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[CHH_Badkarma]

Now sure if this is the right place for it our not, but found this yesterday. I wonder how these are going to turn out?

https://www.harley-davidson.com/store/lithium-life-6ah-battery

[VaEagle]

Hope they don't get them from the company that made the lithium batteries in laptops and cell phones that burst into flames. (we may see a new model coming out....The Flaming Eagle.)

[dayne66]

Just like synthetic oil.......no good until it has a Harley sticker on it!

[Ironhorse]

For an extra $3k, you can have the Screamin' Eagle Battery which has an increased distance of 120 miles and charges 45 mins quicker.

[CHH_Badkarma]

I was rather surprised to see the claimed amp rating so low. The "oem" sized batteries by Antigravity that are made dimensionally the same for fit as the stock HD batters come in 600 and 720 amp verities.

[muddypaws]

That's a crazy price. I'll stick with my standard battery and that is no a HD one.

[dayne66]

$389 cdn!!!

[iski]

Now sure if this is the right place for it our not, but found this yesterday. I wonder how these are going to turn out?

https://www.harley-davidson.com/store/lithium-life-6ah-battery

When these leak electricity it won't shock some people but it actually will.

[skratch]

I was rather surprised to see the claimed amp rating so low. The "oem" sized batteries by Antigravity that are made dimensionally the same for fit as the stock HD batters come in 600 and 720 amp verities.

the antigravity battery for the touring bikes is also $150 more.

think i'll stick with a good ole agm for $100 thank you very much.

[CHH_Badkarma]

the antigravity battery for the touring bikes is also $150 more.

think i'll stick with a good ole agm for $100 thank you very much.

No argument there.

[SDCVO]

I have been using the Antigravity battery for years on my 12 RG with the 124 and I love it. Makes the bike crank so fast its like a Honda when I start it. Also has a built in "jump starter" if battery ever dies that you just push the button on the battery to get to it and they will be coming out with a remote fob soon so you won't even have to get to the battery to access it. Last at least twice as long as stock battery which helps me swallow to big price tag. When you go to Antigravity's Facebook they occasionally run 20% coupons which also helps. One of the best mods I have done on that bike IMO

[Para Bellum]

That 6 Ah battery is for Softail and Dynas.  The sticker shock gets worse if you buy the 8 Ah battery for touring models: $300

Also, note the warning from the company web site about the RE-start batteries (which doesn't make sense, since they brag about having Big Cranking Amps):

Please Note: For Custom V-Twin applications with Motor sizes over 103 Cubic Inches, and when a higher compression, or modified motor is being used we do not recommend the RE-START version of our Batteries due to the extremely high current draw of these Larger V-Twin Motors.  Please use the following models for Large V-Twin Applications: YTX20,  YTX12-24,  YTX12-20, or V-10.

[grc]

I was rather surprised to see the claimed amp rating so low. The "oem" sized batteries by Antigravity that are made dimensionally the same for fit as the stock HD batters come in 600 and 720 amp verities.

I think you're comparing amp-hour ratings with cold cranking amp ratings.  The amp-hour rating of most AGM batteries designed for a Harley touring bike are in the 28 to 32 amp-hour range.  Take a look at the CCA ratings Harley lists in the attachment.  Real CCA ratings are measured at zero degrees F.  Harley shows ratings at 20 and 60 degrees F for the lithiums, versus the real CCA's for the AGM batteries at 0 degrees.  There is a reason they don't tell you the real CCA's for the lithium batteries; lithium battery performance drops off a cliff at very cold temps, much more than lead acid.  As for the amp-hour ratings, lithium batteries have a different voltage curve than lead acid batteries, and they maintain nearly the same voltage until they drop to 10-20% of capacity, where they then drop like a rock.  Lead acid tends to drop more rapidly and is pretty much done when the cells reach 50% of full capacity. 

I always love how the various sellers of lithium batteries push their "special" tenders and chargers for lithium batteries, and try to scare people into buying their overpriced chargers.  Stop and think about how those batteries are charged when in the bike.  There is no difference in the charging system on the bike, it's still the same components you were using when you ran a lead-acid battery.  The Li battery itself is supposed to have controller circuitry to prevent overcharging  and overheating concerns.  The reason so many Li batteries have caught fire over the years is related to the cheap controller circuits used by unscrupulous companies.

Jerry

[DOCGSS]

If you examine the costs they are about the same as the lead acid AGM battery. They are twice the cost and last twice as long. Lithium batteries are so very superior to lead acid batteries. The advantages would take pages, but the many advantages is why ALL current electric cars are lithium. The discharge characteristics and charging characteristics are far superior. BUT they are subject to over-charging damage which is why Tesla only recommends charging to 85%.

HD chargers look to be made by Deltran I wonder who is making their batteries. For me I use YUASA AGM batteries kept on a Deltran Battery Tender and their life spans have been great.

[charles05663]

Don't they use lithium to treat depression?  Maybe HD quietly crying out for help. 
 

[CHH_Badkarma]

I'm curious who the manufacturer is for these lithium's. We all know East Penn has made the AGM's for HD for a long time.

I wonder if the same is true for the new variety. That being said maybe they can be bought under the manufacturer's branding. It might net a cost savings to make it worth it.

