Question - I've encountered some strange things but the strangest is my '13 XL883L goes through batteries avg one a year. I'm a year round rider and the dealer was replacing them under warranty saying the battery developed a short. Same story different year only now they are saying I'm 2 weeks out of warranty so suck it that'll be $45 for the battery test and if you want a new battery $129. Didn't go over well with me, they got the $45 and lost a customer at the same time. My bike has been looked at for electrical issues without any anomalies. The only reason they could come up with was that I ride it all the time and all that bouncing, high humidity and lousy streets just take their toll - pfft whatever.

Has anyone else noticed an issue with the stock batteries? This will have been my 4th shorted out battery. I told the dealer if they weren't going to honor the warranty then I was going aftermarket. I am looking at battery options right now and another dealer to fulfill what's left of my warranty and routine service.

 

The HD AGM batteries are actually very good. I suspect your situation may be similar to mine, living in S. Florida. I'm also a year round rider and have never gotten more than 14-16 months out of a battery, riding ~15,000+ miles per year, be it an HD AGM or another "recommended" battery.

Living in Houston, heat is most likely your battery killer. Batteries and heat don't go well together, especially as a daily rider with multiple cranks a day.

Also, it typically takes ~20+ minutes at cruise speed (not stop & go), to replace the energy lost from the battery after each startup.

 

I ride year round and went after market. No more problems.

 

Went through two HD batteries and finally went aftermarket. Haven't looked back. Don't ride as much as you do, but I can tell my aftermarket is a lot stronger than HD.

Buddy of mine went through the same with his 48. He's currently on his second HD battery.

 

To counter, the HD batteries work great for me. I often get 5+ years out of them and I too ride nearly year round 15-20 thousand a year.

The caveat being that I live in the Midwest, not in the wicked heat that the above posters have mentioned. Heat really does not help the batteries at all as cHarley mentioned.

 

On my old bike, I had real good battery life, but I'm in the midwest too.

I've got a newer bike now with a lot more electrical stuff on it, and I'm wondering if you guys who use aftermarket batteries can give any recommendations of ones that work well for you.

 

Thanks y'all for the replies - been out of pocket for awhile. Like Felis, I'd like to hear what aftermarket battery those of you went that route went with. Fighting with my dealer has gotten me know where. From a price perspective it's all over the place as are the reviews.

 

I get 7-9 years on FLH batteries. People who go through them often, are usually either buying cheap batteries, or not riding much.

No, I don't use a tender. Just charge it once or twice over night, in the winter, ride it in the summer.