Battery experience
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 199
Likes: 93
From: Minnesota
I still have the factory HD battery with an install date of 5-18-18. I load tested it with a 80% Good reading. I am going to change it before 4,000 mile trip in July with a HD battery from the dealer. I always run a battery tender when it is park in the shop. I live in Michigan so it goes months at a time pluged in. Maybe that is the reason for such a long life.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 119
Likes: 86
From: Southwest Michigan
I use to do that, rotate the tender, but the winter of 2025 i purchased some new NOCO's for the fleet and left them on all winter. 3 motorcycles, 1 zero turn, 1 Duramax with dual batteries and my daughters stored Honda Civic.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 1,803
From: Newnan, GA
So I thought I would just post a quick thought on my recent experience with a Battery Brand. My 2005 RK Battery just finally got weak enough it wouldn't start the bike, it would crank it, a little slow but no fire. Anyways this is a good review for ThrottleX's X-rated battery, it was near 10 years old, installed in September 2016. I woulld say don't be afaid of this battery brand as it served me well. replaced it in a hurry about a week ago with an Orielly Super Start as I was taken by surprise when it finally died and was preparing for a couple hundred mile trip. Anyways good job ThrottleX !!!
Last edited by Mongo1958; Jun 2, 2026 at 05:17 PM.
Tourer
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 396
Likes: 336
From: Coastal Carolina
10 years, WOW! Impressive! Makes me wonder how the battery was stored? Coo? Hot area? Battery tender etc?
30 years of owning Harley (s) and 30 years of buying batteries. I own 3 Harley (s) at the moment, ALL are always on a battery maintainer and in 30 years I get an average of 5 years, 7 years only once and 4 years once out of a normal AGM battery.
When battery shopping I did my research and decided to buy O'Reilly battery as my first choice as the AGM is made buy East Penn the same that makes the Harley OEM AGM battery.
The Harley and the O'Reilly have the direct tapped terminal when some other brands are not the same.
Both Harley and O'Reilly batteries look exactly the same minus the Harley logo, Same spec etc...
The Harley is more $ but does technically have a 1 year warranty when O'Reilly has 6 months but O'Reilly has better store hours and is closer ( open 7 days and close at 9 ) My local HARLEY closes at 5 pm and 4 pm on Sunday and closed on Monday so I prefer O'Reilly over Harley OEM batteries.
30 years of owning Harley (s) and 30 years of buying batteries. I own 3 Harley (s) at the moment, ALL are always on a battery maintainer and in 30 years I get an average of 5 years, 7 years only once and 4 years once out of a normal AGM battery.
When battery shopping I did my research and decided to buy O'Reilly battery as my first choice as the AGM is made buy East Penn the same that makes the Harley OEM AGM battery.
The Harley and the O'Reilly have the direct tapped terminal when some other brands are not the same.
Both Harley and O'Reilly batteries look exactly the same minus the Harley logo, Same spec etc...
The Harley is more $ but does technically have a 1 year warranty when O'Reilly has 6 months but O'Reilly has better store hours and is closer ( open 7 days and close at 9 ) My local HARLEY closes at 5 pm and 4 pm on Sunday and closed on Monday so I prefer O'Reilly over Harley OEM batteries.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 10,298
Likes: 7,777
From: West Central FL
Now I buy my batteries at a discount battery place in Tampa, FL called Square Deal Batteries. $85 for a new one and so far it's been in the bike for over two and a half years and is working fine.
Tourer
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 396
Likes: 336
From: Coastal Carolina
I tried Batteries Plus twice for my Heritage and both times I had to take advantage of the warrantee because both times the first battery didn't last a year and a half! But then Deka batteries aren't that much better. We sell Deka at the shop and several of them have died prematurely.
Now I buy my batteries at a discount battery place in Tampa, FL called Square Deal Batteries. $85 for a new one and so far it's been in the bike for over two and a half years and is working fine.
Now I buy my batteries at a discount battery place in Tampa, FL called Square Deal Batteries. $85 for a new one and so far it's been in the bike for over two and a half years and is working fine.
This is the fine print from B+ under motorcycle battery
Warranty Protection is Subject to the Following Guidelines: • Warranty coverage is not transferrable (it applies to the original purchaser only), and requires a proof of purchase or original receipt. • Warranty coverage applies to original application only.A battery used in multiple applications voids the warranty.• A warranty claim may require product analysis and/or charging prior to issuance of a replacement, which may take up to two (2) business days to process. • An industry standard capacity or load test will be used to determine if the battery is at least 80% of original rated capacity in which case it will not be considered defective and will not qualify for a replacement. The battery may require charging prior to performing a capacity or load test. • If you store or do not use your vehicle or battery for a period in excess of one (1) month, the warranty is void unless you fully charge your battery at least once a month with an appropriate charger or maintainer. • Prolonged storage of vehicles (including, but not limited to, cars, trucks, lawn tractors, motorcycles, ATV’s, boats, motorhomes, campers or snowmobiles) with computerized enginecontrol units, alarms, GPS or other electrical devices that require continuous battery power to support active memories must have this power drain offset by fully charging your battery monthly with an appropriate charger or maintainer. Overcharging the battery may result in irreversible damage. • A battery with an open circuit voltage (OCV) of equal to or less than 10.0V for 12.0V rated batteries, equal to or less than 6.8V for 8.0V rated batteries, and equal to or less than 5.0V for6.0V rated batteries will be deemed as over discharged and void warranty due to improper maintenance of the battery. • The warranties for the specific products are the exclusive and the only warranties that weprovide with respect to the products we sell.
Last edited by Soundman5000; Yesterday at 06:01 AM.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,864
Likes: 1,011
From: Southern Virginia
The last Harley branded touring battery I bought died after 22 months and it was well taken care of. My bikes are in my basement so they are in a climate controlled environment.
I've had decent luck ordering batteries from Battery Mart online. Anyone else used them? I'm pretty sure I'm going to need a new one for my 23 Ultra soon. That bike sat on the showroom floor for almost a year before I bought it in late February of 24. A mechanic once told me he likes the Braille AGM batteries (I'm not interested in Lithium). Anyone got any experience with those?
Good timing for a battery thread. Reminds me I really need to get a good battery tester, so I'll do some research on one of those as well.
I've had decent luck ordering batteries from Battery Mart online. Anyone else used them? I'm pretty sure I'm going to need a new one for my 23 Ultra soon. That bike sat on the showroom floor for almost a year before I bought it in late February of 24. A mechanic once told me he likes the Braille AGM batteries (I'm not interested in Lithium). Anyone got any experience with those?
Good timing for a battery thread. Reminds me I really need to get a good battery tester, so I'll do some research on one of those as well.
Last edited by Hoyt 1911A1; Yesterday at 09:20 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,534
Likes: 57,084
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
I just installed a Battery Mart Big Crank in my 2009 FLHTCU ... It's 17 years old and this is its 3 battery ... The original one I replaced at 8 years with a Big Crank and it lasted almost 9 years ... You can bet I'm more than happy with their product, priced and performance
@Hoyt 1911A1
@Hoyt 1911A1
