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[rogerutley]

how long is everyone going with the harley gel batteries?

[Fired00d]

That all depends on how often you ride? Do you keep a battery tender on it when it's parked? I've used a Battery Tender from day one when I got my bike and it will be 3 years old in July. Some will say to change them every couple of years even if you use a Battery Tender. What really hurts a battery is it will discharge when not being used or kept on a Battery Tender and once this happens the charge capacity of the battery that is lost during this state is never regained. To keep your battery the longest you have to keep it fully charged at all times by either riding daily or using a Battery Tender type device that will recognize the battery charge dropping and bring it back up before irreversible damage occurs.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Chief]

how long is everyone going with the harley gel batteries?

Some people get 2 years, some get 5. Adding a maintainer, like a Batery Tender, to keep it topped off will help a lot in getting the most life possible out of the battery.

[Hoist!]

Replace battery every 2 years whether it needs it or not. You will never have a battery problem again. Simplest and cheapest insurance you can buy. Try to stretch it out and you'll surely be missing rides! Hoist!

[Fired00d]

Replace battery every 2 years whether it needs it or not. You will never have a battery problem again. Simplest and cheapest insurance you can buy. Try to stretch it out and you'll surely be missing rides! Hoist!

I knew you were going to say this that's why I already mentioned it.

..... Some will say to change them every couple of years even if you use a Battery Tender.......

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Hoist!]

I knew you were going to say this that's why I already mentioned it.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Some things never change d00d. This is one of them, so my answer won't change either! Hoist!

[Fired00d]

Some things never change d00d. This is one of them, so my answer won't change either! Hoist!

I wasn't expecting it to. Was just beating you to it.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Hoist!]

I wasn't expecting it to. Was just beating you to it.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

dood, anyone will beat me to everything. I still have 12 pages of Unread Threads! Man this is hard to catch up after 9 days. Did you guys go on some kinda spree to open Topics that have been buried for months, to keep me tied up here? Hoist!

[Fired00d]

dood, anyone will beat me to everything. I still have 12 pages of Unread Threads! Man this is hard to catch up after 9 days. Did you guys go on some kinda spree to open Topics that have been buried for months, to keep me tied up here? Hoist!

There is a method to our madness.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Midnight Rider]

It was a conspiracy, Hoist!!

I think if you are religious about keeping the Battery Tender on the bike when not riding daily, you can reasonably expect to get three years out of the battery.  Anything beyond that is Gravy...

[Hoist!]

It was a conspiracy, Hoist!!

I think if you are religious about keeping the Battery Tender on the bike when not riding daily, you can reasonably expect to get three years out of the battery.  Anything beyond that is Gravy...

Agreed Terry, and I do. But it's still cheap insurance anyway, to never have a bad battery! Hoist!

[Midnight Rider]

Agreed Terry, and I do. But it's still cheap insurance anyway, to never have a bad battery! Hoist!

Totally agree, Howie....wouldn't attempt to set off on a trip with one nearing the limit of it's reasonable age, especially if expected temps might be cold or hot, as any weakness will show up then.  Too many things on my "garbage barge" pulling juice...

[Hoist!]

Totally agree, Howie....wouldn't attempt to set off on a trip with one nearing the limit of it's reasonable age, especially if expected temps might be cold or hot, as any weakness will show up then.  Too many things on my "garbage barge" pulling juice...

  Hoist!

[Puzzled]

I pulled five years out of my first battery and I can honestly say I didn't maintain it properly.

[Twolanerider]

Agreed Terry, and I do. But it's still cheap insurance anyway, to never have a bad battery! Hoist!

That's my goal.  No expensive tows or lost hours lost for trying to get an extra year out of an 80 or 90 dollar battery.  Mine is 2 1/2 years old right now.  It'll get replaced before the long Nelson trip starts.  It would be three years this fall and that's how long I give a bike battery.  Short sheeting it a few months before the long road trip across the wide open spaces of high summer in the western US is cheap insurance.

[REGGAB]

I never used a battery tender until it was recommended to me here.  I'm knocking on wood when I say this, but I've never had a battery problem either.  I rode........just about every day, so I figured it was holding a good charge.  Then it was pointed out to me that longevity might be increased by using a battery tender.  So I boiught one.  I'm glad I did, 'cause it is real comforting seeing that little green light everyday, but that light isn't there when I'm 1000 miles from Meridianville.  So, Howie's philosophy looks pretty good.  What's $90 every two years versus at least a $100 tow bill on top of the $90 and lost time when it won't start after visiting some obscure location in the middle of east bumfug Idaho.  2 years..............max............battery tender or no.