I have an 07 Street Glide that I love - however yesterday I went out and the battery was dead for the second time in a month. The dealer replaced the battery a month ago saying it was a defective battery. I had no trouble with it until the dealer added the automatic security onto the bike. Now he is telling me that if I don't keep a battery tender on the bike that the security system will cause the battery to go dead - and that it only happens on the Street Glide. Anyone else having any trouble?

 

Tell him to show ya the TSB from the MoCo that states that - otherwise, they need ta tear back into it again and FIND where they screwed up! Sounds ta me like they messed up, but don't wanna find it.

 

Most security systems draw less than 1/10 of an amp or less. The bike would have to sit for months for that to be a problem. If your battery is dying in a few weeks you have a problem the dealer needs to fix.

You also don't ride your bike enough.

Re'

 

I had the same problem with a 2001 Sportster I had and it was due to a shorted Voltage regulater.
There was a troubleshooting section in the service manual that showed how to check it.

 

You may have what's called "dark current" which is current that is hard to detect (current that is being drawn when the bike isn't running). Yes, the security system can discharge a battery, but, not very quickly. Right off the top of my head, I forget what the nominal current draw is for the security system, but, it's not too large - 20-30 milliamps, probably. We have seen other reasons for your battery going dead - e.g., bad ECM that draws excessively when shut down. Your dealer should disconnect the battery and connect an ammeter in series with the negative lead and monitor the current. It may be in spec. Perhaps you only drive your bike very short tripis and don't give the battery enough driving time to recharge after starting. Also, the motor must turn over fast enough to compensate for all the lights on the bike plus recharge the battery. There are a lot of variables. However, do buy a Battery Tender - it's a very good investment.

 

I have a 07 SG with the security system and never had a problem with the battery. As a matter of fact I once left the radio playing for two hours and it fired right up. Sounds like the told you some BS at the dealer.

 

Thanks all! You have confirmed my suspicions. The bike was only sitting in the trailer for a not quite 2 weeks since our last ride - and our last ride was 160 miles so I know it was fully charged when I got back. Yesterday we were going on a 180 mile poker run however that was cut short. I do have a battery tender that I keep on the bike in the winter when it is stored (since it's difficult to ride when there is snow on the ground...) but summers we are out and about almost every weekend andI didn't think I needed tokeep the battery tender on the bike. I guess the Service Manager and I are going to have a heart to heart discussion!