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[alejandro]

What's your opinion? Is there any real difference between the $99 dollar battery at Batteries Plus and the $170 dollar HD one?

[jachd17]

In my experience, yes. They seem to last longer. I also used to own an 88 Sportster. The directionals would only flash properly when it had a factory H.D. battery. Odd, I know. Must have been a voltage issue but none the less it is fact. Over the 25+ years I owned it I went through multiple batteries. Harley battery, no problem. Aftermarket (all different kinds) problem. I just stick with the H.D. batteries now.

[Fired00d]

What's your opinion? Is there any real difference between the $99 dollar battery at Batteries Plus and the $170 dollar HD one?

HD does not "make" the batteries they sell... they brand them and you/we/I get to pay the "HD" tax on that. I've had the HD (original) battery in my bike last almost 8 years, replaced it w/another HD battery that went out in 2 years. Take a look at this thread - Deka (Big Crank ETX 30L) vs AGM Duracell Ultra - Longevity/Reliability for discussion I had (and what I ended up purchasing) when the 2nd HD battery went tits up on me.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[RGlideKid]

All I can tell you is I had my new HD battery go bad in less than two years. 
So, I did some research then bought this one, and it's been awesome so far. 
And so what if I get 6-12 months less than an OEM battery?  Look at the price difference.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E5PK8TE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This one has 4.8 out of 5 stars from 330+ buyers.  I paid $110 delivered, but the price has gone up since then.
And it's got an 18 month free replacement.

[CVODON]

The statement above about only using a HD battery would lead you to think that HD actually manufacturered battery's. We all know they don't and never have. The suppliers are on a bid basis, not necessarily low bidder but a bidder than can meet the spec's as noted on the bid form including ability to supply this product as needed,  just like any other expendable they or any other vehicle builder uses. I recently purchased a Battery Mart battery online, I would probably have bought another HD but didn't want to drive to the dealer, 60 miles or so round trip when the Battery Mart unit was delivered to my door for about $80 less. Been several months now and I have no problem with it.
The same folks who will only buy a HD battery for their motorcycle, will buy a Interstate Battery for there $70,000 Denali and never think anything about it, so why differ for a bike.

[alejandro]

ALL great points. I love this site!

[HunterJ]

I've had a big crank in my roadglide for 2 yrs now. No problems. It was about $100 shipped. Don't remember from where. It was one of the battery stores, may have been battery mart.

[TinSpinner]

HD does not "make" the batteries they sell... they brand them and you/we/I get to pay the "HD" tax on that. I've had the HD (original) battery in my bike last almost 8 years, replaced it w/another HD battery that went out in 2 years. Take a look at this thread - Deka (Big Crank ETX 30L) vs AGM Duracell Ultra - Longevity/Reliability for discussion I had (and what I ended up purchasing) when the 2nd HD battery went tits up on me.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Thanks for the thread on the batteries Fired00d, I followed your lead and bought the Deka ETX 30L. My OEM battery is about shot, would barely turn over the engine yesterday so I was afraid to take the bike out, new one is inbound from Tech Battery Solutions with free shipping and no core charge for $93, over $85 less than OEM at the dealership before sales tax and core charge/swap.

[iski]

As long as the specs are the same or better - no the HD battery is not worth the difference.  Any battery - HD or other brand - can sit on a shelf too long & lose it's charge.  Any batery can have manufacturer defects.  I have found the Big Crank & DEKA EXT30L batteries to last just as long as an HD battery. Are they better?  No reason to think so.  Is HD better?  No reason to think so.

I keep the bike battery on a tender when in the garage.  Lengthens battery life & you don't get that dreaded click-click-click when you hit the starter.

dood gave a good link, have used this company with no problems.  Several other sources online.

[Fired00d]

Thanks for the thread on the batteries Fired00d, I followed your lead and bought the Deka ETX 30L. My OEM battery is about shot, would barely turn over the engine yesterday so I was afraid to take the bike out, new one is inbound from Tech Battery Solutions with free shipping and no core charge for $93, over $85 less than OEM at the dealership before sales tax and core charge/swap.

You're welcome... glad you found it useful. Like Iski said any battery can have it's issues... but for the price of the Deka I can (almost) purchase two for the price of an OEM battery. I also keep my battery on the tender when ever it is parked.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[TinSpinner]

You're welcome... glad you found it useful. Like Iski said any battery can have it's issues... but for the price of the Deka I can (almost) purchase two for the price of an OEM battery. I also keep my battery on the tender when ever it is parked.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Mine stays on the tender as well, guess the age (4 years) finally got to it since that was the original battery. I tried a different tender that has a display on it, the battery showed 95% charged when I plugged it in but evidently the cranking power was not there. I've had bad luck with batteries lately, just bought a new truck and 2 months later the battery was dead and had to be replaced. 

[greglyon]

There are unquestionably better batteries for the money, but when it fails where are you going to go if there is warranty left on your battery.  HD shop or are you going to mail in the bad battery for their inspection and an eventual return.  In my experience it isn't worth the hassle to go mail order on a battery.

[grc]

There are unquestionably better batteries for the money, but when it fails where are you going to go if there is warranty left on your battery.  HD shop or are you going to mail in the bad battery for their inspection and an eventual return.  In my experience it isn't worth the hassle to go mail order on a battery.

I used to go to the local Harley shop, until the price became ridiculous and the quality dropped.  Now I look at batteries as just another commodity, made to a price point by companies constantly looking for cheaper materials and methods to increase their profit margins.  No matter what the brand name on the label, they are all subject to early failure.  If my non-Harley battery I paid slightly more than half the Harley price for fails, I'm not going to let warranty on a hundred dollar part influence my decision to save that $80 when I buy a replacement.  So far my lower priced batteries, bikes and cars, have outlasted the big name brands they replaced.  If one does fail prematurely in the future, I will have saved more than enough compared to the name brands over the years to still come out ahead even if I don't send it back for a warranty refund.  IMHO your warranty argument might make sense if we were talking about something expensive, but not on something as cheap as a vehicle battery.

Jerry

[iski]

What Jerry said.   

Also, if you need a bike battery in a hurry - same day the old one fails - there are a number of local sources here that are less expensive than HD.  NAPA Auto Parts, Interstate Batteries, Batteries Plus, etc.  Not as low cost usually as online, but all were $50 (or more) less than HD last time I checked & all have a warranty.

[longlast]

What you have to consider on any battery (were some go wrong on getting an aftermarket battery) is overlooking what the required cranking amps are. If you get a battery that has to low cranking amps it will not last.
Check what the maximum amps the starter can handle if you go over its maximum you could burn the starter out.
Base the battery on the starter/motor cranking amps required