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[rayz1951]

Looking for a new battery.  Should I go OEM or look at a much cheaper after market.  Any suggestions?

Ray Z

[1sharprdkg]

I'm gonna need one for wifes RKC. So just tagging along on this post to see response.

[dlaws01]

Anybody using a gel type battery and if so, how do you like it?

[geezerglide]

Anybody using a gel type battery and if so, how do you like it?

Just had to put a battery in the bike heading home from Sturgis, purchased from HD Dealer in Billings, Montana paid $167.00. service department told me it would be 3 - 4 hours before they could get to it went to parts counter bought it, took out my tool roll and replaced it and was gone within 15 - 20 minutes.

The stock battery lasted 2 years with one of those years being cooked in the Phoenix heat, now I am using the trickle charger, let see how long this lasts.

geezerglide

[AXIL]

  Stock batterys have lasted 4 to 5 years for me. I charge them over night with a 2 amp tapper charger before i
load them down with the starter.  batterys are still acid not gel, but thay are sealed.   axil

[grc]

Anybody using a gel type battery and if so, how do you like it?

A real gel cell battery isn't a good choice for your Harley, since the charging system isn't optimized for that type of battery and you would likely have lower performance and battery life.  Stick with the AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) sealed maintenance free batteries like the ones that come stock.

Btw, I assume you are talking about a real gel cell battery, where the acid is jelled by adding a thickening agent.  Some folks use the term gel cell to describe any sealed leak free battery, like the AGM that comes stock, but that isn't accurate.


Jerry

[MKW]

Same stock battery on my wifes Road King and it checked out good on her latest "K" service.  I thought for sure they would have tried to sell me a new one but the dealership was on the up and up.  I do keep it on the charger.

[gabhart]

My 2007 Ultra ate batteries for some reason. I installed a Odyssey dry cell Battery PC925. They are expensive but I never had a problem after it was installed.

[grc]

My 2007 Ultra ate batteries for some reason. I installed a Odyssey dry cell Battery PC925. They are expensive but I never had a problem after it was installed.

The Odyssey is an AGM battery, just like the stock batteries, just a little higher capacity.  They used to be significantly more expensive than the Harley battery, but since Harley's latest round of price increases the difference is almost negligible. 


Jerry

[tennisman]

Was stranded on my 96 Softie and got an Interstate battery put in.....so far so good, but only a year old.

My 08 CUSE is still on the original HD battery, cranks fine, 51,000 miles of starts...and 4 hot summers!
T

[mrmagloo]

I was just looking at the new AGM Motorcycle batteries from Interstate. Locally they are a little over $100 and offer a few more CCA. I think I'll give one a whirl.

[Midnight Rider]

The key to long battery life is to USE a battery tender all the time.  Every time you park the bike at home, plug it into the battery tender...get in the habit.  Unless you are unlucky enough to get a faulty battery, there's no reason the stock battery shouldn't last at least 3-4 years...longer in most cases.  If you let a battery slowly lose it's charge, then charge it back up to ride, damage has been done to the cells and it will never be quite the same, or last as long as it should.

[tazmun]

Just replaced mine for the first time in my 06, this year.
Got one from a company called Batteries Plus, they are all
over Wisconsin. It has a better cold cranking amp/hrs,
came with a 2 year warranty, a $15 mail in rebate,
and cost $121.99, before rebate.

[NorEaster]

The key to long battery life is to USE a battery tender all the time.  Every time you park the bike at home, plug it into the battery tender...get in the habit.  Unless you are unlucky enough to get a faulty battery, there's no reason the stock battery shouldn't last at least 3-4 years...longer in most cases.  If you let a battery slowly lose it's charge, then charge it back up to ride, damage has been done to the cells and it will never be quite the same, or last as long as it should.

My battery must be the exception as I'm on my 6th season with it.  It's the original one that came with the bike and it is still going strong.  I never plug it in during the summer to charge it either.  If I recall correctly they do that when you ride them. 

I have also always stored my bike in my unheated garage during the winter with a HD battery tender.  And every spring just uncover the bike, unplug the tender, and it starts right up.

[Midnight Rider]

My battery must be the exception as I'm on my 6th season with it.  It's the original one that came with the bike and it is still going strong.  I never plug it in during the summer to charge it either.  If I recall correctly they do that when you ride them. 

I have also always stored my bike in my unheated garage during the winter with a HD battery tender.  And every spring just uncover the bike, unplug the tender, and it starts right up.

As hot as it's been down here this summer, mine has sat in the basement a good bit.  It sucks when it's too hot to want to ride.  But, I'm old, so that makes a difference.