LAB-381-Can You Use A Lithium Ion Battery On A 2024 & Newer Harley Davidson?

Official Website: https://www.lawabidingbiker.com I recently purchased a 2024 Harley-Davidson Street Glide, one of the latest models featuring a redesigned fairing and the new Infotainment Control Unit (IFCU) digital dash system. As someone who values reliability and performance, I opted to replace the stock lead-acid battery with a lithium-ion battery before embarking on a 10-day trip. Over the years, I've tested various lithium-ion batteries and prefer them because they are very lightweight, durable, and efficient. The First Few Days: Everything Seemed Fine For the first three days of my trip, the Street Glide performed flawlessly with the new lithium-ion battery. The bike fired up without hesitation, and I had no reason to suspect any issues. However, on the third day, I began to notice that the bike was starting a bit slower than usual—a small concern that I decided to keep an eye on. SUPPORT US AND SHOP IN THE OFFICIAL LAW ABIDING BIKER STORE On the fourth morning, the bike started up just fine at the hotel. After a quick stop at Starbucks, though, it refused to start. The battery was completely dead. Thankfully, I had one of our compact jump starter packs from the Law Abiding Biker Store, which saved the day. Without it, I would have been stuck waiting for a tow service—something every biker should try to avoid. A jump start pack is an essential tool that every rider should carry to prevent costly and time-consuming interruptions. The Ride Continues: Persistent Issues With my Street Glide jump-started, we set out for a long day of riding. Although the bike started after each stop, it did so a bit slower than usual. Additionally, the battery indicator on the digital dash remained on, signaling that something was still wrong. Despite these issues, we pressed on. CHECK OUT OUR HUNDREDS OF FREE HELPFUL VIDEOS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND SUBSCRIBE! The Breakdown: A Dangerous Situation Later that day, just outside of Greensboro, NC, on a busy multi-lane freeway, my Street Glide suddenly went completely dead—without warning. I lost all power, including the digital dash system, and had to drift to the inside shoulder. Attempting to jump-start the bike again proved futile, as it wouldn't even power on. Left behind by my riding group, I quickly contacted them to secure a replacement battery. They managed to find a lead-acid battery and brought it back to my location. Fortunately, I was prepared with my Cruz Tools RTH3 emergency roadside tool kit , also available at the Law Abiding Biker Store . We swapped out the lithium-ion battery for the lead-acid one, and my bike started right up. This preparedness saved us valuable time and allowed us to continue our journey without further delay. The Aftermath: Investigating the Issue With the new lead-acid battery installed, the battery trouble indicator disappeared, and I had no further issues for the remainder of the trip. However, the situation left me with many questions. Was the problem caused by the lithium-ion battery? Has something changed in the 2024 models regarding the use of these batteries? And if so, why isn't this information widely known? Determined to find answers, I reached out to my connections within Harley-Davidson. After two weeks of communication, I received the following statement: Harley-Davidson's Statement: Lithium batteries are not approved by HD fitment for Revolution Max and center-cooled models due to the unique features of the electrical system and software on those vehicles. We continue to evaluate those systems' interactions, the changes needed to possibly enable fitment, and consumer demand. Any potential future changes to enable lithium batteries will be communicated to the field and dealer network via fitment updates or service bulletins. NEW FREE VIDEO RELEASED: '24 & Newer Harley-How To Install Hand Grips & Remove The Control Housings Sponsor-Ciro 3D CLICK HERE! Innovative products for Harley-Davidson & Goldwing Affordable chrome, lighting, and comfort products Ciro 3D has a passion for design and innovation Sponsor-Butt Buffer CLICK HERE Want to ride longer? Tired of a sore and achy ass? Then fix it with a high-quality Butt Buffer seat cushion? My Opinion: What Likely Happened Based on my experience with lithium-ion batteries, here's my take on what likely happened. Lithium-ion batteries are "smart" and can go into sleep mode if they are drawn down too far. I believe that's what happened when my Street Glide suddenly went dead on the freeway. The battery likely went into safe mode, cutting off power to the entire bike. While the charging system is fully capable of charging the battery, the new electrical system in the 2024 models—especially with the IFCU digital dash—might have different protections in place. These protections could allow the main battery to draw down further before it begins recharging, which might explain why a lead-acid battery, which isn't "smart" and doesn't go to sleep, worked without issue. Again, this is just my opinion based on what I've observed. Conclusion: Be Prepared and Stay Informed My experience underscores the importance of being prepared and staying informed about your motorcycle's components, especially when dealing with new technology. Whether it's carrying a reliable jump pack or a comprehensive roadside tool kit , being prepared can save you from potentially time consuming and costly situations. As Harley-Davidson continues to evaluate the use of lithium-ion batteries in their newer models, it's crucial for riders to stay updated wich is why I made this video and wrote this article. New Patrons: Ola Mattisgården of Rydsgård, Sweden Jeffrey Porras of Phoenix, AZ Stephen Gates of Fort Collins, Colorado If you appreciate the content we put out and want to make sure it keeps on coming your way then become a Patron too! There are benefits and there is no risk. Thanks to the following bikers for supporting us via a flat donation : Robert Waite of Lemoore, California Donald Plowman of Sparks, Nevada Robert Collins of Vicksburg, Michigan ________________________________________________________ FURTHER INFORMATION: Official Website: http://www.LawAbidingBiker.com Email & Voicemail: http://www.LawAbidingBiker.com/Contact Podcast Hotline Phone: 509-731-3548 HELP SUPPORT US! JOIN THE BIKER REVOLUTION! #BikerRevolution #LawAbidingBiker 🛒 SHOP IN THE LAW ABIDING BIKER STORE 🛒 😎 BECOME A MEMBER AND GET BENEFITS 😎 📹 GET PREMIUM MOTORCYCLE TUTORIAL VIDEOS 📹 🎬 WATCH OUR MOTORCYCLE DOCUMENTARY FILMS HERE 🎬 💰 LEAVE A FLAT DONATION 💰 🎙 CHECK OUT THE WEEKLY PODCAST 🎙 ⓕ FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK ⓕ 🐦 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER 🐦