Battery Time ?
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 417
From: Outer Banks, NC
SoCal is very nice but the high cost of living?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,157
Likes: 11,247
From: San Diego, CA
Yes the cost of living has grown quite high since '78... but sadly that's not what has caused the Golden State to lose it's luster... The people running the show out here are arguably insane..
I've had a great run out here, but my wife & I will be moving in the not to distant future. I can confidently say I won't be moving back to New York...
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 180
From: N.E. OHIO
Age is a poor indicator of a batteries health. A well taken care of battery can easily go beyond 7 years but the exact same battery that's been deep discharged multiple times can be junk in a year. A load test is a definitive indicator of how healthy a cranking battery is and if it passes a load test I'll keep running it.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 429
Likes: 102
From: Michigan
After reading through this post I just ordered a Yuasa GYZ32HL for my 2013 CVO Road King. I bought the bike from the original owner last September, and he said that the battery was about 2.5 years old, making it around 4 years old now. The bike is in near showroom condition and was properly maintained. However, he didn't keep maintenance records (which really bugs me!), so I have no idea what battery is in it...I guess that I will find out when I replace it. Anyway, the bike is always kept on a battery tender, and it starts up OK, maybe turns over a little slowly on start up. At least by replacing the battery I have the piece of mind of knowing what battery is in it, and that the battery is new.
Last edited by ludville1; Apr 22, 2025 at 10:22 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 8,010
Likes: 6,907
From: NC
My 2019 FLHTP had the same battery that I bought it with in 2021. Since it only had 1120 miles on it in 2021, I decided to replace it as I was noticing some hesitation on cold mornings. I was not sure of the battery usage previous to my ownership, and I have a busy season planned. So I put in a new battery. Now all my road vehicles have new batteries this year.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 8,469
Likes: 19,162
From: The Republic of Texas
A Dead battery sucks.
I replaced my StreetGlide battery recently, I posted about it already.
This thread reminds me of when I was young, dumb, and full of gumshun. My first car changed my life in several ways. Not having any money I realized that I'd have to get a job in order to keep gas in my car. I now remember always looking at my gas gauge to see if I could make it to where I needed to go, or if I had to get gas first. I don't recall ever getting stranded but, even then I knew running out of gas would not be fun event. I think the same way now about having a dead battery.
.
This thread reminds me of when I was young, dumb, and full of gumshun. My first car changed my life in several ways. Not having any money I realized that I'd have to get a job in order to keep gas in my car. I now remember always looking at my gas gauge to see if I could make it to where I needed to go, or if I had to get gas first. I don't recall ever getting stranded but, even then I knew running out of gas would not be fun event. I think the same way now about having a dead battery.
.
Last edited by benscratchin; Apr 24, 2025 at 07:41 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 944
From: Lincolnshire, IL
I was (pleasantly) surprised that my dealer's price of a new HD branded battery and the Yuasa GYZ32HL was within $2. I had been running the Yuasa GYZ32HL for the past 5 yrs with no issues but since my cycle was in the shop for the BS system service I decided to let them install the HD branded battery, Hoping for another 5 yrs of service.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,157
Likes: 11,247
From: San Diego, CA
I was (pleasantly) surprised that my dealer's price of a new HD branded battery and the Yuasa GYZ32HL was within $2. I had been running the Yuasa GYZ32HL for the past 5 yrs with no issues but since my cycle was in the shop for the BS system service I decided to let them install the HD branded battery, Hoping for another 5 yrs of service.
I've had good luck with HD batteries in the past.
But just a FWIW, the Yuasa and HD batteries are not the same.
I had a bagger and Softails, when I originally did my battery research. The Yuasa batteries had a higher CCA and Amp-Hrs than their HD counterparts. The difference was bigger on the bagger battery than the Softail battery. So the Yuasa was (probably still is) a better battery, but could be a little overkill for OEM builds...
Since I switched to Yuasa batteries, I have not had to replace a battery in less than 5 years, yet.... And they were all premptive replacements, I have not had a Yuasa fail on me.
Boy, I hope I didn't just jinx myself..
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,581
Likes: 8,408
From: Inland NW
I have 5 years on my lithium, now. No signs of it giving up. I am going to keep the jump box charged!
I am not one to squeeze every bit of life out of one, I will change proactively so as not to have any issues.
No idea what I will get the next time around.
I am not one to squeeze every bit of life out of one, I will change proactively so as not to have any issues.
No idea what I will get the next time around.