to be from your local HD) and a battery tender will save you a good 30 pack in aggivation

 

My point, if you're smart enough to get it was, Harley Batteries are extremely reliable and durable. Believe it or not, I already knew Yuasa makes them. Then why not just buy Yuasa... same battery, so you say, cheaper price.

Walmart is notorious for selling Chinese products. Therefore Walmart is bad HD is good! In spite of the fact that HD also sells many many chinese parts.

You call people fools and idiots that you have never met. Name calling is for children on schoolyards. Or "if the shoe fits wear it"... sorry I'm not politically correct.

Your comment about Harley taking the cheapest bid is ludicrous. If you've really been around Harleys a long time, as you insinuate, you'd know that the huge majority of Harley parts an accessories are of excellent quality. Other than the E.P.A. mandated lean condition, which does need to be dealt with, not Harley's fault, and certainly not a "rebuild", these current bikes are exteremly "rideable" and quite durable. Sure... HD chrome is the cheapest around... doesn't last worth anything. HD trannies and drive trains haven't had big trouble for a number of years now. HD factory paint jobs are excellent - NOT! etc etc - all you have to do is be around other HD owners or even just read the posts in this forum... lots of happy folks with expensive machines that do not operate properly.

 

I read on a forum that HD batteries were made by this company.
http://www.eastpenn-deka.com/ there's a link to find a local dealer within the site and maybe this could save you some coin by getting one without the HD logo on it and still have the same quality.
I don't know anything other than I've had good luck with the HD brand.

I'm sorry if my comment about buying from walmart has caused anyone any amount of stress in their day.

peace be with you.