Alternate to original HD Battery???

Dumb question...

I have a 2000 Electra Glide Ultra Classic FLHTCU/I

The original Harley battery only lasted 2 years.

Each of the Harley Batterys that I have replaced them with only last two years.

IS there a alternate to the "real" Harley batterys??

W&W Cycles in Wurzburg wanted 247 Euros for one........that price is crazy...

And, do these batterys from harley typically only last for a couple of years??

George

George,
The use of a battery tender greatly increases the life of a battery.

If you run a Police Solo seat or modify the plastic bottom of the stock seat the $19.99 Lawn Tractor battery, available at any auto parts store will fit! They typically last 3+ years!!

Recommendations on our forum include Varta (made in Germany I believe?) and Odyssey. The latter are a gel battery so I gather that they can't be charged by Optimates; more info from their website here.

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/

Received wisdom is that the H-D batteries are good though, but it does pay to shop around as prices can vary considerably even between stealerships.

Try Jersey H-D as they offer duty-free goods, but not sure if this would include batteries due to shipping issues.

http://www.jerseyh-d.com/Home/

Danny, Chris and Kev..

Thanks for the replys.

I will look into the lawn tractor battery option.

George

George,
The use of a battery tender greatly increases the life of a battery.

That's a fact !!! I'm getting several years outta a battery, then when it finally starts going down, I use it in my riding mower.

You may find the problem is not your battery but your charging system.
harley upgraded the charging system on the geezer glides and ultra sofa's
in 2002 I believe because all the gadgetry pulled to much power and ate batteries
and the heat generated by the charging system cooked the magnets out of the rotor.
The stock battery in my 2001 roadking gave me 6 solid years.
I replaced it with an interstate sealed battery.

I did replace the battery, and I bought a good battery tender.

I have gotten into the habit of hooking it up after I ride the bike and just leave it attached.

George

Odyssey battery is not a "gel" battery. It is "AGM" which is Absorbed Glass Mat. They work very well. I have one that was in my UL and has been under the bench for 5 years and is still fully charged. Stock HD batteries do not handle being allowed to fully discharge very well. If you use a Battery Tender whenever the bike sits more than a week, the battery should last more than 2 years.