Just had a new battery installed by HD two months back. I kept battery on a tender but noticed after rides the tender would show red so less that 80% charged and would take a while to get up to green. Being new I hought that was strange so last week I figured Id keep he tender off for one full week to see how long battery lasts and in one week, maybe less, it was completely dead. I put the tender back on a while and it starts like a champ again.

Never had starting issues with this battery, I was only concerned seeing the tender go red after rides. The bike is a 2001 Sportster.

So is it normal for he tender to show red after rides then take some time to get to green? How long should a battery last without a tender, he concern there is going away for a few days and not being able to start.

Lastly, now that the battery completely died once (stating fine now and it recharges normal) is battery shot and am I better off replacing?

Thanks for any input!

 

I don't think it's normal for the tender to show red after a ride. Your battery should show fully charged or very close to it. I suspect you have problems with your charging system.

Since your battery was new, I don't think one discharge will do a lot of damage. You should be Ok for some time.

Battery lifetime is a crapshoot. Normally a battery should be good for at least 3-4 years, but I've had HD batteries die after 1 year, even using a tender in the off-season. I've also had HD batteries last 6-7 years, but typically they are good for about 4 years.

 

Thanks. Is it normal for the battery to die after one week of non use?

 

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Absolutely not normal!

 

Just because its new, doesnt mean its good. New parts fail. Usually not but it happens.

 

I don't pay that much attention to the color of the light on the smart charger, but I'm fairly sure mine starts off red when I plug it in right after riding.
I just bought a new battery this morning the bike wouldn't start even though it had been on the smart charger. The first thing I did was take off clean and re-tighten the battery cables but that didn't help.
Since it was Sunday I went to Batteries plus and picked up the new battery. The last one was a HD and it lasted 3-1/2 years and it was always on a smart charger when not in use.
The original battery lasted 5-1/2 years and I didn't use a smart charger on it.

Years ago I had a Yamaha with both an electric start and a kick start. I went into a store to buy something, when I came out it wouldn't start. I though what luck I still have the kick start. It wouldn't start with it either.
Tom

 

Under normal circumstances how long should this battery live with no use at all and expect to start the bike?

Im not opposed to getting a new battery but its very tight so before I struggle getting it out and replacing I figured I would ask so Im not replacing a battery thats acting normal and just died from my screw up of not putting on tender. I am a weekend rider so its going to sit for 5 days or so every week for the most part.

 

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That bike has no security system that would cause a drain on the battery, so it should be able to go months without riding and still start right up.