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08 Street Glide got 5yrs +,with fogs on would throw a low voltage code PO562. These started after I replaced the IPB, thought I did something to the stator. Replaced battery last week, no more codes.
My son's factory battery died in 2 years. No maintainer but he rides year 'round. Batteries seem to be very unpredictable. You can make a bet for about $180 from the dealer or about $99 for a mail order battery and wind up with a 2 year or perhaps a 7 year battery either way.
I read an article in a bike mag (Rider, motorcyclist?) that discussed how important it is that the initial charge be done properly & related it with the lifespan of the battery. It makes me wonder about the premature failures we often hear about.
Battery life can vary greatly depending on where you live, how you ride, and using a battery tender to maintain your battery's life span.
Personally, I change the batteries on our "road bikes" before the start of the third season if I (or we) are going on a long road trip. I rotate the older batteries to other bikes and my generator which usually gives me 4 years (or more) of service for each battery.
Trying to get that last start out of a battery can sometimes get you stranded and I'd prefer to change frequently and not have to worry about being stranded.
My battery lasted 4yrs/ 11 Mo on My 08 UC. No way am I going to try that again, I was almost stranded in Raton, NM. Now I will change Batteries Every 3 yrs. I agree with You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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