[BowMan]

After enjoying my Sportster Iron for more than 2 years now I realize that my battery is about to give way. This is evident because sometimes when I come back to the bike after a gap of couple of days the starter is not able to spin the motor and it just makes a loud clicking noise.

I was wondering if there are any manufacturers in the Indian market that make batteries for the Harley?

[Tgo]

Originally Posted by BowMan

I was wondering if there are any manufacturers in the Indian market that make batteries for the Harley?

Threads like this would actually make us aware of the actual cost of ownership of the big bikes in India. I am thinking of the 883 Iron V/s Bonneville for my next bike.

I think you need to know what specs do the Harley batteries have. If not on the battery itself i'm sure you will be able to find it on websites selling aftermarket parts for Harley in other markets. Then you just need to match the specs and size with that of a battery available in India.

[adrian]

Originally Posted by BowMan

After enjoying my Sportster Iron for more than 2 years now I realize that my battery is about to give way. This is evident because sometimes when I come back to the bike after a gap of couple of days the starter is not able to spin the motor and it just makes a loud clicking noise.

I was wondering if there are any manufacturers in the Indian market that make batteries for the Harley?

Dear friend, Looks like your bike has a stuck starter motor relay. What we do with the Enfields is that we give the starter motor cover a sound tap with the back of a screw driver. Get a decent multimeter and check the voltage across the battery terminals if you doubt a faulty battery.
regards adrian

[BowMan]

Originally Posted by Tgo

Threads like this would actually make us aware of the actual cost of ownership of the big bikes in India.

Well i called the dealership and was informed the battery costs 8,000/- which is daylight robbery!

A simple device like a Battery Tender is 6,000/- Rs from HD. I wanted to get one to see if I can charge up my battery and in any case a Battery Tender/Maintainer is recommended to extend a battery's life and performance. But I came to know of the price and decided to look elsewhere and found that Black & Decker sells one and if could be mine for less than Rs 2,000/- customs, shipping included. Order one.

http://www.blackanddecker.com/power-tools/BM3B.aspx

Interestingly all I could manage to gleam from the manual is the battery is 12V, 225 CCA, 12 Ah.

I have made inquiries with all manufacturers but none seem to be manufacturing a product with this specification. Plus one has to match dimensions also in a bike battery.

[Haroon]

BTW, you may want to check about Harley batteries before using generic aftermarket batteries or chargers. I had read they have some (not sure of the terminology) special cross polarity stuff unlike regular batteries. Probably fellow member gthang may know this better.

[BowMan]

Originally Posted by Haroon

BTW, you may want to check about Harley batteries before using generic aftermarket batteries or chargers. I had read they have some (not sure of the terminology) special cross polarity stuff unlike regular batteries. Probably fellow member gthang may know this better.

Just another ruse by dealers to keep anxious customers buying spares from them.

Everything is fine as long as it is within specs, oem or non oem. In fact in many cases non oem spares are better quality. One just needs to check the crappy Screamin eagles stuff they sell to realize this.

Or look at the Harley aftermarket horn which is just a Roots trumpet with a chrome cover. Best quality double trumpets from Hella or Bosch sell for less than 1000/- but the Harley single trumpet? Yours for only 5,000 Rs!

[gthang]

Originally Posted by BowMan

Well i called the dealership and was informed the battery costs 8,000/- which is daylight robbery!

Not sure how you deduced it to be daylight robbery. I'm just as bad as the next HOG to complain about the Stealers, but when warranted.

Rs. 8k is actually a good deal. Even in the US, a Harley branded battery will cost you ~$100, and a generic one about ~$50 -$60, and Yuasa around $80. Given current exchange rates, Rs.8k is not bad at all considering you dont have to go through the hassle of importing.

A regular Jap superbike battery can cost you between Rs8.5k to Rs10k.

If you do manage to get a battery for your Harley cheaper, please be sure to post about it.

Originally Posted by BowMan

Everything is fine as long as it is within specs, oem or non oem. In fact in many cases non oem spares are better quality. One just needs to check the crappy Screamin eagles stuff they sell to realize this.

Harley batteries are left (L) polarity. If your original cables can reach across, great. If not, you can make your own longer reach cables and use a generic battery.

My mechanic had some cables locally made with welding cable and crimped on some terminals.

Cheers

Ride Safe.

