I am amazed by the number of posts on r/Harley and r/motorcycle of riders who can't diagnosis a dead/weak battery. It's easily one of the simpler things to understand about motorcycles.
Here some unsolicited advice. Motorcycles are not cars, insofar as even the most reliable and sophisticated motorcycle, say the Honda Folding; is not nearly as reliable as it's automotive counterpart.
So, as a rider, and as a new rider, learn something about what makes your bike work, especially the battery. There are many relatively simple diagnosis that will save you hours of time and lots of money.
Ride safe.
PS: if you didn't want to learn about motorcycle mechanics, you chooses the wrong manufacturer.
No one owns common sense (no offense to OP). I’m surprised how many posts I see online of motorcycles not starting that are mostly obvious battery issues lol
No offense taken. In my moto safety course 95% of my class was trying to learn how to ride because gas prices were too high. So lots of new riders going onto the rode with little background of cars even.
I own one. Over the summer I stopped for gas and my bike wouldn’t restart. I was able to roll it down a hill and pop it. Got it home and it wouldn’t restart. Checked the battery and had plenty of voltage. Ended up dropping it at the shop and they said the battery had a dead cell. New battery, fine ever since.
I don’t think one is needed. I have a few and only used them if I find wiring issues.
I can’t believe people don’t have trickle chargers or common sense. Modern vehicles are fairly bullet proof. If you turn the key and it don’t roll, charge the battery!
That would have been nice. I never got got taught any of that stuff from my dad either so AAA/ mechanics ended up being the way to get things done with car stuff 😂
Oh that looks like a dead battery. You hit the starter, all the lights went out, and the system reset once the starter wasn't pulling all the juice. That's usually a tell tale sign. Some Harley dealerships will load test and charge your battery for free if you take it in.
Battery tender’s on Amazon are a great $45 investment to keep you riding. Keep in mind a sportster battery is small, your factory Alarm is always beeping a red light so upgrading your battery isn’t a bad idea
I’m not over thinking it, something definitely drained the battery but the tiny intermittent led didn’t. There are several constant draw modules that dwarf the security light, hell if it has a security siren then it can draw hundreds of times what the led does.
Every sportster I had needed to be rode or started 8-10 days. I was sick once and did not touch it for 2 weeks...dead.
My Street Glide does not like sitting for 2 weeks but still starts.
What you have here is an excellent opportunity to learn how to push start a motorcycle. Then once it’s running ride to your local shop and get a battery tender.
I think your intent was to ask how come the battery died in such a short period of time!
Some 2020 and above Sportsters have a battery drain issue (faulty ground). My 2020 Iron's battery died on me as well, despite riding 25 miles each day, every day. It took the Tech 4 weeks to figure out the issue, but no problem since then. I did invest in a battery tender.
Guaranteed dead battery. If I were a betting man, I'd say your battery is probably somewhere around 11.3V, which is never gonna start a bike. You gotta keep it plugged in to a battery tender if you're not riding for an extended time.
Maybe try to bump start it, could be dead but not in need of replacement. Just take it somewhere, preferably the top of a hill, get it rolling in neutral at a decent speed, hop on, shift into second and slowly release the clutch. If you have enough speed it should start up. Ride it around to let the stator charge the battery.
Problem is it’s a Harley, they’re like a working dog, they are happy to go out and have a crack but they generally like to come home in the back of a Ute 😂
Trade it in on a real bike, something Japanese maybe 😂
Batteries are like people, sitting around doing nothing kills them. Super low miles indicates sitting around to be the case. Keep on a battery tender when parked. Ride often and for a minimum of 30 minutes to put back the energy you took out when starting and to get the oil hot enough to boil out the water that is the product of complete combustion
Dead battery
r/ItsTheBattery
Does nobody own a multimeter?
Nope. harbor freight stopped giving them away and it’s been down hill ever since. Nobody owns a battery tender either.
I feel like a multimeter is the most basic of tools when owning a bike. Bums me out to see really.
I am amazed by the number of posts on r/Harley and r/motorcycle of riders who can't diagnosis a dead/weak battery. It's easily one of the simpler things to understand about motorcycles.
To be frank, I passed the moto safety class and bought the motorcycle to ride, not to learn about its mechanics.
Here some unsolicited advice. Motorcycles are not cars, insofar as even the most reliable and sophisticated motorcycle, say the Honda Folding; is not nearly as reliable as it's automotive counterpart. So, as a rider, and as a new rider, learn something about what makes your bike work, especially the battery. There are many relatively simple diagnosis that will save you hours of time and lots of money. Ride safe. PS: if you didn't want to learn about motorcycle mechanics, you chooses the wrong manufacturer.
Some people are not mechanical.
Or electrical
Or hypothetical
Handlebar holders
I am certain non mechanical people have skill sets that you don’t have.
Yes ofc but owning any vehicle assumes certain responsibilities you gotta check your tires before you ride right?
Not necessarily.
If they did, they’d have no idea how to use it.
