Battery Life ? 2008 FLHX
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 698
Likes: 50
Battery Life ? 2008 FLHX
Was wondering if anyone else is still on their original battery, on a bike that is about 5 years old. My bike's mileage is really low, about 15,000 miles. It's been plugged into the battery tender after every ride, and throughout the winter months. Any alternatives ? other than the stock HD replacement ? Yuasa, Oddesy ?
Thanks,
Joe
Thanks,
Joe
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Battery life is partly age related, not just use. I've had new ones last as little as six months, as long as 10 years or so! Yours is probably a good candidate for replacement at that age. Buy an AGM battery, not any of the cheaper old tech ones, they give better performance and service life. To be sure you are getting the best out of your current battery, strip and clean all the high power connections, on the starting and charging circuits. They may be a little loose, or dirty, both of which can reduce effectiveness when starting.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,863
Likes: 55
From: Sedalia,Missouri
You are doing good at 5 years, my original lasted 2 yrs 4 months. I never used a battery tender on the original. I bought an Interstate replacement from my local Harley dealer. This time I'm using a battery tender every time except when I'm on a road trip.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 359
Likes: 1
From: Rockwall, TX
Mine lasted exactly 3 years on the factory battery. Still have the replacement on the bike and it's 3 years old next month. Still going strong. I've kept it on a tender over the winter months, no need in the summer as it gets used a lot and stays charged.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
I have had 2 odyssey batteries fail without warning- both failed internally due to vibrations ...one went open, the other shorted internally ( I was able to cut the cables with bolt cutters and threw it on the driveway where it continued to burn up. Saved the bike and the garage/house)
so I don't recommend those.
many of us use deka AGM batteries which run about $100 delivered.
if you find you need a battery.
in the meantime, slow cranking signals a battery on the way out OR bad cables/dirty connections.
what to do then is to pull the battery and have load tested by autozone for free.
DO NOT run a duff battery in your bike, that can stress the charging system and damage it...a $100 problem becomes a $500 problem.
the indicator lights on the tender seem to give false confidence. many of us walk by the tender and it shows a "full charge"...but what it really means is that the battery can no longer accept a further charge...and it may be at 100% or 10%.
mike
so I don't recommend those.
many of us use deka AGM batteries which run about $100 delivered.
if you find you need a battery.
in the meantime, slow cranking signals a battery on the way out OR bad cables/dirty connections.
what to do then is to pull the battery and have load tested by autozone for free.
DO NOT run a duff battery in your bike, that can stress the charging system and damage it...a $100 problem becomes a $500 problem.
the indicator lights on the tender seem to give false confidence. many of us walk by the tender and it shows a "full charge"...but what it really means is that the battery can no longer accept a further charge...and it may be at 100% or 10%.
mike
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Vermont
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,946
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From: Nevada
I replaced the original battery in my '07 Street Glide last summer. I might have got a couple more years out of the original, but I didn't want any surprises while touring. I bought a replacement from Deka. This is the company that makes H-D branded batteries.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 372
Likes: 1
From: Denver Colorado
08 here with 14995 miles and OEM battery always on Battery Tender. Not taking any chances this riding season of have it %#%# the bed on me while I am anywhere from home. Big Crank (Penn) makes HD batteries. Ebay for about 70% what your local STEALER will want. Bike is too damn heavy to push and jumping it is not a good idea.