How NOT to transport your trike

[scuba1954]

I have had a few Harleys and when I would trailer them on vacation I would just toss the keyfob in the tour pak and all would be fine. I'm sure we have all done this. This is even how Harley has transported my bikes in the past when picking up for service. Well that does not apply to the 2014 Harleys. I just got back from Wyoming and trailered my 2014 trike there with the keyfob in the tourpak. When I tried to start the battery was dead. I called Harley and they said that the 14 Harleys need to be put in Transport mode or the battery will go dead. Transport mode is simple to do. In your owners manual there is a plastic card you can carry in your wallet that tells you how to put in in transport mode. I did this on my return home trip and all was fine when I got home, no dead battery.

 

[GoSlo]

I have had a few Harleys and when I would trailer them on vacation I would just toss the keyfob in the tour pak and all would be fine. I'm sure we have all done this. This is even how Harley has transported my bikes in the past when picking up for service. Well that does not apply to the 2014 Harleys. I just got back from Wyoming and trailered my 2014 trike there with the keyfob in the tourpak. When I tried to start the battery was dead. I called Harley and they said that the 14 Harleys need to be put in Transport mode or the battery will go dead. Transport mode is simple to do. In your owners manual there is a plastic card you can carry in your wallet that tells you how to put in in transport mode. I did this on my return home trip and all was fine when I got home, no dead battery.

Must be something about Wyoming. A couple that own a 2014 TriGlide trailered up to Alpine for the Wyoming State HOG rally last month. They put the fob in the tourpak and same thing happened to them. Got there and the battery was dead, dead, dead. They jumped it with a car and then found out that's not a good thing to do either. It'll blow just a fuse if you're lucky or worse some electrical parts will be fried. They were told to just trickle charge it if that happens again. No one mentions this to you when you buy a new trike, and it sure would be nice to know about before it's too late. Yes, it's on the last page of the manual, but not too many people really read them thoroughly and not sure the sales guys know about it either. Lesson learned I guess.

 

[lboos]

Would it help to just disconnect the battery for a long transport ?
was it the motion on the alarm system that ran the battery down, flashing lights etc. ?
cant see where the fob could cause it :xzqxz:.

 

[rhino 2]

I had to trailer my 11T/G and had the POD in my pocket.. Every little movement would set the flashers.. So I just put the POD in the tour pack... No problems..
And once I also had to trailer my 13 Sportster...I left the POD with the key in the ignition switch.. no problems...I guess they changed the 14's system..

 

[sandrooney]

Take the battery out of the FOB.

 

[HDB0B]

Passive electronics USE JUICE. THAT is why most come with a battery tender pig tail installed. Just sitting parked in your garage they USE JUICE. If mine is parked for more than 1 week it is plugged into my 1.25 amp battery tender. Bob orag:

Transport mode:

 

[scuba1954]

Take the battery out of the FOB.

If you take the battery out of the fob it would be the same as no fob and if you don't put it in transport mode the security system would be going off constantly causing a dead battery.

 

[Mr.Wizard]

Same thing happened to my 12 Heritage last year back from Sturgis. Forgot to put it in transport mode... dead battery.

 

[stroker 23]

Going to transport my 09 Tri in 2 weeks. What is needed to avoid any problems. FOB will be in my pocket in the truck.
thanks dan

 

[scuba1954]

Going to transport my 09 Tri in 2 weeks. What is needed to avoid any problems. FOB will be in my pocket in the truck.
thanks dan

Make sure your fob is with you then turn ignition switch to ignition. The security light will go solid red. When it turns solid red immediately turn ignition switch to off. Then immediately press both [COLOR=green !important][COLOR=green !important]turn [COLOR=green !important]signal[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] buttons at the same time and hold until you see both green turn signal indicators flash once at the same time then let loose of buttons. Your [COLOR=green !important][COLOR=green !important]taillights[/COLOR][/COLOR] will flash three times and your red security light will flash normally.
That's how I have done mine and many others. Hope this helps.

I have transported my 09 Road King and my 12 Road Glide by just tossing the key fob in the tour pak and never had any problems with those, it is just the new 14's and their redesigned electronics.

 

[stroker 23]

Thanks for the info. I checked my manual and the procedure mimics your instructions. Will try before loading up Sept. 15 for DE, MD and VA.
thanks dan
Had an 08 UC and that procedure was not part of moving the bike from place to place.
Electronics, got to love them.

 

[KindaOldTriker]

Great heads up. Just got a 2015.