Should You Get a Battery Tender for Your Harley-Davidson Motorcycle?

[@jasoncory78]

I'm a new rider as well. I know this video is older but I appreciate it. I bought my first bike in April 2023. Got a harley 2016 roadster used with some modifications on it already including a map on it for arlen ness naked sucker and is loud. I love it but didn't have a tender either. I've learned the hard way cause I ride it almost every day. But the weather here in the southern US has started to get colder and I had noticed recently that it seemed to sound harder to turn over. Being new, I didn't realize that it was actually something to listen for. Yesterday morning it wouldn't crank. Clicked but couldn't push that engine over. Getting home from work that night it was at 11.4 on my meter. When I try to crank it, I saw it drop all the way down to 5.6 I think it was. Now I had to learn the hard way as well, keep those batteries plugged in when not riding for Harley bikes. Wished I'd known before but this battery has lasted anyway I think. Considering 2016 as a new battery when bike was purchased and then 5 years from there maximum for this current battery in there it's about time for a new one anyway since it's now 2023. Thank you so much for this video. Helps me feel as a new bike owner I'm going down the right road for fixing my own problems.

[@jasoncory78]

Got Harleys 5amp charger today while I wait for my back ordered battery. Sat out with my bike while charging and saw it go to full. Disconnected charger and it cranked right up. I'm glad this worked with no errors displayed to indicate a bad battery. Now I know to keep that battery charged up while I wait for my backorder harley oem agm battery. Thought about canceling but I'll keep it and replace when it gets here. I'd rather have a new battery that I know the age of instead of an unknown aged one.

[@tonyj8947]

Cool video. I hook-up the battery tender whenever the bike is not being used regardless of the seasons or riding habits. I have the exact tender that you're using. I had an issue. My bike is a 2020 HD heritage classic and it has 70 miles on it. The bike has been winterized for the past 4 weeks. I keep the bike in a garage, the garage isn't heated and it never goes to the freezing temperature. The tender has been on 24/7 for the past 4 weeks and the tender indicator shows both lights are "solid green". I decided to start my bike a couple days ago. I disconnected the tender, switched the bike on and the Clock was Flashing 12:00. There hasn't been a power outage. Anyway, the bike started with one second of slight hesitation and running fine. I tested the battery with no load, cranking and while running and all indicate the battery is still good. Usually the clock flashes when a battery gets disconnected then reconnected..Could it be the tender has an issue with cold temperatures. The garage never gets to freezing but it does get cold. Any idea why the clock was flashing?? I'm sorry for the length of this, i'm trying to be as descriptive as possible in one shot.

[@MisterKiwiRider]

No idea sorry. I've never noticed any issuer with temperature. My only thought is that, if the battery never drained completely, that maybe the clock issue was unrelated and due to some other reason such as knocking the controls or the battery connectors becoming loose.

[@dennishardy4402]

Love my hd batt tender . I no longer have a hd but the tender which can be changed from lead to agm to li ion batteries is great as I have all 3 on different bikes. Always attached to some batt and has not failed in almost 3 years.

[@BradPham]

Battery Tender Problem: HD BT stopped working. Crimped the female socket on the BT connector just a little bit to make tight connection again. Solved! Took an hour of fiddling about to solve the problem, though 😅. *

[@ThrottleDownunder]

First thing I bought with the bike, I put it on as soon as I get home

[@MisterKiwiRider]

You're a very sensible person Rob 😉🤘

[@ThrottleDownunder]

@@MisterKiwiRider hahaha

[@impoppa9647]

Where I bought my Sport Glide that dealership (Barnes HD) gives every customer a battery tender. They highly recommend if your miss even a couple days of riding your bike (especially as you said if you have an alarm system) use the tender. It will increase your battery life and will make sure you don't hop on the bike ready to tear up the streets only to find you have a dead battery..

[@MisterKiwiRider]

That's a really good thing for the dealership to do 👊😎

[@Supermankev2001]

I use one all winter. In the summer I don't unless it is going to sit for a while I am out almost every day.Good advice

[@andraetoolsplus]

Thanks for the contents. Very impoormative. All the best HD sportster drivere here👍🏿👌🏿

[@davemagee]

Hey guys thanks for your advice i ride mine everyday rain hail or snow not that it snows in Auckland lmao. My Neighbours are used to me starring my bike every week day morning at 5am and most weekends as we all do spend serious cash On our bikes no point it sitting in the garage use it or get a flat battery. All the best Guys

[@twoaxleaddict3759]

Great advice. I have one, but have never used it due to riding every week. However, would definitely use it if I wasn't riding as often 👍

[@HarleysDinersRides]

Good points, we use the tenders whenever the bikes are going to be sitting. It's best if you just go riding though, lol, cheers

[@MisterKiwiRider]

Exactly, yep! Just go ride :D

[@dadandmad]

I’ve got the quick attachment on all of our bikes and I rotate our tender between all the bikes regularly. Couple days on each is the aim. I would certainly recommend them.

[@RoadRashHD]

When i bought my sporty,they give you one for free with your purchase

[@MisterKiwiRider]

That's a nice bonus 😎👌

[@elcompamartinez2647]

FOR FREE???? thats what you think!!!

[@edwardogomez2919]

Wow. Times have changed 😢

[@kylemc8851]

"Yes" thank you for getting right to the point, best vid on KZbin!

[@MisterKiwiRider]

Happy to have helped :D

[@DanTheCollector2020]

Did you ever get a code (check engine light) when your battery went low?

[@MisterKiwiRider]

@@DanTheCollector2020 not that I noticed, but then the battery only ever went flat that one time

[@OZARKSHDRIDERS]

You are correct Brother 💯, I keep a tender on my Bikes and old cars, I don't use one in the summer, but always in the winter because I know the batteries won't last long in the cold, the battery in my Tri Glide is 4 1/2 years old and still holding up, I've had batteries last up to easy 6 years before, good job brother 💯

[@MisterKiwiRider]

Six years is a great life for a battery!