Pretty sure that's what a lot of us do when we buy the Deka to save ourselves from "dealer rape"

Same might work here

[hd-dude]

I have been using the Antigravity battery for years on my 12 RG with the 124 and I love it. Makes the bike crank so fast its like a Honda when I start it. Also has a built in "jump starter" if battery ever dies that you just push the button on the battery to get to it and they will be coming out with a remote fob soon so you won't even have to get to the battery to access it. Last at least twice as long as stock battery which helps me swallow to big price tag. When you go to Antigravity's Facebook they occasionally run 20% coupons which also helps. One of the best mods I have done on that bike IMO

Which battery are you using?

https://shop.antigravitybatteries.com/products/starter-batteries/automotive/atx30-rs/

or

https://shop.antigravitybatteries.com/products/starter-batteries/oem-size/atx20/

[SDCVO]

Which battery are you using?

https://shop.antigravitybatteries.com/products/starter-batteries/automotive/atx30-rs/

or

https://shop.antigravitybatteries.com/products/starter-batteries/oem-size/atx20/

ATX30

[grc]

Note that the Antigravity folks also list a misleading cranking amps figure in their specs.  They list CA, which is measured at 32°F, instead of the industry standard CCA which is measured at 0°F.  Very big difference.  And Harley doesn't even use the old outdated CA standard, they just threw out figures without a standard.  If these people want to sell their products to the vehicle markets, they really should follow the industry standards when specifying performance to standards.

Jerry

[CHH_Badkarma]

Honestly, if I had an extra chunk of money burning a whole in my pocket for a new wiz bang battery I would go with Antigravity. At least they are a known commodotity have a track record of sortd. At the point HD is playing catch up, Lol, just like they are everything else in the motorcycle industry

[RivRaptor]

Lead acid batteries can be trickle charged 700ma ( multi hits), lithium  batteries need a min of 2amp steady charge if you want to maintain charge it they don't like multi hit low voltage.  Your charging systems charges at a higher steady rate.  I run lithium in my ducati's, it's the cheapest way to lose weight ( Carbon fiber & titanium is pricey). My local cycle shop stopped carrying Litthium cause he said he heard of a few catching fire.  When we where talking about the cause he said that he was told that it had to do to bad charging systems...it seems they also don't like being overcharged- plus 14.5volts. So if your voltage regulator is acting up you could have an issue.  I use a Lithium charger for the Duc's & a standard trickle for the Harley's and no fires yet.

[Para Bellum]

Don't they use lithium to treat depression?  Maybe HD quietly crying out for help. 
 

Good one.

They use it to treat manic depression (now known as bipolar disorder).  Still works for HD.

[DCC]

Just received an email from Harley showing off their new Lithium battery to the tune of $299.00.  Very lightweight, and more cranking power.


https://www.harley-davidson.com/store/lithium-life-8ah-battery?source_cd=Email_0129_Electrical_Batteries&camp_id=16&CL_ID=365441015&ext_tracking=8ebe651c47aa07b144711a6f5086aecd179b6f9cdb775c3b86f5f7c005cd3f58


Looking to replace mine this spring.  Anyone know anything about these?  Are they worth it?

[grc]

Only you can determine if it's "worth it" to you.  They claim twice the battery life when compared to stock lead-acid batteries, but at almost three times the price of the non-Harley branded AGM batteries like Deka, Big Crank, etc. it would appear buying one just for that claimed twice the life isn't worth it.  As for the rest of the equation, there are pluses and minuses on both sides.  The one claim I wouldn't fall for is the lower weight.  Saving ten or  twenty pounds on a 900 pound Harley is about like removing one flea from a St. Bernard.  Lower weight is an advantage on small lightweight racing bikes, not so much on half ton cruisers.

Jerry

[DCC]

Yep -  This has been educational and I'll stay with an AGM.  Still LMAO about flea and St. Bernard.  Thanks Jerry, I needed that 

[porthole]

I can't find any real specs on HD's foray into the new battery tech.

I haven't seen any batteries yet that are only LiFE - Lithium Iron LiFE as HF advertises them.
Most of the newest tech is LiFEPO4 = Lithium iron phosphate

I'm running LiFEPO4 12 volt batteries in my camper.
They are light weight for a full size battery at 29 pounds, are rated at 100AH and that is at 90-100% use.
Charge cycles are rated between 3000-5000.
Self discharge is negligible and they have a built in BMS - battery monitoring system.

And they are not listed as being suitable for a starting battery.

BMS stands for battery management system, this is the brain of our deep cycle lithium battery. The BMS protects the lithium cells from getting damaged in several scenarios. From low or high voltage, low or high temperatures, or if there is a short in the system. The BMS will shut off the battery to protect the li-ion cells and the user of the battery from unsafe operating conditions.

The BMS also regulates the amount of power you can take out of the battery. The BMS on our 100 amp-hour battery is rated to 100 amps continuous, 200 amps for 30 seconds and any higher loads for ½ second.

Our BMS also keeps all of the cells in balance. At the top of each charge cycle, the BMS reduces the charging rate in cells that have been topped off first, letting the rest of the cells catch up. This ensures that the cells are always in balance, and maintains the quality and efficiency of the pack.

New technology comes at a price, but I am expecting 10-15 years use out of my batteries in heavy use.

[KEB]

Now sure if this is the right place for it our not, but found this yesterday. I wonder how these are going to turn out?

https://www.harley-davidson.com/store/lithium-life-6ah-battery

"Touring and Softail® LiFe batteries come with a caddy that ensures perfect fitment into the battery compartment - foam blocks are not required"

Yet not one ultra listed in the fitment section..... So it really isn't useful for real touring bikes....

[ScottAL]

"Touring and Softail® LiFe batteries come with a caddy that ensures perfect fitment into the battery compartment - foam blocks are not required"

Yet not one ultra listed in the fitment section..... So it really isn't useful for real touring bikes....

Try this link - it should be to the touring version.

https://www.harley-davidson.com/store/lithium-life-8ah-battery