Jump start advisory
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,922
Likes: 265
From: Deep in the heart of New Jersey
This sounds like another factory authorized scare tactic. Seems they know the batteries they sell these days are cheaply made, and die sooner than other replacement brands, but want you to keep using them. Since your bike doesn't know or care where the 12 volts is coming from, how does it damage anything ?. It's like Harley's recommendation for engine oil. They don't recommend any brand of oil to be used, but what they sell. Their oil only has their approval, no API listed approval or anybody's oil rating. There's nothing on the bottle Even the diesel oil they say to use, doesn't come with a brand name recommendation to use. I don't know anybody with a $45,000 vehicle that would use joe blows no-name non rated oil in their vehicle.,,
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,835
Likes: 987
From: Southern Virginia
The person also says he's never seen batteries go dead so often as they do in the new bikes.
The Facebook post advising against jump starting sounds like when Harley dealers were advising folks not to use Amsoil in M8 engine Harleys, even though they had it on the shelf for sale.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,219
From: San Diego, CA
This sounds like another factory authorized scare tactic. Seems they know the batteries they sell these days are cheaply made, and die sooner than other replacement brands, but want you to keep using them. Since your bike doesn't know or care where the 12 volts is coming from, how does it damage anything ?. It's like Harley's recommendation for engine oil. They don't recommend any brand of oil to be used, but what they sell. Their oil only has their approval, no API listed approval or anybody's oil rating. There's nothing on the bottle Even the diesel oil they say to use, doesn't come with a brand name recommendation to use. I don't know anybody with a $45,000 vehicle that would use joe blows no-name non rated oil in their vehicle.,,
Harley has always pushed their products.
They have walked a fine line on violating the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and even recently got slammed for a couple dealers crossing the line.
Part of the MM Act is that they cannot make their warranty contingent on the use of a certain brand name oil (maintenance products).
While they tout their products heavily, they do list an approived recommendation spec in the owner's manual to avoid a direct violation of the MM Act.
From my 2020 owner's manual (my most recent) they list the required spec as "diesel engine oil designations include: CH-4, CI-4, and CJ-4" They also list the "The preferred viscosities for diesel engine oils in descending order are: 20W50, 15W40, and 10W40."
In their warnings about oil choices, they always end with "the use of non-genuine oil or approved alternatives." and "it is recommended to change to SYN-3 or HD360, or approved alternatives at your first opportunity"
There is similar wording in all my Owner's Manuals, back many, many years....
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,922
Likes: 265
From: Deep in the heart of New Jersey
Why would Harley recommend Diesel oil for use in their motors, when there are dozens of motorcycle specific oils out in the market?. Most of which state they are formulated for Harley Davidson motorcycles ?. How do the specs they list for diesel oil, apply to air cooled gasoline motorcycle engines?. None of the diesel oils I've looked at in the store say for use in Harley Davidson motorcycles on the container. I think most Harley owners would feel more comfortable using an oil claiming to be made for motorcycles, then for diesel engines. I understand Harley wants to train it's buyers /owners to only buy Harley branded products, but the proof is in the fact that most owners feel there are better options out in the world then some oddball diesel recommendation by the mother company. What's funnier is that Harley would try to say your engine failure was due to not using their product, and not because their bad engineering caused your failure. They had 7 years to remedy the bad cam shoe design issue, but decided it wasn't worth the trouble once they had your money in their hand. And what about the early M-8 sumping problems. Their oil didn't prevent either of those issues, but they still want you to use their oil. And what's with Harley calling their synthetic oil a "lubricant" instead of oil ?. What are they trying to get away with doing that?.,,
Thread Starter
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 580
From: The 1980's
I noticed early on that my 2023 Ultra was not kind to the battery if you let it sit more than a couple of weeks. First bike I've ever had that I HAD to put a tender on it if I rode my nekkid bikes a lot when it gets hot. I can only imagine how much more the parasitic drain would be on these new iPad bikes.
The Facebook post advising against jump starting sounds like when Harley dealers were advising folks not to use Amsoil in M8 engine Harleys, even though they had it on the shelf for sale.
The Facebook post advising against jump starting sounds like when Harley dealers were advising folks not to use Amsoil in M8 engine Harleys, even though they had it on the shelf for sale.
