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[garretn]

So, Me and the Misses were stranded by an "all of a sudden" battery issue -- dead battery, that is.

Happened at 9:00 pm. so nothing opened.  Call HOG for Jump/Tow -- Very odd, their response was " we don't jump start motorcycles"...... WHAT? Weird..... if you ask me..

Had to tow at the cost of $113 to home -- nothing open, best option.

So, now the battery is gone (2011 CVO Ultra, 18k mi).  Reviews say HD battery is crap.

Looking for a good battery recommendation and part number.

Thanks in Advance.

Gearheadfmc

Been down that road before.  Sunday morning walked out of the hotel room and the battery was dead called roadside just like you did and they said the same thing they will not jump start a motorcycle but will tow to a closed shop.  I did figure out after getting a couple of different people to try and jump start a HD that it was a waste of time. I found a O'Riley auto parts store in town and purchased the battery to get me home.  My 09 Streetglide OEM battery lasted 30 months and the Auto parts battery lasted almost 24months.  That was with me putting it on a battery tender ever time it sat in the garage.  After the second one I figured I must be doing something wrong since neither battery would last. The last battery tested good but would not crank the bike.

[OhioDave]

seems that the  Deka  ETX30L battery might be the ticket.

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=71539.0

And as mentioned keep the bike on a smart charger when not being ridden, that will help the battery last longer for you since the newer bikes seem to have more electronic crap creating a constant drain on the system - ECM, Entertainment/infotainment system and the alarm system that is constantly looking for the fob's handshake signal.
 I keep all the bikes plugged in I typically get 5 to 6 years out of my batteries before I replace them.

The battery on my 2003 lasted 6+ years, the 09's battery lasted 3 years, both were on a tender when not in use.

Replaced the 09 with the Deka

[krypto2011]

I have tried the push and pop start method and it works.....however these bikes have a fair amount of compression so it ain't easy. If you have a few strong guys to help it can be done without an incline but works much better if you have some incline. Also it will not work if the battery is dead flat, it needs to at least light the bulbs in the speedo. Had battery issues with a fatboy I had and pop started it a few times.

[Eagle Eye]

A couple of years ago I left my headlights on and killed the battery.  We tried the roll and 2nd gear pop.  It does not work with these bikes.  I went a quarter mile from our hotel to a spot in the little town we were staying in.  No luck.  Finally jumped it and got it started.  I'm still using that battery after two years. 

[ltank]

When on the road, I carry a few tools, can of Fix A Flat and some custom made jumper cables with two different smaller ends that will easily fit automotive battery to motorcycle batteries. Works great. A little shorter and little smaller wire guage lets it easly fit in tool bag that does not take up much room. A great ease of mind when along way from home. When battery are weak and the electric starter cranks the battery voltage drops too low and the electronic ignitions can sense it and will not fire the plugs.

[2018_FLTRXSE]

Have had great luck with Odyssey batteries in my last bike and various other toys over the years. The one in my last bike survived a 95" motor with compression releases that I rarely used for 8 years and counting. It was a softail and this battery has a metal jacket around it which protects it from the heat of the oil on three sides of the battery. It pretty much sits in a 220 degree oven on the softails.Here is a link to the one you would need.  http://sepbatteries.com/pc925lmj-odyssey-battery?gclid=CKHj3uq04q4CFQ2FhwodmFnKYA

Agreed.... I bought a softail that had an odessey battery in it.. the bike was a project that had sat for almost five years... I brought it home, put it on the tender while I tinkered with the bike.

A day later I put the battery back in it... fired it up and its been running on the same battery since.

Flipped the bike to make some extra cash and its still running with the same battery... 1 year later.... I have no idea how old it was when it was put in the bike either...

So convinced I bought one for my Silverado... (that hardly moves) good stuff... I need one for my Camaro next.

[HarleyGuy]

When a battery discharges so low that it needs to be jumped you need to determine how and why it got that way.
If your battery fails and it's less than two years old you should have your electrical/charging system checked.
Jumping and hoping that it will not happen again will more than likely get you stranded again.

I replace the batteries on our "road bikes" every third riding season (and the rotate the older batteries to the older bikes and generator).

Hotter climates will shorten the life span of any battery.

[charles05663]

With two recent posts concerning dead batteries how does one jump start a bike?  Is the procedure different then a car and can a car be used to jump start a bike?

I also did some online checking and AAA will not jump start a bike.

 

[whoop72]

I have jump started an efi Harley with no issue.  It might not work for you, but it's worth a try if you're stranded somewhere.  My battery was not "dead," but did not have enough power to turn the engine over.

[FLHTCUSE7]

These don't take up much space, get them from Andy and Aerostich.

[dahsen]

I have jump started an efi Harley with no issue.  It might not work for you, but it's worth a try if you're stranded somewhere.  My battery was not "dead," but did not have enough power to turn the engine over.

EFI takes a longer push or a slope, but it works...

[Gearheadfmc]

Well.... thanks for all the input.

Pushing that 900lb bike..... only me and my lady.....and maybe a stranger or two off the street..... sounded like to big a risk (to be away from street lighting).

The battery is DEAD-DEAD.  I put it on a trickle charger for 15 hrs and it barely gets the fuel pump going.  Pressing the key does nothing.

I just ordered a Lightning Start WPX30L-LS Sealed AGM 600cca Harley Motorcycle Battery and battery tender with extension.  In a few days, I'll be good.

Unfortunately, I'll have to cancel my 5 day ride from San Diego to Tucson/Phoenix/Vegas......... I'll live.

Thanks again.

[kcbike]

if your battery is junk a jump start will do no good as a modern Harley likes all the juice it can have and even if you get it to start you wont go far.i have run and sold a lot of DEKA batteries. they do make Harley batteries. the only difference in them is the small half moon spacers to be used between the Battery cable and the battery. on top mount applications they mount the same. that being said there is no way I would cancel a motorcycle trip and sit home to mail order or internet a battery !  Just go buy one, install it and enjoy your vacation

[110tHunDer]

... that being said there is no way I would cancel a motorcycle trip and sit home to mail order or internet a battery !  Just go buy one, install it and enjoy your vacation

That's what I was thinkin'.  Must not have wanted to go too bad.

[Eagle Eye]

EFI takes a longer push or a slope, but it works...

I had more than a quarter mile downhill, actually got up to 15 mph and still nothing.  I had left my headlights on by accident and drained a nearly new battery.  We eventually jumped it and I'm still using it after more than two years. 

Since, I've converted all my lighting to LED. 

It would be cool to know how to push jump-start one of these bikes, but I suspect very difficult if possible at all.