Dead battery after trailering trike

[WASMYTRIKE]

Question......Why would my 2014 trike battery go dead after hauling it in an enclosed trailer for 900 miles? I had the key fob in the tour pack so I wouldn't think the security system was activated. It went dead going both ways, and since we got home, it has been fine, so what am I missing here?

 

[MB1953]

From what I understand, even with the key fob handy, you have to put the trike in tow mode to avoid a dead battery. Search through your owners manual for the subject, but I have seen a number of forum references to this happening.

 

[scuba1954]

Had this same thing happen to me last year after trailering to Yellowstone. There were 3 2014 Harleys and all three had dead batteries. My 2012 Road Glide could be trailered and just leave the fob in the tour pak but in the owners manual on the 14's they specifically say you have to put them in transport mode. Very easy to do this. When I went back home I put mine in transport mode and after trailering for 3 days it started right up. <br />
You might look into buying an Antigravity battery micro-start XP5. This is a small jump start pack that is small as a smart phone but will hold a charge for 6 months and can start your bike up to 40 times on a single charge. I have one and they also sell a pig tail connector that connects to the battery and sits behind the right side panel so if I need a charge I do not have to remove my seat, just remove side cover and connect to the pig tail and starts right up. It does come with a set of clamps to connect directly to the battery. They sell larger more powerful units but do not use them to start your trike because the increased amperage will fry your ECM unit.

That is why Harley will tell you if you jump your trike from a car make sure the car is not running or it too will fry the ECM from the high amperage input. I watched my local Harley dealer jumpstart my friends trike at a bike night and he used this XP5 unit and needless to say when I got home I went to amazon and bought one, under $100.00.

 

[rhino 2]

There are 6 steps to get it into transport mode, At least in my 2011 manual..<br />
Page 114/115... The few times I had to trailer I left the FOB in my windshield bag.<br />
Once when I left it in the tour pack the 4 ways would go on at every bump. Very distracting to say the least, moving it to the windshield bag stopped it..

 

[scuba1954]

The 14 is alot easier. Turn the ignition to on and as soon as the red security key goes off you turn off the ignition then immediately hold both turn signal button down until turn signals flash three times. You are now in transport mode. Take your key fob away from the trike. To get out of transport mode bring your fob back to the trike and start like normal.

 

[HDB0B]

Either put it in transport mode or pull the 50 amp main fuse.

Bob orag:

 

[WASMYTRIKE]

Had this same thing happen to me last year after trailering to Yellowstone. There were 3 2014 Harleys and all three had dead batteries. My 2012 Road Glide could be trailered and just leave the fob in the tour pak but in the owners manual on the 14's they specifically say you have to put them in transport mode. Very easy to do this. When I went back home I put mine in transport mode and after trailering for 3 days it started right up.

You might look into buying an Antigravity battery micro-start XP5. This is a small jump start pack that is small as a smart phone but will hold a charge for 6 months and can start your bike up to 40 times on a single charge. I have one and they also sell a pig tail connector that connects to the battery and sits behind the right side panel so if I need a charge I do not have to remove my seat, just remove side cover and connect to the pig tail and starts right up. It does come with a set of clamps to connect directly to the battery. They sell larger more powerful units but do not use them to start your trike because the increased amperage will fry your ECM unit.

That is why Harley will tell you if you jump your trike from a car make sure the car is not running or it too will fry the ECM from the high amperage input. I watched my local Harley dealer jumpstart my friends trike at a bike night and he used this XP5 unit and needless to say when I got home I went to amazon and bought one, under $100.00.

Thanks to everyone for all the advice! I DO have an XP5 and it really works great! I have even jump started my motorhome with it! It is very compact and can be carried easily on my bikes.

I will make sure we use transport mode when hauling the trike..