| Author | Message | ||
     Buellsnbeer |
Okay, my battery shat itself the other day,  so I've been searching here for some battery info. It appears that most people go for the oem hd battery and they add a battery tender to reduce sulfation in the reassurance that this will extend service life. However, others have stated that they have never used a battery tender and are getting just as long a life. So, is a battery tender really essential? Will it guarantee a longer life of a battery, as batteries are now getting dearer and dearer? Or, does overall battery service life really depend on many factors, eg. build quality and type ie. wet cell vs agm vs gel, vibration, heat, temp etc... In other words, will a battery tender ultimately determine how long a battery will last? Is asking how long will a battery last like asking "how long is a piece of string?" Comments? cheers  | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I think it depends on how often you ride the bike. I ride my bike almost every day and I don't use one and have no problems but if I only rode it every now and then I would prob. use one. | ||
| Mick |
should get around 4 years out of the average battery, just give it a charge every now and then, specially if you don't use the bike often. | ||
| Buellistic |
Before "i" started putting my battery on a BATTERY TENDER PLUS it was ridden everyday to work and what ever ... The Harley-Davidson batteries only lasted 2 years ... Now that "i" am retired, the battery is kept on the trickle charger and my last battery has got me to 4 years service ... This is the way "i" use the BATTERY TENDER to let me know when the battery needs to be replaced ... The battery float lite gets to where it will not go out(battery in float mode), "BUT" the battery still starts the engine fine ... My reasoning is that if the BATTERY TENDER will not float the battery neither will the bike charging system ... ACTUALLY the bike charging system does not float the battery as it is set at a continuous charge rate of 13 to 14 volts ... So what happens when the battery will not float on the BATTERY TENDER you bike charging system has to work to hard to "FORCE ELECTRONS" back into the battery ... This is where riders speak of having to replace their STATOR or VOLTAGE REGULATOR because a need to be replaced battery causes over work of the charging system which causes excessive heat which kills electronic components(stator/voltage regulator) ... REMEMBER THIS: It is cheaper to replace a BATTERY than to pay the BIG $$$.$$ for LABOR and PARTS(gaskets, stator and/or voltage regulator, and the OLD "PLUS", the things that the Dealer says you also need done) ... This works for me, as "i" have 106,551.0 miles as of the last ride, still running my "OEM" STATOR and REGULATOR, "BUT" am on my 4th Harley-Davidson battery ... (Message edited by buellistic on January 14, 2009) | ||
| Ratbuell |
I use a tender. It's cheap and easy. And, especially in this weather (17 this morning when I left for work), the starter is working overtime to move the engine through cold oil, even with Syn3. That coupled with my relatively short 11 mile commute and heated gear (system draw)...I definitely keep it on the tender during the winter. The tubers live on tenders when idle as well (no salt for them, that's what the Uly is for). Summertime I tend to take longer rides, so they only get tenderized (lol) if I'm riding them after a period of non-use. | ||
| Road_thing |
I use 'em, too, and I routinely get 5 years out of my batteries. rt | ||
| Beachbuell |
I've had batteries (HD AGM) last five years plus. I use a battery tender religiously on all my bikes. $40 for a tender compared to over $100 for a new battery. You do the math. | ||
| Billetmetallic |
i use mine everyonce in a while, especially during winter and my battery is going on 9 years old | ||
| Hootowl |
I use an on-board tender that is mounted in the compartment under the seat and permanently wired to the battery. I was once in the position of having to sometimes leave my bike outside overnight away from home in sub-zero temperatures. I was able to leave it plugged during these times. Bit of insurance. | ||
| Court |
I keep my bikes on them and keep a spare around that I snagged when Competition Accessories was selling the Battery Tender Plus for like $15. It's easy and cheap . . plus I have the comfort of knowing I am starting each ride with a fully charged battery. The other item I confess I could, after having, not live without is the Signal Dynamics (I think) voltage monitor which I installed using the FtBstrd method . . . I know, at a glance, what my electrical budget picture is. Cool beans. By the way . . . I tried hooking the neighbors cat to a Battery Tender. It's not, looking back, a good idea. | ||
| Preybird1 |
Tender absolutely...Unless you ride all the time to keep the charge up. The cold is what kills the battery, I have the original battery from 2001 on my bike still and i use a tender and i bring the battery into the house so it can stay warm for the winter. I can get the interstate brand battery for this bike for $74.00 from the vendor, Harley said they wanted $117.00 no thanks. | ||
| V74 |
my oem battery lasted over 5 years no battery tender,my next battery lasted about 2 years used battery tender now and again,had a new battery 6 months ago,its had it,now need a new one,had it on a tender whenever the bike was not in use, i will not be using the tender much in the future, | ||
| Kalali |
V74, you are by far in a minority which leads me to believe that there is something wrong with either your Tender or the battery. I have also been using the Tender on my sports cars which tend to sit idle through the winter here in NJ for many many years... | ||
| Sloppy |
+1 on Tenders. I doubt if anyone has done a scientific study so you'll have to go with personal experiences. I have recovered 2 batteries with a tender that I otherwise would have to spend 200 on. And it gives me confidence that when I purchase a battery it is properly charged to full capacity. And I use it as a troubleshooting tool as well. Bottom line - a smart investment across ALL of your vehicles! | ||
| Jstfrfun |
I stock them in my store and promote them...so does the vendor from Interstate Batteries. | ||
| Daddyhog |
My oldest son is on his third tour in Iraq. He leaves his motorcycle and his car in my shop while he is gone. Both will sit untouched until he gets back and then start like they had been setting for 12 days instead of 12 months. I use a battery tender on my riding lawn mower, motorcycles, and boat. I haven’t bought a new battery in 4 years for the lawn mower, before buying a battery tender I bought a new battery every spring. Battery tenders work as advertised. | ||
| Yo_barry |
No Tender here, Sportster is on 2nd battery -- 1999, 85K miles. First battery died at about 20K. S3T is on 2nd battery -- PO replaced first battery at 5K miles, its a 2001 with 55K miles. We don't see any freezing weather, the bikes live in the garage and they get ridden regularly. Btw, only use the HD gel batteries. Barry Hollister, CA | ||
| Buellistic |
The way "i" look at my BATTERY TENDER "PLUS" is it saves me $$$.$$ and is a heads up tool to not be in the middle of now where with a battery that will not start my bike(too old to push start now) !!! | ||
| Jlnance |
So, is a battery tender really essential? No, it is not essential. But that doesn't mean it isn't a good idea. | ||
| Jon960 |
I only get to ride my bike weekly and the difference in starting after getting a battery tender was huge, now, hit the starter and the bike leaps into life where as previously it would be 2-3 attempts before it would fire | ||
| Skntpig |
Has anyone had any experience with the 4 bank batt tender? I don't know if this is the way to go or to just buy multiple single units. | ||
| Zac4mac |
We use one of these at High Country HD/B. We keep a couple of each type battery plugged in, so when you get one, it's ready to go. Works as advertised. http://www.batterymart.com/p-battery-tender-12v-2a -battery-charger-10b.html Zack | ||
| Court |
When Competition Accessories put them on sale for so cheap a couple years ago I stocked up and just use individual singles. | ||
| Gowindward |
I bought two single units at Walmart two weeks ago for $20 ea. | ||
| Ratbuell |
As much as I like the idea of the multi (we use one here at the shop, too), I'll just build my new garage with properly-spaced ceiling outlets, so I can drop a tender lead to each bike where it's parked. |
