Battery life and battery purchase

pcombe · Aug 15, 2014

I spent over 150.00 (closer to $200.00) last summer for a new battery on a trip from a Harley dealer in Billings, Montana.

It was an OEM battery and now the damn thing wont hold a charge.
I used to get at least four years out of a battery. What do they do put a computer chip in the battery to make it fail just after it goes off warranty?

I have been looking on the internet trying to find a replacement battery with a better warranty without having to sell my trike to buy it?

I was amazed to see a battery that had a $349.00 price tag on it.

For pete sake I used to buy a battery for $50.00 that was worth while.
I figure I need at least 340 cold crank amps to power my 80" evo.

davek · Aug 15, 2014

Hey Paul....
I bought what is called a gell battery for my 93 FLSH about a year and a half ago...I got it from a local bike shop (not HD)...Its been great and even if it sits for awhile,,its still ready to go...It cost about $140.00 but I think well worth it....The modern batteries are filled with some jelly-like stuff and much better than the "juice" style..
Dave

HDB0B · Aug 15, 2014

http://www.batteryprice.com/harleydavidsonmotorcyclebatteries.aspx

Deka with AGM .... Glass mat technology. Does not sulfate out.

Or newer tech Shorai http://shoraipower.com/ to rich for my blood!

The Deka factory is 40 minutes away and they have great deals at the company store.

I use a 1.25 amp battery tender on my Harley trike for extended garage visits .... which is not often .... LOL.

Bob

orag:

pcombe · Aug 15, 2014

davek said:
Hey Paul....
I bought what is called a gell battery for my 93 FLSH about a year and a half ago...I got it from a local bike shop (not HD)...Its been great and even if it sits for awhile,,its still ready to go...It cost about $140.00 but I think well worth it....The modern batteries are filled with some jelly-like stuff and much better than the "juice" style..
Dave

ok, thanks davek

pcombe · Aug 15, 2014

HDB0B said:
http://www.batteryprice.com/harleydavidsonmotorcyclebatteries.aspx

Deka with AGM .... Glass mat technology. Does not sulfate out.

Or newer tech Shorai http://shoraipower.com/ to rich for my blood!

The Deka factory is 40 minutes away and they have great deals at the company store.

I use a 1.25 amp battery tender on my Harley trike for extended garage visits .... which is not often .... LOL.

Bob orag:

Thank you very much.
I will need to sit down and look at their offerings when I get a chance, You know it seems to me that I used to get the best service out of lead acid batteries?:Shrug:

I looked at the other site and it scared me away!

Rod69 · Aug 15, 2014

Just bought new battery at the Harley shop. $175.00 about had a stroke. Almost told them to keep it, should have. Stock battery last 5+ years and probably could have went a little longer. A little hic-up every once in awhile.

pcombe · Aug 15, 2014

Rod69 said:
Just bought new battery at the Harley shop. $175.00 about had a stroke. Almost told them to keep it, should have. Stock battery last 5+ years and probably could have went a little longer. A little hic-up every once in awhile.

You know that's kinda what im sayin here, the Harley battery didn't last any longer than the one before it. I bought the cheap one at an Auto parts place and I didn't expect a whole lot out of it?
Buy even at that I have gotten a couple seasons out of a cheap battery and the HD batt. wasn't even that good?

msocko3 · Aug 16, 2014

I've been buying my replacement batteries from Battery Mart, the Big Crank brand is made by Deka which is the same company who makes the HD batteries. The price is right and they ship for free, the one in my 06 Ultra has been cranking the 120" engine over for 2 years now. http://www.batterymart.com/c-harley-davidson-fl-flh-touring-1980-1996.html

pcombe · Aug 16, 2014

msocko3 said:
I've been buying my replacement batteries from Battery Mart, the Big Crank brand is made by Deka which is the same company who makes the HD batteries. The price is right and they ship for free, the one in my 06 Ultra has been cranking the 120" engine over for 2 years now. http://www.batterymart.com/c-harley-davidson-fl-flh-touring-1980-1996.html

I have read some the reviews and just ordered one, I hope I get a good life out of it?

