battery
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 204
Likes: 32
From: OKC
Motorcycle batterys are permanently damaged each time they are allowed to get low if you keep a battery tender on it when you are not riding more than a couple of days it will add years to the life.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 1,193
From: Maryland
Research sulfation and the prevention thereof.
As mentioned, use a battery tender. Use it all year - it's even more important when its warmer out. When not riding regularly, take it off for 24 to 48 hours every 60 days or so, then put it back on.
My factory stock AGM battery lasted 8 years... Might have lasted longer if I was the original owner. The again, it probably didn't help it's longevity when I dropped a wrench across the terminals and melted one of it's post. Doh!
The OEM battery is a good battery. Pricey though (says Harley Davidson somewhere on it). Deka makes the OEM battery. You can get essentially the same Deka battery for a lot less. Last time I looked a ETX14L was somewhere between $70 and $80. HD wants $115 for theirs.
If maintained properly... The Deka AGM should last a long time.
As mentioned, use a battery tender. Use it all year - it's even more important when its warmer out. When not riding regularly, take it off for 24 to 48 hours every 60 days or so, then put it back on.
My factory stock AGM battery lasted 8 years... Might have lasted longer if I was the original owner. The again, it probably didn't help it's longevity when I dropped a wrench across the terminals and melted one of it's post. Doh!
The OEM battery is a good battery. Pricey though (says Harley Davidson somewhere on it). Deka makes the OEM battery. You can get essentially the same Deka battery for a lot less. Last time I looked a ETX14L was somewhere between $70 and $80. HD wants $115 for theirs.
If maintained properly... The Deka AGM should last a long time.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 627
Likes: 324
From: Covington, VA
I use a Battery Tender Plus which is the "smart" one and can be used on old wet cell and new AGM batteries without damaging any of them. During the off season, I switch it every week from the mower to the motocycle to the old convertible in a regular rotation. It's easy with a pigtail on each battery. The Battery Tender Plus cost me around $50 about 15 years ago and has paid for itself many times over in saved batteries. Extra pigtails and extension cords can be bought individually from Amazon at very low prices.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 140
Likes: 16
From: Hays
My factory harley lasted 9 years. I opted for a harley battery. Always use a trickle charger. Th new battery starts the bike up instantaneously whereas the factory one cranked was slow.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 1,193
From: Maryland
Reading material on battery maintainers...
http://archives.wingworldmag.com/aug...e/battery.html
http://archives.wingworldmag.com/aug...st2008-WEB.pdf
There are probably better maintainers then Battery Tender. How expensive you need to go is debatable. I use a Schumacher (SP3-CA). Probably some would turn their nose up at that. During long periods of inactivity (which rarely happens), I disconnect the maintainer every 60 days and leave it off 24 to 48 hours to exercise the battery. Then I reconnect etc. This has worked OK for me.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 349
Likes: 57
From: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Why and does bt recommend that?