Battery replacement
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 897
Likes: 98
From: Post Falls,Idaho
I had an 07 road king and got seven years out of the factory East Penn battery. I’m actually shopping for a battery today and auto stores only want to give a 6 month warranty.My current ride which I bought three months ago has a Duracell in it and a date code of 8/20 and the battery the battery tender can’t get it fully charged.But the Duracell has a two year warranty which I can’t take advantage of. I sell East penn batteries where I work and I don’t have problems with them.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,915
Likes: 5,929
From: NorCal
I had an 07 road king and got seven years out of the factory East Penn battery. I’m actually shopping for a battery today and auto stores only want to give a 6 month warranty.My current ride which I bought three months ago has a Duracell in it and a date code of 8/20 and the battery the battery tender can’t get it fully charged.But the Duracell has a two year warranty which I can’t take advantage of. I sell East penn batteries where I work and I don’t have problems with them.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 12,230
Likes: 7,806
From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
East Penn makes the batteries for HD....your choice, you can pay more for an East Penn battery with a Harley sticker on it. Or....you can pay less for the same battery...direct from East Penn, without any "Harley"stickers on it.
For my Shovel and Evo and twinkie, I got the "Big Crank" from BatteryMart, the Big Crank is a slightly higher up model also made by East Penn....for Battery Mart.
East Penn is also known as Deka, they're in PA.
Interstate is made by Johnson Controls, they are also a decent battery, had one of those in my Evo I think, or my wifes Sporty. Never had a problem with that one, lasted well.
For my Shovel and Evo and twinkie, I got the "Big Crank" from BatteryMart, the Big Crank is a slightly higher up model also made by East Penn....for Battery Mart.
East Penn is also known as Deka, they're in PA.
Interstate is made by Johnson Controls, they are also a decent battery, had one of those in my Evo I think, or my wifes Sporty. Never had a problem with that one, lasted well.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,161
Likes: 11,252
From: San Diego, CA
Just because a battery is made by East Penn, it doesn't mean it's of the same quality as all other East Penn batteries.... The same holds true of the other battery manufacturers....
A battery manufacturing company can make a high quality battery, or a cheap, bargain basement battery..... They make batteries to the specifications called for by the vendor that they contract with... There are numerous price points and numerous quality levels coming out of each manufacturer..
Many things can add/subtract to both the quality and cost of a battery, other than the warranty... The case design, thickness, and material used as well as the thickness, spacing, isolation and amount of virgin lead in the plates are just two areas where batteries can vary widely.
Not all batteries delivered by a certain battery manufacturer are the same quality....
Last edited by hattitude; Dec 23, 2022 at 09:11 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 805
From: Washington
Great battery debate! I love it. Last battery I bought, 4.5 years ago, was to drive down to local HD dealer, buy a battery and install it. Eazy Peazy. I realize I could of saved some money by sending my credit card number to some swinging dyck I never heard of before. No thanks.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,470
Likes: 3,723
From: backwoods
Out of 7 Harley batteries I have them last 7 years and still working. Except one which lasted 5. I'll buy another unless it happens again. No tenders
I have had good luck with most batteries last 7-10 years.
I have had good luck with most batteries last 7-10 years.
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