:laugho you offer warrantees on your recommendations?:Coffee:

Sinical · Aug 16, 2014

Here's another brand to consider:

About: http://www.motobatt.com/index.php

For ordering and more specs: http://www.motobattbatteries.com/

Comes with 2 year full replacement warranty and Free, fast shipping! ThumbUp

Ordered one for the Suzuki/Lehman trike (Motobatt $103) and have been so impressed that I recently got one for the EVO 1200cc Sporty (Motobatt $121)

msocko3 · Aug 17, 2014

pcombe said:
msocko3 said:

I've been buying my replacement batteries from Battery Mart, the Big Crank brand is made by Deka which is the same company who makes the HD batteries. The price is right and they ship for free, the one in my 06 Ultra has been cranking the 120" engine over for 2 years now. http://www.batterymart.com/c-harley-davidson-fl-flh-touring-1980-1996.html

I have read some the reviews and just ordered one, I hope I get a good life out of it?

:laugho you offer warrantees on your recommendations?:Coffee:

Click to expand...

Can't help with the warranty, I can't see why it shouldn't give you good service life. I've been beating the crap out of the one in my 06.

FLTR2008TRIKE · Aug 17, 2014

I'm ending 4 years with my Odessey battery that started in my 117" and is starting my 124" without fail.

I start my engine without my headlights on. (I have HID lights) Good cables along with clean tight ground points I think help extend the life of a battery

Rick Kay · Aug 17, 2014

My '87 Softail used to eat the old wet-cell type batteries. If I got two riding seasons on one, I'd be pushing it (har-har :laugh

. In 2005 I switched to the glass-mat type battery, and now I get 5 seasons on a battery. The glass-mat is from HD. I will be researching less expensive alternatives for the next battery, like those mentioned earlier. So, I am sold on the better technology as long as it is reasonably priced.

riden2low · Aug 17, 2014

Had problems with my Fatboy's battery. 2 years old and gone. I always had the battery tender on it. It was a Deka Battery. So I just went to an auto store. The parts guy that I know said the battery was made by the same company except with their brand name on them. BS who knows. But it was a sealed battery and it worked. Could of bought 2 for the price of Harley.

onebadeagle · Aug 17, 2014

msocko3 said:
I've been buying my replacement batteries from Battery Mart, the Big Crank brand is made by Deka which is the same company who makes the HD batteries. The price is right and they ship for free, the one in my 06 Ultra has been cranking the 120" engine over for 2 years now. http://www.batterymart.com/c-harley-davidson-fl-flh-touring-1980-1996.html

:Agree: with msocko about battery mart I have bought several of their Batteries for different rides over the years and they have all held up well with fair pricing

Phu Cat · Aug 20, 2014

Pcombe, Sorry to hear of your bad luck with your factory battery. My factory battery died early, at 27 months. Have read on another forum about HD having a run of bad batteries recently. You and I just fell in in that time period. In the past my factory batteries always lasted 5 years or so. Hope this isn't a sign of things to come from HD for the rest of you as I'm on my last bike, the trike.

Phu Cat

eagle1 · Aug 21, 2014

go to batterystuff.com & buy a lithium battery. it has 550 CCA, weights 5 lbs,
and a 2000-3000 sart-cycle, compaired to 2-300 start cycles for a lead acid battery. i've had one in my '09 triGlide for several years no problems, & one in my 2000 BMW. . they recommend you charge it once every 6 months if not-in-use.
and they do have a special charger for them that charges only the low-cell.

slick rick · Aug 22, 2014

Battery Tender with AGM sealed batteries ,,,always worked good for me without buying their high dollar batteries .ThumbUp

screwball · Aug 23, 2014

WOW, sorry about your bad luck. I changed the batteries on our '09 and '11 in Dec of 2013. I also bought AGM sealed type batteries from a local battery supplier. They gave me a 'senior citizen' and veteran discounts so they cost just over $90 a piece. We rarely use trickle chargers, with the weather out here we are able to ride year round. Don't know if that helps with battery life or not. I have bought batteries from the dealer before, but only during their annual tire and battery sales.

Good Luck.