Battery Life

[JTJersey]

My '21 Freewheeler will be 3 years old this summer and I was wondering about battery life. I keep a battery tender on it when it's parked except when I'm traveling. Parked and turned off the battery reads 12.9V with a meter. When is a good time to replace the battery before it goes bad half way to Tennessee or something?

 

[RKplus10]

The original battery in my 2015 lasted over 7 years and gave me ample warning before failure. On the other hand, a new one can fail suddenly. I guess, whatever makes you feel more comfortable.

 

[Jack Klarich]

My '21 Freewheeler will be 3 years old this summer and I was wondering about battery life. I keep a battery tender on it when it's parked except when I'm traveling. Parked and turned off the battery reads 12.9V with a meter. When is a good time to replace the battery before it goes bad half way to Tennessee or something?

Mine is also 3 years old, I keep it on sa tender. I usually only get 2 years out of an OEM battery.

12.7 is full charge, your looks OK, hook up a volt meter, turn the ignition on, watch how low the voltage gets. Any drop below 10.5 volts would tell you it is going South, a poor mans load test

 

[Old Road Dog]

Replace it NOW! More problems are caused by a slowly dying battery than anything else on a HD motorcycle.Death of the regulator/rectifier and alternator are two of the most common items. I just had an old hand bring me his bike last week. He had entered the dreaded "death loop".
The circle jerk of changing out batteries, rectifiers and alternators. I replace my batteries every 3 years wether they need it or not.

Yeah yeah, grandmammy's Servicar has been running the same battery since she entertained the 7th fleet during WWII- I don't care. It's foolish to cheap out by trying to squeeze another season out of a battery used on an expensive trike. I DO NOT use a battery tender in warm weather unless the machine will sit for more than 3 weeks. Any battery that can't last 3 weeks in warm weather shouldn't be in your machine anyway. There are other issues going on. ( see Death Loop above) In my trike I like the Platinum GYZ32HL, 500 CCA.

 

[RKplus10]

I guess I’m in the minority and extremely lucky. I have never replaced a battery in any vehicle due to its age nor damaged another component due to battery age. It could happen tomorrow, however.
I’m going to buy some lottery tickets while I’m still on a roll.

 

[JTJersey]

Replace it NOW! More problems are caused by a slowly dying battery than anything else on a HD motorcycle.Death of the regulator/rectifier and alternator are two of the most common items. I just had an old hand bring me his bike last week. He had entered the dreaded "death loop". The circle jerk of changing out batteries, rectifiers and alternators. I replace my batteries every 3 years wether they need it or not. Yeah yeah, grandmammy's Servicar has been running the same battery since she entertained the 7th fleet during WWII- I don't care. It's foolish to cheap out by trying to squeeze another season out of a battery used on an expensive trike. I DO NOT use a battery tender in warm weather unless the machine will sit for more than 3 weeks. Any battery that can't last 3 weeks in warm weather shouldn't be in your machine anyway. There are other issues going on. ( see Death Loop above) In my trike I like the Platinum GYZ32HL, 500 CCA.

I'm not exhibiting an problems, just curious.

 

[JTJersey]

Mine is also 3 years old, I keep it on sa tender. I usually only get 2 years out of an OEM battery.

12.7 is full charge, your looks OK, hook up a volt meter, turn the ignition on, watch how low the voltage gets. Any drop below 10.5 volts would tell you it is going South, a poor mans load test

Went for a lunch run and checked the battery about an hour later, after reading this thread. It read 13.2V off and parked. With ignition on but not running it dropped to 12.7V.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Good deal JT

 

[Recknor]

My '21 Freewheeler will be 3 years old this summer and I was wondering about battery life. I keep a battery tender on it when it's parked except when I'm traveling. Parked and turned off the battery reads 12.9V with a meter. When is a good time to replace the battery before it goes bad half way to Tennessee or something?

Looking for parts for a low rider boom trike eco and kee switch

 

[Recknor]

Looking for parts for a low rider boom trike eco and kee switch

ecm

 

[JTJersey]

Looking for parts for a low rider boom trike eco and kee switch

Welcome to Trike Talk, but this thread was about battery life.

 

[Papa Zook]

I really wouldn't worry about changing it yet. Just keep it on a tender and it might last you another 2 or 3 years or longer. It's impossible to predict battery life nowadays, thats why I keep my Noco smart charger plugged up.

