What is the normal life span of the stock battery?

 

I'm pushing up on 5 years with mine. Have had it on a tender any time it's sitting for more than a day for the last year.

 

4 years for me. I've never put it on a tender. I ride it about 2-3 times a week during the fall/winter and 5-6 times a week during the spring/summer

 

My first battery lasted 4 years, and it was still good when I replaced it. In the last 2 years, I've been through 2. I think it's just luck of the draw. No need for a battery tender here, except I have one hooked up to my Jeep.

 

you should never need a new battery if you tender it (or at least you should be able to keep it for a long time)... i have 2 cages and 2 bikes tendered in the garage now. one of them is 12 years old and it stays charged just like the new ones. a very inexpensive way to keep a battery like new for a very long time.
i have "pig tails" on both bikes, and on one of the cages. the other cage has a clip on tender. pig tails are the way to go, imo- you just ride the bike into the garage, park it and plug it in... no idea why everyone doesnt do this cause its so easy!

 

Haven't replaced the battery on my Sporty yet since I bought it (3 years, going on 4 now) and I don't really have any idea how long that battery has been on there. Knowing how cheap *** the prev. owner was, probably a long time.

As for my other bikes and cars, I tend to get 5-8 years on a battery. I've found the stuff I use more often (my work car and main bike) tend to get a lot more life. I try to use a battery tender on the other stuff when I can.

 

I have been using tenders for a great many years, but despite that have had batteries last as little as 6 months (on a new bike) to 11 years or so. So it is not something that can be easily predicted. Modern good quality batteries will usually last longer than in the past and give several years service.

 

First one went 6 years...

 

its a crap shoot...I had the exact same bike as friend of mine his battery lasted 11 yrs (never in a tender) and I had to have mine replaced after 11 months and I used a tender....in my car I just had to replace the battery after 3 years...I also have a 00 sportster with the original battery in it...so like i said its a crap shoot....

 

Three batteries in three years.