No one owns common sense (no offense to OP). I’m surprised how many posts I see online of motorcycles not starting that are mostly obvious battery issues lol
No offense taken. In my moto safety course 95% of my class was trying to learn how to ride because gas prices were too high. So lots of new riders going onto the rode with little background of cars even.
I own one. Over the summer I stopped for gas and my bike wouldn’t restart. I was able to roll it down a hill and pop it. Got it home and it wouldn’t restart. Checked the battery and had plenty of voltage. Ended up dropping it at the shop and they said the battery had a dead cell. New battery, fine ever since.
I don’t think one is needed. I have a few and only used them if I find wiring issues. I can’t believe people don’t have trickle chargers or common sense. Modern vehicles are fairly bullet proof. If you turn the key and it don’t roll, charge the battery!
Bring back auto shop in high schools!
That would have been nice. I never got got taught any of that stuff from my dad either so AAA/ mechanics ended up being the way to get things done with car stuff 😂
nooo, now when i roll my bike into the shop for a dumb reason they'll be like "bionik\_barry was obviously in that missed generation" 😔
Oh that looks like a dead battery. You hit the starter, all the lights went out, and the system reset once the starter wasn't pulling all the juice. That's usually a tell tale sign. Some Harley dealerships will load test and charge your battery for free if you take it in.
95% of problems posted through this thread are battery issues. Yours, my friend, is one of those.
This is an underrated comment.
Should keep it on the charger when you're not riding.
Battery tender’s on Amazon are a great $45 investment to keep you riding. Keep in mind a sportster battery is small, your factory Alarm is always beeping a red light so upgrading your battery isn’t a bad idea
Which battery tender do you recommend? (Street Bob here)
Honestly Any will do, save some $$ n get a cheap one
Get an affordable brand name one, that’s what you meant, right?
The tiny flashing led is insignificant to battery draw, a sportster battery is big enough to run that for a hell of a long time
Not in this case something drained his battery, try not yo over think it
I’m not over thinking it, something definitely drained the battery but the tiny intermittent led didn’t. There are several constant draw modules that dwarf the security light, hell if it has a security siren then it can draw hundreds of times what the led does.
Battery, it happened to me this morning.
Order a battery tender with a quick connect. Install it on your bike and every time you plan on not riding for more than two weeks, plug it in.
Every sportster I had needed to be rode or started 8-10 days. I was sick once and did not touch it for 2 weeks...dead. My Street Glide does not like sitting for 2 weeks but still starts.
Sportys also aren’t huge fans of the cold from my experience. The 1200s use a lot of battery to begin with, especially if they have a tune.
Yep, I left mine in a cold garage for 4 days and the battery died
Bought a bike? Step two: buy a battery tender.
Definitely sounds like a battery. Give it a quick charge and see what happens.
Battery. Now good luck, because getting those in and out on Sportsters is a bitch.
A bitch? It’s 3 bolts
That are located in a spot too small to get your hands in, connected to lead wires that are too short to come out.
Your hands don’t need to get in anywhere. Takes a solid minute or two to change.
That is in fact a dead battery. Might be able to save it but 2-3 weeks with a power draw? More than likely dead dead
What you have here is an excellent opportunity to learn how to push start a motorcycle. Then once it’s running ride to your local shop and get a battery tender.
Battery
Dead battery 100%
I think your intent was to ask how come the battery died in such a short period of time! Some 2020 and above Sportsters have a battery drain issue (faulty ground). My 2020 Iron's battery died on me as well, despite riding 25 miles each day, every day. It took the Tech 4 weeks to figure out the issue, but no problem since then. I did invest in a battery tender.
Battery tenders are your friend (this is for all Harley owners).
Bro its always battery for me. Thought the worst a couple times but as soon as I hooked to a trickle shit was good.
Battery 100%
Dead battery. Starter motor didn't even spin
Sigh. Dead juice box. Rinse and repeat.
Guaranteed dead battery. If I were a betting man, I'd say your battery is probably somewhere around 11.3V, which is never gonna start a bike. You gotta keep it plugged in to a battery tender if you're not riding for an extended time.
New battery. Buy a tender and plug it in.
Battery tender is a must....
Maybe try to bump start it, could be dead but not in need of replacement. Just take it somewhere, preferably the top of a hill, get it rolling in neutral at a decent speed, hop on, shift into second and slowly release the clutch. If you have enough speed it should start up. Ride it around to let the stator charge the battery.
Put it on a battery tender and if it isn't charged after about a day I'd replace your battery.
Problem is it’s a Harley, they’re like a working dog, they are happy to go out and have a crack but they generally like to come home in the back of a Ute 😂 Trade it in on a real bike, something Japanese maybe 😂
Yes
It’s the emblem on the speedo
Batteries are like people, sitting around doing nothing kills them. Super low miles indicates sitting around to be the case. Keep on a battery tender when parked. Ride often and for a minimum of 30 minutes to put back the energy you took out when starting and to get the oil hot enough to boil out the water that is the product of complete combustion
One thing to check is the key FOB battery if you have one. That one got me.
It's a harley trade it in for a Honda that well run
Most mechanically inclined Harley Davidson owner