Lithium Batteries
Lithium Batteries
Ok people I searched a little bit so sorry if I missed it.
What is the general opinion of the Harley Lithium Battery? Or anyones for that matter.
Its time to get a new battery.
My stock one has lasted 4.5 years on a tender most times
I was just at a local bike night at the dealer and they sure pushed the one Harley has.
So lets hear it. Is it worth the $300 plus TTL they asking for it?
Or just stick with the regular style battery?
Thanks
Drifter
What is the general opinion of the Harley Lithium Battery? Or anyones for that matter.
Its time to get a new battery.
My stock one has lasted 4.5 years on a tender most times
I was just at a local bike night at the dealer and they sure pushed the one Harley has.
So lets hear it. Is it worth the $300 plus TTL they asking for it?
Or just stick with the regular style battery?
Thanks
Drifter
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 961
Likes: 192
From: Chicago
Expensive. Only reason I own one (antigravity jump) is the 124 s&s I have was having a hard time cranking on a standard battery. Also the built in jump box built into the battery is neat if I ever get stranded
pros
light weight! Mine is around 4 lbs
cranking power 680 amps on mine I could have opted for the 780 without a jump box
cons
needs a special battery charger. Youll fry this thing on a normal battery tender. I paid 60$ for a highly recommended charger.
Price! All together around 330 for a battery!
In conclusion, Only buy it if you need the juice or are on a serious weight savings build. Id recommend the antigravity over the hd one
pros
light weight! Mine is around 4 lbs
cranking power 680 amps on mine I could have opted for the 780 without a jump box
cons
needs a special battery charger. Youll fry this thing on a normal battery tender. I paid 60$ for a highly recommended charger.
Price! All together around 330 for a battery!
In conclusion, Only buy it if you need the juice or are on a serious weight savings build. Id recommend the antigravity over the hd one
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 107
From: Joplin, MO
Have been on the fence about this also. From the research I have done it seems that the HD battery is Lithium LiFe, (lithium ion phosphate) not Lithium ion. This battery supposedly does not create any heat when being discharged, as does Lithium ion. Supposed to be more stable and reliable. Just having a hard time justifying the $$$.
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https://www.batterymart.com/p-Big-Cr...L-Battery.html
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,190
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From: USA
I'm still going lead acid glass mat battery myself.
The bikes weigh 700-800 pounds, so the weight reduction from the battery is a proverbial drop in the bucket.
The lithium batteries have different charge/discharge characteristics and needs, which does not hold appeal to me. The LiFe for cold cranking especially.
The lead acid battery is somewhere between 1/2/ to 1/4 the cost of the various lithium batteries.
I am far from anti lithium, I use this type of battery in many applications. Just that for a Harley motorcycle, I don't find them worth the cost.
The bikes weigh 700-800 pounds, so the weight reduction from the battery is a proverbial drop in the bucket.
The lithium batteries have different charge/discharge characteristics and needs, which does not hold appeal to me. The LiFe for cold cranking especially.
The lead acid battery is somewhere between 1/2/ to 1/4 the cost of the various lithium batteries.
I am far from anti lithium, I use this type of battery in many applications. Just that for a Harley motorcycle, I don't find them worth the cost.
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From: usa
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No big deal, searching for stuff isn't all easy sometimes.
If you want to blend in on this forum, you need to automatically trash most of the items that have the HD Logo on them, except for some strange reason rain gear.
Stating that Harley doesn't actually make ((Insert name of thing Harley Doesn't Make Here)) but slaps their name and logo on it scores you bonus points.
That said, Harley's Li battery, like most of their merchandise, does come at a premium price, and the battery is so new I don't know if there is much of a track record with it to judge longevity, etc...
Not even sure who makes it.
But Li batteries in general are, in my opinion, on the spendy side when compared to AGM batteries.
Frankly, I don't see the advantage of a Li cranking battery- the weight savings to me isn't important on my 900+ pound bike. I got 5 years out of the stock HD battery, just replaced it with a Big Crank AGM, for just over $100.
You did pretty well getting that many years out of your AGM. Many people don't get near that. I too use the battery tender (which is another touchy topic- apparently I'm wasting 15 seconds a day by plugging into that unnecessary device)
Not worth it to me. I can get almost 3 AGM batteries out of that $300, for no benifit that I can see. The weight savings is meaningless to me, anyway.
Your money, buy whatever you want. But possibly consider other Li batteries, you may find an equivalent one that isn't as expensive.
What is the general opinion of the Harley Lithium Battery? Or anyones for that matter.
Stating that Harley doesn't actually make ((Insert name of thing Harley Doesn't Make Here)) but slaps their name and logo on it scores you bonus points.
That said, Harley's Li battery, like most of their merchandise, does come at a premium price, and the battery is so new I don't know if there is much of a track record with it to judge longevity, etc...
Not even sure who makes it.
But Li batteries in general are, in my opinion, on the spendy side when compared to AGM batteries.
Frankly, I don't see the advantage of a Li cranking battery- the weight savings to me isn't important on my 900+ pound bike. I got 5 years out of the stock HD battery, just replaced it with a Big Crank AGM, for just over $100.
Its time to get a new battery.
My stock one has lasted 4.5 years on a tender most times
My stock one has lasted 4.5 years on a tender most times
I was just at a local bike night at the dealer and they sure pushed the one Harley has.
So lets hear it. Is it worth the $300 plus TTL they asking for it?
Or just stick with the regular style battery?
Thanks
Drifter
So lets hear it. Is it worth the $300 plus TTL they asking for it?
Or just stick with the regular style battery?
Thanks
Drifter
Your money, buy whatever you want. But possibly consider other Li batteries, you may find an equivalent one that isn't as expensive.
Last edited by Brewmany; Jul 26, 2019 at 07:03 AM.
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