[@TheHonestTruth]

dope style of content man.

[@pmh1nic]

I have to leave my bike for months at a time. With all the electronics on the bike even small drains on the battery over time will deplete it to the point it can't crank the M8 117 engine. A battery tender is a must

[@marialuis5107]

Hi, I just found your channel and it's great. My husband has a Harley Davidson but it's not turning on, I think is because it hasn't been use in a while. He has been deployed overseas and is finally coming home soon 🙌💞, every time we talk on the phone he mentioned how much he misses riding and he knows he will have to work on the motorcycle as soon as he comes back home. His a really great guy and dad, so I want to surprise him by working on his bike myself, I've been doing lots of research, if I tell you some information about his bike can you please point me in the right direction of what to do to make this happen?... I will really appreciate it, and thanks for sharing your videos 👍🙂.

[@MisterKiwiRider]

Aww, what a nice person you are Maria and your husband sounds wonderful. To be honest I'm mostly a novice when it comes to bikes and I just generally share tips and information that I discover along the way. I watch a lot of videos on KZbin for information. If you feel confident to "have a go" with maintenance on your husband's bike I would suggest continuing to search for and use instructional videos, as it sounds like you have been. If you feel I can help further please feel free to tell me some information about the bike but I'll probably just search for information on Google and KZbin too. Wishing you all the very best :D

[@RedbeardsAdventures405]

Awesome video brother! I’ll need to get me one for the winter time. But I’m very fortunate to get to ride pretty much daily with commuting to work and back on the bike. As always stay safe out there! Catch you on the next one!

[@Jarhead-le1qu]

HaHa...Good video. Before watching this, I was actually just out in the garage, to open the door, and noticed my battery tender flashing, need to check/ replace my battery. Probably need to replace, since at least 3 yrs old...

[@BoDad415]

Change the 20A fuse.... That will stop ✋ the flashing & start charging again 😁‼️

[@rob7105]

Are there any shops/dealerships with a good selection of motorcycle relevant gear in the Dunedin area, I know of mcIver & veitch but it always helps to ask a local.

[@MisterKiwiRider]

MCR across the road and up a bit from M&V has a decent selection of gear too and I think they'll both generally order items in. With all the online selling these days it can be hard for stores to stock everything I guess but you'd generally get most gear you need at those two stores I reckon. 😎👌

[@TheBlueBikeDoyle]

Yes Sir i keep mine plugged up every day . It really Extend the life of a battery

[@MisterKiwiRider]

I knew you'd be up with the play Doyle! :D

[@petermrazik4319]

does it automaticaly change from Lithium to Lead or do i need to change somehow ?

[@MisterKiwiRider]

I'm not sure but it is pretty clever. That might be a question for the salesperson

[@RAIDERWORLD]

Great channel! Recommended by Baggers and Brews. Just subbed!

[@bakeetalzahrini1931]

I need buy one like this but where can i find it do u know the part no for that 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️

[@MisterKiwiRider]

#66000184 in New Zealand

[@FlipandTheBlueMule]

I plug mine in once a month just to keep the battery up... $27 on Amazon

[@MisterKiwiRider]

Nice. An invaluable accessory

[@FlipandTheBlueMule]

@@MisterKiwiRider true... like a Jump pack... I carry one for others

[@jhackett9482]

Current Heritage and other Harleys I’ve owned always need tenders and or put on chargers often. If they were cars we would not put up with that for one second. My Japanese bikes don’t have this issue either. My 4 wheeler will start after months and it’s Never seen a charger. HD’s are so hard on batteries I’m probably going back to rice burners.

[@MisterKiwiRider]

Appreciate your feedback. It doesn't worry me too much and I just view it as a part of my maintenance routine. It also prolongs the life of my battery so saves a little money in the long run.

[@dennisharrison4744]

I think taking it out putting it up in my house is better last longer I can get 4 or 5 years out one but leave it in the garage on a battery tender it won't last 1 season that's a AGM battery

[@james6275]

Batreee tienderrr brother love the accent!

[@MisterKiwiRider]

😁👌

[@HughBeRiding]

Cool story, just can't imagine any reason why I might not be riding my bike for weeks at a time... hey, wait a minute ...

[@MisterKiwiRider]

I'm feeling for you all in the big smoke 👊😎

[@HughBeRiding]

Two Kiwi Riders cheers brother, still getting out there to do my, ah, shopping. I’m hoping to see a reset next week 🤞😎

[@MisterKiwiRider]

@@HughBeRiding "shopping" gotcha 👍

[@FlipandTheBlueMule]

I have a 2017 Street glide ....I Know yall have seen in my Vlogs...it is supposed to charge Twice as well as any older harley...IT DOESNT.. STILL USE THE "TINDER" (TENDER IN MERICA).... Great investment

[@MisterKiwiRider]

Haha, there's some kiwis that have an even thicker accent and refer to it as a "tunder"! ; )

[@FlipandTheBlueMule]

My Bike is 3 years old and I already changed the battery for a LITHIUM ION BATTERY ...the heat here in FLORIDA is like Oz...kills Batteries

[@FlipandTheBlueMule]

@@MisterKiwiRider haha... its great... like the Northerners (yanks) here trying to understand us southerners

[@Jedin8_1966]

Tender and battery and harness are much cheaper than a new battery.

[@bakeetalzahrini1931]

How much

[@MisterKiwiRider]

Check with your local H-D dealer for pricing in your location. I paid around $NZ100

[@mikegrowgreens9125]

apparently you HAVE TO