Check your battery cable connections on both ends, both at the battery and the ground/starter. Make sure they are clean and tight.

I was having the same issue about 5 years ago and it got so I was carrying around a spare battery in the winter to jump start myself if the bike sat too long in the cold. (before the small jump start batteries) Then one day I stopped for gas and it would not restart even with jumper cables and a second battery. Lucky for me I was at a gas station right next to a HD dealer so I was able to push it over for them to look at.

And ditto on the not starting the bike up in the winter without riding it

 

I have a lithium battery in my Sporty...been using it for going on 8 years and works as well today as when I installed it. I got it so I would have more room under the seat for my ECM that used to sit in my fender.

Here is a LINK to the 12 cell battery I have.

Good advice on checking all connections/using dielectric grease, and not running it for short periods in cold weather.

 

Just installed the Antigravity ATX-12-HD-RESTART with 480CA , As the five year old Harley AGM battery had started to fail at cold weather starts. Man, that Antigravity winds that thing so fast she starts like butter even when its cold. All kind of technology in this Restart as it maintains itself so that it never discharges pass what you will need to start your bike. No need for a jump start ever. So many advantages to this new battery. No need to keep it on a trickle charger as after a year of sitting it will only discharge 20% or less. Acid batteries discharge 1% per day, thus they need a trickle charger for winter storage.

Most years I just store the bike during the coldest months here in Connecticut but I like to ride if it gets close to 40* and no ice on the roads.

 

Indeed! Condensation will build up in the gas tank and exhaust systems resulting in rust.

I'd add that a battery tender is a far better investment than a trickle charger. The problem with the trickle charger is that there's no regulation.

Fill the tank FULL. Put the battery on a tender and forget about it until spring.

 

I put in the 16 cell, with the small size of the battery and the top mounts it is much easier to put in than the stock battery. Your old tender will not be any use with the lithium battery, you shouldn't need it but I have one just in case. Due check your cables, the ground one especially, it is mount to the motor and sees a lot of vibration, you need to look under the insulation, mine was almost completely broke off.

Check the link.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...ry-cables.html

 

I will do that (check the cables). I have made up a new heavier one from an electric stove pigtail to be installed with the new lithium battery. I cleaned and soldered the ends of the cable and also I do not believe in applying di-electric grease except AFTER the clean terminals have been connected. Kind of a controversial topic that even professional mechanics can not agree on--but di-electric means it will not conduct electricity.. The red anti-corrosion spray has worked well for me (after a clean and tight connection). Thanks to all for their responses.

 

This is how I store everything that runs on gas and that sits for the winter. Fill it with gas and with Stabil and Lucas Injector Cleaner, or Seafoam. Plug it into the tender and leave it. If I start it, for what ever reason, then when I'm done I repeat. If it has a petcock I leave it open. Always want fuel in the bowl. A heat source on the block can help with a cold start if it's that cold. I run 20W50 in my scoots so no revs until they're warmed up real good. It's supposed to be in the mid 40's next week so there's a good chance I may just get to follow my own advice.. Cheers!!

 

+1 on the Stabil--good stuff. I use it in my lawn tractor and garden equipment--and everything starts up just fine next spring. Being in N.Central AR, i don't put my bikes to bed because normally we can ride all winter (on select days). We have non-ethanol gas available here due to the many boat people in the twin lakes area and I prefer it for everything. My Sportster calls for 91 octane and I try to use the non-ethanol 93 except when I am on the road. 20/50 is what I prefer(synthetic) and a far cry from the old Harley 105 oil that the '60's XLCH used.