I'll keep an eye on it for this first season and probably remove it, charge it and load test it at the end of the season to see what it looks like. These things are a treat with the plastic tray and BCM on top of them.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,219
From: San Diego, CA
Why would Harley recommend Diesel oil for use in their motors, when there are dozens of motorcycle specific oils out in the market?. Most of which state they are formulated for Harley Davidson motorcycles ?. How do the specs they list for diesel oil, apply to air cooled gasoline motorcycle engines?. None of the diesel oils I've looked at in the store say for use in Harley Davidson motorcycles on the container. I think most Harley owners would feel more comfortable using an oil claiming to be made for motorcycles, then for diesel engines. I understand Harley wants to train it's buyers /owners to only buy Harley branded products, but the proof is in the fact that most owners feel there are better options out in the world then some oddball diesel recommendation by the mother company. What's funnier is that Harley would try to say your engine failure was due to not using their product, and not because their bad engineering caused your failure. They had 7 years to remedy the bad cam shoe design issue, but decided it wasn't worth the trouble once they had your money in their hand. And what about the early M-8 sumping problems. Their oil didn't prevent either of those issues, but they still want you to use their oil. And what's with Harley calling their synthetic oil a "lubricant" instead of oil ?. What are they trying to get away with doing that?...
Harley has always been a master marketing machine.... That's nothing new.
You can like it or hate it..... But the company that manufactures the vehicle, gets to set their warranty terms and restrictions, as long as they follow the law.,,,
If you don't like the warranty terms, you can always buy a competing product. You don't get to demand that a manufacturer follow your opinions about what a warranty should be....
Many of the emotional Harley buyers will buy into whatever HD says, or even suggests, about their bikes...whether they be facts or marketing hype. The experienced HD owners learn to tell the difference between the two...
FWIW.... I've run diesel boats, diesel trucks, and some diesel equipment over the years. Diesel oils are some pretty stout oils. Most diesel oil ratings are more demanding than automotive gas engine ratings. Diesel oils function in an environment that is more harsh than that of an air cooled motorcycle engine. Diesel oils are also more expensive than auto or motorcycle oils. The quality diesel oils can make the HD oils seem like a bargain...
Thread Starter
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 580
From: The 1980's
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,272
Likes: 3,684
From: backwoods
WOW. Interestingly it doesn't say why.
And if you Google. 'Has Harley Davidson put out warning to not jump start 2023.5 -2026 model Harleys' ....... It's not from Harley Davidson....
However I have made numerous post that in my opinion, I would not jump start any Harley unless it's an emergency.
My reason is there usually is a real issue with the battery that has lead to it not starting. And yes, you may have left the lights on and ran battery low. But doing that and running the battery very low can damage batteries.
My thoughts are if you jump it, your using a very expensive charging system to bring battery back that just may be ruined by a bad battery.
Batteries can sometimes be brough back with a low amperage maintenance charger over a few day. My experience is however there not the same after really draining a AGM or a car battery.
Motorcycle good batteries are say 340 CCA. It only needs 150 of that normal. Say you use a car with 600 CCA. The bike system only uses what it needs. The damage occurs when it's running on its own trying to charge a bad battery.
Now that FB thread is saying something else is involved with those late 2023.5 -2026 model Harleys. My opinion not a bad idea but there probably a hidden agenda behind it.
And if you Google. 'Has Harley Davidson put out warning to not jump start 2023.5 -2026 model Harleys' ....... It's not from Harley Davidson....
However I have made numerous post that in my opinion, I would not jump start any Harley unless it's an emergency.
My reason is there usually is a real issue with the battery that has lead to it not starting. And yes, you may have left the lights on and ran battery low. But doing that and running the battery very low can damage batteries.
My thoughts are if you jump it, your using a very expensive charging system to bring battery back that just may be ruined by a bad battery.
Batteries can sometimes be brough back with a low amperage maintenance charger over a few day. My experience is however there not the same after really draining a AGM or a car battery.
Motorcycle good batteries are say 340 CCA. It only needs 150 of that normal. Say you use a car with 600 CCA. The bike system only uses what it needs. The damage occurs when it's running on its own trying to charge a bad battery.
Now that FB thread is saying something else is involved with those late 2023.5 -2026 model Harleys. My opinion not a bad idea but there probably a hidden agenda behind it.
The rotor is turning all the time.
I have always heard this, but I am not sure. But I agree, don't jump unless you have to. I also think you are stressing a battery. Not that I have never done it when cranking when weak