I don't know if its the original battery, but I bought my 97 FLSTS in 2002 at an auction (it was seized in a coke bust) with 4954 miles. The battery was dead when I bought it. I charged it and started riding. The first winter I stored it, my Uncle introduced me to a battery tender and I've been using it ever since. The bike and same battery are now sitting for their third year long deployment paitently waiting my return. I have also killed the battery three times, that I can remember. My dumb a$$ left the ignition on a couple times and I was once stuck stopping on a road trip every 20 or 30 miles to charge the battery due to my regulator going bad until I got the regulator changed at a Hd dealer in Scranton PA (they squeezed me in first thing) and I was on my way. I'm no battery expert, but I'd say I got my money's worth out of mine.

 

Original Battery in my 01 FX. 11 years....Just charged it for a few hours every spring before I take her out for her first ride of the year.

 

Approx.five years.

 

..six years this season...

 

Six years on the bikes,one of our muscle cars is over 10 yrs.All our batteries are hooked to Tenders 24/7 when vehicles are not in use.

 

Just changed mine...Original battery on my 04..so 7 years!! Went with a Deka as recommended by our local "Dawg".... Got a Great deal from local distributor. Batteries can be shipped these days as they are sealed but personally i would go with a local incase you do have issues.....o~`o.....................

 

Exactly. I'm the same way. I ride every day and it's my primary transportation nearly all year around. The hassle factor of waiting til a battery has failed and left you in a parking lot isn't worth milking it to the very end.

 

Original battery in my 06 still cranks strong, never had it on a tender, had to jump start it once after winter storage.