Went to start my bike this morning and it tried to start at first, but just wouldn't fire up. It sat on the street for 2 nights while it got down to at least 40. I've got it on a tender, gonna see what happens.

My question: What is average battery life? I think this one is a little over 3 years old. Most of my riding, especially lately has been short trips, can that, coupled with the unusual cold kill a battery?

 

My battery is over 3 years old since I bought the bike (don't know how long before that). I hear the life is around 5-6 years, but many go shorter or longer.

Short trips and cold temps combined are harder on the battery for sure. I wouldn't be worried about a couple nights. It hasn't been over 40 here for a while, and my bike did spend about a month due to ice and started up okay. A lot is subjective so it's hard to say.

 

Yes, short trips don't give the charging system time to fully charge the battery and cold is harder on a battery. Combine the two and it can have a detrimental affect on a battery.

I bought my '06 in October of '05. It was almost always on a tender until last fall when I replaced it. It was still working just fine, I was just replacing it before it left me stranded somewhere. Actually, it's still living in a riding tractor.

 

Not sure how the f**k I didn't notice this this morning, or when I rolled it in the garage and plugged my tender in. The battery is fine but I think I need my eyes checked. Anyway, lesson learned. Keep the 12 gauge loaded and right by the door.

 

Ah that sucks. The meth addicts around here will do that. Throw 'em at a windshield and it shatters instantly.

 

Holy ****, that sucks!

 

I replaced the original battery in my Valkyrie in 2011 because it was starting hard at around 40 degrees, the date code was 1998. I would say 3-5 years on todays batteries.
I already replaced the 2009 nightster's, it would not start after sitting 4 days. I figured 3 years and 1100 miles was harder on a battery than thirty thousand miles.

 

I have the original battery in my '05 XL1200R, so that's 7-1/2 years. Don't use the battery tender in summer, but it's on all winter long. Still works great but I may now be pushing my luck...

 

My bike is a little slower turning over when it is below 40 as it was the last few days. I always keep it on a tender at night. I have had batteries last varying amounts of time on different bikes. I always use the Harley batteries.

 

The longest life any of my batteries has managed is eleven years, but the shortest was less than six months.