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[PHAZE]

I've got an '04 V-Rod with the original battery.  The bike has something over 7500 miles on it.  I usually keep a trickle charger on during the winter months, but I recently had the battery go down after not riding the bike for about a month.  I'm guessing that I'm probably due for a new battery and have a couple of questions.

1.)  What is a typical motorcycle battery life?  There may be nothing typical about the life of a battery, but I'm interested in other's experience.

2.)  I saw some motorcycle programming on the SPEED Channel that discussed what was supposed to be an improved battery design.  The battery was filled with gel rather than water.  The indication was that custom bike builders liked the design because the battery did not have to be installed with the posts up.  Does anyone know anything about this battery design?  Is it better?  Does it provide more amperage?  Longer life?

[bobaroni]

I replaced the ORIGINAL FACTORY battery in my '99 Dyna Low Rider in June. I kept a "tender" on the bike regularly. The battery still cranked like new. The only reason I replaced it was that my Indy said that it was likely that the bike would just QUIT one of these days.

[Fired00d]

Knock on wood... My '04 still has the original battery. Keep it on a Battery Tender when ever it is parked and put away.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[VaEagle]

I would follow everyone's advice about the battery trickle charger. I use one and usually get about 5 years out of a motorcycle battery. My mechanics and many articles say that is very long life for a small battery. They say about 3 years and they should be replaced to prevent getting stranded since the new style of maintenance batteries don't always show a slow death like the old batteries. They die suddenly on you.
I have read some articles on gel and other type technology for batteries and you need to be careful how the battery is made,it may require a different type of charger to avoid improper charging and destroying the battery. You need to take the advice of the battery manufacturer as to the rate of charging.

[Twolanerider]

Just replaced the battery in the red bike.  Three years old.  Had not acted up.  Didn't want it to.  Three years is just when I replace a bike battery.  Approximately 30 bucks a years seems cheap to a) not to have to kick start and b) avoid the sudden ane unexpected crapped out battery that is just going to happen someday.

[Hoist!]

Just replaced the battery in the red bike.  Three years old.  Had not acted up.  Didn't want it to.  Three years is just when I replace a bike battery.  Approximately 30 bucks a years seems cheap to a) not to have to kick start and b) avoid the sudden ane unexpected crapped out battery that is just going to happen someday.

You  got that right Don! I 've said this before. For the cost of a battery, it's not worth playing around. I replace it every 2-3 years max. I don't understand why people try to see how much life they'll get out of it. You will get stranded one day playing that game. Just not worth it to me. Consider it as maintenance and not as a part. Keep it on a battery tender and replace it every 2-3 years and you'll never have battery problems (until something craps out in your charging system, that is)!

Hoist!

[SCRM-R]

I recently experienced the "dead battery" phenomenon.  Rode it to work all week, parked in the garage Friday night, got up to go riding on Saturday, and the battery was as dead as a hammer...one of the cells was completely dead.  It was four years old, and went out completely with no warning, so I now have joined the "replace every three years whether it needs it or not" group.  As has previously been stated, it's cheap peace of mind.  Keep it on a Battery Tender Plus and replace every three years, that's my recommendation.

[grc]

PHAZE,

The secret to long life with a lead-acid battery is never letting it sit in a discharged state, which leads to sulfation and permanent loss of capacity.  As many others have said, keep a Battery Tender hooked up anytime you won't be riding for more than just a few days.  I've had batteries last as much as 6 years doing this, but I agree with the others that it would be best to replace it before that.  I just think 2 or 3 years is too soon, 4 years is closer to the sweet spot for a modern lead-acid battery that is maintained properly.

There is a lot of confusion about "gel" batteries, with many people using that term for any sealed battery.  A true "gel" battery has the electrolyte "jellied" by adding a silica material until it becomes a thick paste.  This makes for a battery that can be used in any position and that won't leak if broken open.  This type of battery can be found in things like laptops and portable power tools, but is rarely found in motor vehicles.  They typically have less capacity than the same physical size AGM or standard battery, and require specialized charging systems for optimum performance.

Another type of sealed battery is AGM, or Absorbed Glass Mat.  This type uses just enough liquid electrolyte to keep the fiberglass mats wet, and there is no excess liquid so this type also doesn't leak if the case is broken.  The AGM type is what comes stock on your Harley.

The best bet is to stay with the AGM type battery.  Your bikes charging system was optimized for that type of battery, and the AGM provides the same leak free, multiposition advantages as the "gel" battery at a lower cost.     

Jerry

[greglyon]

Regarding battery life: What others have said plus where you live is a big factor.  In Arizona, where a garage can get up to 120 for 100 plus days a year we get substantially shorter battery life even with tenders.  I replaced the battery on my 03 in 06 after it failed.

[JCZ]

Knock on wood... My '04 still has the original battery. Keep it on a Battery Tender when ever it is parked and put away.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Me too.  I remember when it was roughly once a year for a battery for a bagger.

[VAZHOG]

For less than $50 you can get at least 5 to 10 years out of today's  sealed battery's if you keep them on a charger when the bike is not in use.

The Battery has changed since the days of lead acid when every two years change it out was the way to go. When the Bikes come out of the crate the dealership does not have time to fully charge them so most of them don't ever get off to a good start.

If any Modern touring bike sits for more than two weeks it will need a jump - no matter how old the battery is. The ecm & the clock & the alarm battery will suck the power out of it.

[PHAZE]

I knew that this was the place to ask!  Thanks for all the input!

[Coolbreeze]

Another part of the equation is how old in the battery, not the bike.  I replaced the batt in my 05 SEEG at two years (in late '06)...   The mfr date on the battery was 2003!  WTF! says I...   
so I squeek at the stealership for getting old parts on my bike and he says " Nah, It was still new when installed since it hadn't been used..."   
I just shook my head, said "thanks for making my cat look smart", and bought a battery elsewhere...   

[CVOJOE]

Keep it on a Battery Tender Plus and replace every three years, that's my recommendation.

 

Yep, what he says has been my experience. You can get them on sale occasionally and it's one less thing to worry about on the road.
Joe

[LRebel]

I have been getting 5 yrs our of our motorcycle batteries lately - I could probably go longer if I pushed it.  Batteries have improved drastically.  Years ago, if you got two years you were doing good.

I think it is important to try to keep the battery from being exposed to long periods of sub-freezing or extreme heat.  My garage is climate controlled - never below 45 degrees and never over 85 degrees.  And, if you are not going to be riding the bike for a week or so, hook up a trickle charger.

IMO, when you replace a battery, don't go cheap - you may regret it when the battery leaks acid and causes damage.  Get a good sealed battery and take care of it.

[JCZ]

If any Modern touring bike sits for more than two weeks it will need a jump - no matter how old the battery is. The ecm & the clock & the alarm battery will suck the power out of it.

Actually, the alarm will go into "storage" mode after 21 days.  I learned this first hand, recently, after not riding my bike for a month.  I wasn't able to dis-arm the security system with the fob.  Had to do it manually, using the turn signals.  In getting into the owners manual to disarm it is when I learned about the "storage" mode activating automatically, to keep from running the battery down. 

I don't remember exactly how long it was since I'd rode it but I think it was four or five weeks.  Once I got it disarmed, the bike fired right up......the way it always does.