[n_aditya]

Originally Posted by gthang

Rs. 8k is actually a good deal. Even in the US, a Harley branded battery will cost you ~$100, and a generic one about ~$50 -$60, and Yuasa around $80. Given current exchange rates, Rs.8k is not bad at all considering you dont have to go through the hassle of importing.

A regular Jap superbike battery can cost you between Rs8.5k to Rs10k.

And while we are discussing batteries for the superbikes, let me share the cost of the ninja 250 battery even though its not a superbike. It costs a whopping 16k when purchased from the service center.

An alternative for the N250 is to use the Duke 200/390 battery which carries the exact same specs but is a tad smaller in size compared to the stock N250 battery.

@Bowman - look for alternatives if you want to save some $$ but then quality does come at a price.

[BowMan]

Well a Yusa 14L-BS battery retails for around 70 USD and is also 'Made in USA'.

Harley lists MSRP of its battery at 170 USD when I am sure they are sourcing these batteries and not actually manufacturing them? In fact a little known US manufacturer that goes by the name of Deka East Penn Manuf. Co. Ltd. actually manufacturers these Harley batteries. It's just the Harley label there!

Both batteries are AGM variety so why is there such a price difference? I am not factoring in the customs etc.

So much so for Made in USA and you know contracts always go to the lowest bidder so it makes me suspicious that a big manufacturer like Yusa which has economies of scale does not get the contract from Harley?

Aftermarket Harley batteries are commonly available in other developed markets and consumers often pick up other manufacturers knowing that they pay less for a better quality product.

[yogisays0909]

Originally Posted by n_aditya

An alternative for the N250 is to use the Duke 200/390 battery which carries the exact same specs but is a tad smaller in size compared to the stock N250 battery.

Adi bro, whats the cost of the Duke 390 Battery and whats are the specs?

[samschenker]

Originally Posted by yogisays0909

Adi bro, whats the cost of the Duke 390 Battery and whats are the specs?

Duke 200/390 uses exide FEX0-ETZ9 8Ah battery, costs Rs.18xx

[yogisays0909]

Originally Posted by samschenker

Duke 200/390 uses exide FEX0-ETZ9 8Ah battery, costs Rs.18xx

Okay thanks, can someone pls help me with a Indian battery closest to the Yuasa YTZ10S.

[cosmic_ocean]

Is it allowed for individual to import batteries from abroad? Thanks

Originally Posted by gthang

Hi there,

I was recently on the lookout for a battery (YTX12BS), and instead of ordering from planetdsg.com, or through my mechanic's contact in Bangalore, I decided to try something different.

I had been reading about Lithium Ion batteries and their advantages, and went ahead and ordered a Ballistic Evo 8 cell equivalent battery.

These are two of the several brands out there:

http://www.ballisticparts.com/
http://www.shoraipower.com/default.aspx

Shorai comes in OE size, whereas the Ballistic is smaller, so either you can use the space for something else, like a horn, or use the provided foam to fit. You can save about 3-4 kilos in weight with these.

They are safe for air shipment, so you can order it from ebay, or any store selling them. With shipping and taxes, comes to approx. Rs10k, which is what you would pay for a regular battery anyways.

Cheers

Ride Safe.

P.S. Just checked for your size,
http://www.shoraipower.com/s-456158-VTX1800-All.aspx
http://www.ballisticparts.com/produc...s/16cellHD.php

Looks like it is heavy duty and little more expensive than the YTX12. Still worth a try, I would imagine.

[Manaj]

Hi,

I have a HD Street 750. My battery needs to be replaced and it costs about 8k at the HD service station. I wanted to know if there are any alternatives available in the market.

Regards,
Manajit.

[BowMan]

Originally Posted by Manaj

Hi,

I have a HD Street 750. My battery needs to be replaced and it costs about 8k at the HD service station. I wanted to know if there are any alternatives available in the market.

Regards,
Manajit.

Want to awaken this thread. After no available options I had gone for a Harley OEM battery and got it replaced on 13/07/2014. I also ordered a battery tender thinking that it would prolong the life of the battery and have been regularly using the battery tender.

But Sep 2017 and my battery is again not holding charge and so it is probably on its way out.

My first Harley OEM battery that came with the bike lasted 2 years 5 months. The next one 3 years. I would leave it to the members to decide if this is satisfactory performance and so much for Made is U.S.A but I would readily snap up if anything Non OEM was available on the market.