Battery Safety
WARNING
Batteries contain sulfuric acid, which could cause severe burns to eyes and skin. Wear a protective face shield, rubberized gloves and protective clothing when working with batteries. KEEP BATTERIES AWAY FROM CHILDREN. (00063a)
WARNING
Explosive hydrogen gas, which escapes during charging, could cause death or serious injury. Charge battery in a well-ventilated area. Keep open flames, electrical sparks and smoking materials away from battery at all times. KEEP BATTERIES AWAY FROM CHILDREN. (00065a)
WARNING
Batteries, battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds, and other chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. (00019e)
WARNING
Never remove warning label from battery. Failure to read and understand all precautions contained in warning, could result in death or serious injury. (00064b)
Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Battery Charging Information
The motorcycle has permanently sealed, maintenance-free Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) battery design that is superior to conventional flooded lead acid batteries. This battery design will provide many years of dependable service when the proper battery charging equipment and storage procedures are used. Because of the sealed, nonspillable battery design, an automatic, constant monitoring battery charger that uses a charging rate of less than 14.6 volts is required to prevent overcharging conditions that will dry out the cells of the battery. Constant current battery chargers (including trickle chargers) can damage AGM batteries. Do not attempt to open the battery for any reason.
To maintain a full charge between rides, a Harley-Davidson constant monitoring battery charger or tender is recommended when your motorcycle will not be ridden for more than two weeks, with the best practice of installing the charger any time the motorcycle is not in use. Harley-Davidson offers the 750mA SUPERSMART BATTERY TENDER (94654-98B, North America) and 800mA WATERPROOF BATTERY TENDER (international versions available). These battery tenders include a quick disconnect cable, allowing easy connection to charge the battery without disassembly of the motorcycle.
Lack of regular battery charging or use of constant current battery chargers may void battery warranty.
Cleaning and Inspecting
Battery top must be clean and dry. Dirt and electrolyte on top of the battery can cause battery to self-discharge.
  1. Clean top of battery.
  2. Clean cable connectors and battery terminals using a wire brush or fine grit sandpaper to remove any oxidation.
  3. Inspect and clean the battery screws, clamps and cables. Check for breakage, loose connections and corrosion.
  4. Check the battery posts for melting or damage caused by over-tightening.
  5. Inspect the battery for discoloration, a raised top or a warped or distorted case. Any of these conditions indicate that the battery has been frozen, overheated or overcharged.
  6. Inspect the battery case for cracks or leaks.
Charging Battery
WARNING
Unplug or turn OFF battery charger before connecting charger cables to battery. Connecting cables with charger ON can cause a spark and battery explosion, which could result in death or serious injury. (00066a)
An automatic, constant monitoring battery charger/tender with a charging rate of 5 amps or less at less than 14.6 volts is recommended. The use of constant current chargers (including trickle chargers) to charge sealed AGM batteries is not recommended. Any overcharge will cause dry-out and premature battery failure. Never charge a battery without first reviewing the instructions for the charger being used. In addition to the manufacturer's instructions, follow the general safety precautions.
Charge the battery when:
1. Perform a voltage test to determine the state of charge. If battery needs to be charged, proceed to the next step.
2. Place the battery on a level surface.
NOTICE
Do not reverse the charger connections described in the following steps or the charging system of the motorcycle could be damaged. (00214a)
3. Connect the red battery charger lead to the positive terminal of the battery.
4. Connect the black battery charger lead to the negative terminal of the battery.
NOTE
If the battery is still in the motorcycle, connect the negative lead to the chassis ground. Make sure that the ignition and all electrical accessories are turned off.
5. Step away from the battery and turn on the charger.
WARNING
Unplug or turn OFF battery charger before disconnecting charger cables from battery. Disconnecting clamps with charger ON can cause a spark and battery explosion, which could result in death or serious injury. (00067a)
6. After the battery is fully charged, turn OFF the charger and disconnect the black battery charger lead from the negative terminal of the battery.
7. Disconnect the red battery charger lead from the positive terminal of the battery.
8. Mark the charging date on the battery.
Storing the Battery
If the motorcycle will not be operated for several weeks, remove the battery from the motorcycle and fully charge.
If the motorcycle is stored with the battery installed, connect an automatic, constant monitoring charger/tender to maintain charge. See an authorized dealer.
A battery that is removed from the motorcycle can self-discharge. A battery that is left in the motorcycle can either self-discharge or discharge from parasitic loads. Parasitic loads occur from things like diode leakage and maintaining computer memory.
Voltage Test
  1. Check the voltage of the battery to verify that it is in a 100 percent fully charged condition.
  2. If the open circuit (disconnected) voltage reading is below 12.7 V, charge the battery.
  3. Check the voltage again after one to two hours. Refer to Table 1.
Table 1. Voltmeter Test
READING IN VOLTS
PERCENT OF CHARGE
12.7
100
12.6
75
12.3
50
12.0
25
11.8
0