how long do OEM harley gel batteries last?

[andyxlh]

Hello folks
the Odyssey battery on my '96 FLHR has just died and I'm in the market for a replacement. Here in Australia the Odyssey is $300Au and the HD oem $200Au. the odyssey lasted a whopping 8 years exactly (installed april 2001), is it worth the extra $100 as I am a bit broke at the moment, or do the OEM ones only last  couple of seasons?
cheers
Andy
Sydney

[dablaze]

Depends on how ya treat em. I hear a lot of guys say 5 years though. I got a spare I use and abuse around the shop that is date coded from the year 2000.


Craig

[Ridetard]

My experience is as follows.  Three years without a battery tender.   Five years with one.  After 5 the battery is typically still good but opt to change it out for piece of mind.

I always use a Battery Tender, year round.  Can ( and will) double the life of your battery.

[texaskatfish]

My experience is as follows.  Three years without a battery tender.   Five years with one.  After 5 the battery is typically still good but opt to change it out for piece of mind.

I always use a Battery Tender, year round.  Can ( and will) double the life of your battery.

Just curious - if you use a battery tender all the time - are you constantly also removing and replacing the seat to hook up and unhook the tender?

Or perhaps some pigtail set up?

THNX in advance

[L-]

I agree with ridetard, that pretty much sums it up accurately.

Katfish, they come with a pigtail.  But I just use the clamps that come with them, they are a pigtail affair also, and I go to the frame for ground and the battery cable on the starter.  Works for me and maybe that ain't correct but it works.  I replace every three years and I know I can go further but don't chance it.

L-

[96FLSTF]

I just had a Harley AGM battery on my 96 Fatboy last almost 9 years while using a battery tender jr. most but not all of the time.
But then already replaced the battery in my 05 RK 2 times in the last 4 years using the same method to maintain them.

Gene

[hotham]

My Harley AGM is dated March 1, 2000 and still going strong.  I bought a replacement awhile back, but I just keep it on a tender for now.  I want to see how long the old one will last.  I always use a battery tender.

[zj1182]

TK:

Battery charging harness, PN 94624-97B on page 775 of the 2009 HD catalogue.  Ring terminals on one end for attachment to the battery, connector matching the battery tender leads on the other, and and in-line fuse.  $7.95.  This item is also available at many auto parts stores.  I forget what the generic name for the connector that matches the battery tender lead is.

zj

[02roadcling]

summer 2002, still good.

no tender for me.

cling

[GaryD]

1st battery on my 03 Ultra lasted to 2007. Still on that one. I've been using Battery Tenders since on my bikes and Vette since 1981. I connect the battery every night when I get home.

I plastic tie the connector to the left side passenger grab rail. It is the same connector that is on my Gerbing heated jacket liner, so it does double duty.

[IBARider]

I feel bad for you guys that use a battery tender... that means you don't get to ride everyday year round... right?

cept maybe for Gary... you hook it up every night?  Isn't your battery already in a full state?  What goes on at nioght while you're sleeping?

[JohnnyM]

The OEM battery is hard to beat.  I have a pigtail installed on my battery and hook up a Battery Tender Jr. when it goes in my garage.  Same for my boat and riding lawnmower, for years I bought a new battery for my mower every spring.  After using the tender I am on my fourth season of blissful lawn mowing with the same battery.

[FSG]

Andy, check out the Dekka Battery's at Battery World there's bound to be a store near you.

[truck]

To aid your search the spelling is.
DeKa
East Penn Manufacturing, Lyon Station, Pennsylvania, USA.

[GaryD]

IBA, I ride all year here in the Chicago area. Sometimes the weather doesn't co-operate so the bike will sit maybe 2 weeks to a month. I have hooked up my batteries everynight since I first purcheased a Tender back in 81. It's just something I do -- it's a habit. My batteries last around 5 years so it can't be hurting them. The Tender doesn't continually charge a battery (it probably doesn't even charge the battery at night ) -- only when it detects a drop in voltage.
You wouldn't believe what I use to do with batteries before I had the Tender. It was a royal pain.

[Superheat9]

04 and still going strong. I hook my tender to the positive on the starter and any frame ground.

[bericuda]

mid usa powerhouse since 2001- never had a charger on it. still going strong.i've got friends that still have the stock harley batteries of approx. same age still doing well....if, you ride fairly consistantly these things last forever anymore....i even have some interstate batteries in my vehicles pushing 7yrs. they just keep getting better all the time...i remember back in highschool the full lifetime was lucky to be 5yrs.you would think they would be getting pretty close to having an actually usable electric-only car! but, i really don't care...gimmee fuel!!!!!

[Reddog74usa]

Have owned my 99 FLHRC since new in fall of 98. Replaced the batt once in just over 10 years.

[jambo]

Gel battery from advanced auto parts bought it because mine died on a sunday OEM lasted 5 years this one is now 3 and started this spring no problem no tender and no complaints.

[Ridetard]

My experience is as follows.  Three years without a battery tender.   Five years with one.  After 5 the battery is typically still good but opt to change it out for piece of mind.

I always use a Battery Tender, year round.  Can ( and will) double the life of your battery.

Just curious - if you use a battery tender all the time - are you constantly also removing and replacing the seat to hook up and unhook the tender?

Or perhaps some pigtail set up?

THNX in advance

The tenders that I have purchased come with a pigtail and jack that hooks directly to your battery.  Have known a few folks to use this jack for accessories (i.e. Air Pump, Heated Vest).

[04glide]

I just replaced my stock battery after 5 years. Never used a tender on it but ride almost everyday. Bought another HD battery.

[truck]

Just an observation.
It isn't a gel battery, one of them would only last an hour or so on a giant vibrator like a Harley.
It's an AGM battery.
Absorbent Glass Mat.

[aquaman]

My stock battery just crapped out and was just a little over 3 years old and always on a tender.   

[truck]

aquaman
Is your tender made for use with an AGM battery?

[aquaman]

aquaman
Is your tender made for use with an AGM battery?

Good question.  It is a Battery Tender jr.  and I picked it up at the dealer so I ASSume that it is compatible.  I'll check the website to confirm.