 

[hogmemberisold]

One of the cheapest investments to help in decision making when to replace the battery....

Battery Load Tester

 

[Burnerboy]

I just changed mine over last year, (went dead while at a TRIKE rally in Vermont) one of the attendees had his truck with him, and let me use it to purchase another new battery............


THANK YOU DOUG, if you are reading this post..


Ronnie
5/20/24

 

[rhino 2]

Batteries on mysterious black boxes some last six months some could last 10 years no matter what anybody says there is no set time. What would I do? The second time I hear, click click click and have to put a booster on it to start the machine that’s the time I order a new battery.

 

[rhino 2]

Batteries are mysterious black boxes some last six months some could last 10 years no matter what anybody says there is no set time. What would I do? The second time I hear, click click click and have to put a booster on it to start the machine that’s the time I order a new battery.

 

[Noodles107]

Just throwing in my $200 cents JT ... Just put a new battery in my 17FW a couple of weeks ago. There were no indications that the battery was gonna be dead. Cranked the bike up the day before, out for a little jaunt maybe 40 miles or so, came home parked the trike re - attached the HD tender to it and in for the day.

Got up the next morning and the battery was dead ... glad I was home and not stranded somewhere. $200 dollars for a new battery from HD Dealership (guaranteed for 12 months) The service guys say always leave the tender attached. Install was 10 minutes (after confirming a couple of things with Jack) and I kinda feel good about knowing that I have a new battery that I don't have to worry about.

 

[JTJersey]

I don't see any way to "thank" someone for a post or a response anymore.

 

[Gorilla]

I don't see any way to "thank" someone for a post or a response anymore.

Maybe just click on the like

 

[JTJersey]

Maybe just click on the like

Thanks.

 

[Zammy]

I replace mine every 3 years, the Florida heat just eats them up. Batteries in our car are the same way.

 

[Olddog]

I replace mine every 3 years, the Florida heat just eats them up. Batteries in our car are the same way.

Same for most batteries in central Texas. Mine are notorious for failing just after the warranty period ends!

 

[Jack Klarich]

Batteries on mysterious black boxes some last six months some could last 10 years no matter what anybody says there is no set time. What would I do? The second time I hear, click click click and have to put a booster on it to start the machine that’s the time I order a new battery.

Indeed Bob Indeed

 

[headheaded]

I have been getting 3 years out of the Deka Big Crank batteries in a 15 tri-glide. My other bikes i always got 5 to 7 years ,but they didn't have all these electronic gizmos. Kick start and jockey shift all the way.

 

[LD-Ordie]

I'm a believer in leaving all my rides on a tender, I actually prefer the Noco Genius. Not mentioned yet, that I found it interesting I got a ECM code after disconnecting the ground to do some work and had to clear it to get the check engine light out. All hell broke loose when I pulled a rear wheel off, Still getting used to these high tech vehicles!

 

[New Orleans Kevin]

I'm a believer in leaving all my rides on a tender, I actually prefer the Noco Genius. Not mentioned yet, that I found it interesting I got a ECM code after disconnecting the ground to do some work and had to clear it to get the check engine light out. All hell broke loose when I pulled a rear wheel off, Still getting used to these high tech vehicles!

The newer bikes with the electronics are notorious for throwing codes when battery gets low or is changed. I document codes ( just in case)clear codes then ride and see if they come back .

 

[WindyOne]

You can always carry a battery starter with you. That way you don't have to worry about it failing.

https://www.amazon.com/NEXPOW-Starter-12800mAh-Battery-Q10S/dp/B09F9CR89W?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A1F7SLQN5EBJRX

 

[Burnerboy]

My battery (died) did the same except I was on a TRIKE rally in Vermont last season... I was lucky one of the attendee's had his truck and I went to a NAPA auto store and purchased a new battery... replaced it in the parking lot of the hotel...... THANK YOU DOUG, FOR THE USE OF YOUR TRUCK, TO GET THE BATTERY if you are reading this

Ronnie
5/26/24

 

[My Turn]

My experience is that vibration kills batteries in Harleys. When they die due to vibration it is suddenly with no warning. I changed mine every 3 to 4 years.

 

[Jack Klarich]

I am coming up on 3 years on OEM battery, never got more than 2 years even with a tender on it