I have an o4 road king and I bought it new in the fall of 03. The original battery is still in the bike and seems to be strong. I have kept a battery tender on it every winter. I've been told that I should be thinking of changing it for a new one. At $150.00 at the Harley dealer, it kinda hard to pull the trigger on a new one. Any thoughts on if I should?

 

I'll be interested in the responses you get also. I have an 01 Dyna with the original battery. Have always kept it on a tender during the non riding season (which is about 4 months up here). Have not had a problem with it and it still seems strong. $150 isn't a lot compared to being stuck out in the country with a dead battery but at the same time I hate to replace something that is working fine.

 

Check out a Deka ETX30L battery, its the same battery supplied to HD.

 

Before AGM batteries I used to replace mine every year. Now I replace them every two to three years. Arizona is very hard on batteries. If you only use the bike around town, don't worry about it, but if you do any touring, it's money well spent to know your bike is going to start at a rest stop or out in the middle of nowhere.

 

Does anyone have any experience using Interstate motorcycle batteries? I am in the same boat as others with an older battery and noticed that Interstate is a bit less than the HD battery.

 

You want a gel filled if at all possible. They don't leak and don't corrode your connections. I don't believe Interstates are Gel Bats.
Do what you wish however! Save a buck now, or replace a bunch of corroded stuff down the line. I've considered replacing mine, and another rider at work claims he has been using the same battery for the last seven years. He says regular use is the key! That inspires me to ride even more.

aka Bob

 

My OEM battery made it 9.5 to 10 years without ever being put on a tender during winter. It started giving me the slow starts, & then it went to clicking and starting, so I knew it was time to replace it. I just replaced it last year with another HD battery for $98.

 

So where does a guy get a $98.00 HD battery? Where are the Deka batteries sold?

 

I'd replace it. I bought a new one for my 03 last fall. Go gel filled

 

my battery was under a hundred at the dealer