'Morning all. I tried the search function but got nothing but charging system threads. My battery on the '03 Softail decided to bite the dust. I keep it on a tender and it lasted me the 3 years that I've owned it (plus however long the prior owner had her). The question is is there any real difference in the 70$ batteries vs the 130$ HD dealer batteries?

Thanks.

 

The "Big Crank" batteries seem to be as good as the HD branded ones. I think they are made by the same company. Just got one for wife's 2011 Softail, $89 delivered to door. Replaced my Fatboy battery with one from Advanced Autoparts going on 3 years ago. So far, no issues.

 

I went with the Shorai Lithium Iron battery. It was much more expensive, but incredibly light. After one year of use, it has been highly reliable.

Jake

 

Correct, the Deka Big Crank are made by the same company that makes the HD one.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...ery-180-a.html

 

Harley Davidson has a very good battery a friend of my a pretty big dealer of parts told me to stick with the harley batter I did my last battery was in my bike seven years and I changed it just because I felt it was time I gave it away and as far as I know it's still in use the key is to tender it when not in use for some time if you do this it will give you very good use

 

Deka batteries are made by the East Penn Manufacturing Company (Google them). They make batteries for all sorts of brands and applications (including HD).

My stock battery crapped out on me when it was just out of warranty. I put a Deka Big Crank in to replace it about 2 1/2 years ago now. After all the weather and cold and hot and even upgrading to a big bore engine, it still cranks over like it's brand new.

I did, however, melt one of the terminals on the thing because I didn't have the negative screwed down all the way. But that was my fault. Still works great though.

I think I paid like $94 and had it shipped to my doorstep. Can't go wrong.

http://www.batterymart.com/p-Big-Cra...L-Battery.html