Always check your terminals to make sure there are tight. A battery tender will save your battery. I always plug my bike in.

I like sticking my tongue across the two terminals of my motorcycle battery to see if it is good.
Someone will get this eventually

Dragon

You don't have a horse ????   

Just take a wire and jump the terminals. You can tell how good the battery is by how good the spark is..









(yes that is a joke! Please do not do it!)

What rpm does the typical newer Harley start charging at, 2000, 3000..?

I never knew that the batteries were not getting charged at low RPM. Thanks for the info.
We keep all of our bikes plugged into battery tenders over night. We noticed the batteries last much longer with the tenders.

I am not an official mechanic but...

Any good alternator should be putting out enough voltage and current to charge the battery around 1000 to 1500 rpm, even with a full load ( all lights and accessories on). Of course the current will increase with rpm and you will get a better / faster recharge while driving at higher rpm. Since most Harleys run at lower speeds you should not have any problems assuming your other electrical components are working correctly.

Here is a quick way to see if this is true...
shine your headlight on a close surface (like a garage door) at night. Have the engine warm enough that it will idle without enrichment or choke. You FI guys just be sure it is fully warmed up. Then slowly increase the throttle and if the headlight gets appreciably brighter I would have it tested by a mechanic or go get your meter and shop manual.

I did a little more research...
http://www.hdtalking.com/electrical_and_lighting_systems/741-testing_the_charging_system.html

I'd like to hear what Angel Eyes has to say after you do this little trick!!

Dragon, If you can do that you are probably very popular.

OK maybe I stretched (get it) the the truth a bit
Dragon

laughed so hard I think I cracked a rib. *lol*

not goin there dragon, hope your rib heals quickly adventuregirl

I use a tender in the winter when I can only get out very rarely. In the summer I have NO problems with the battery staying charged. Even if I just do lots of short little runs for a couple of weeks.

As far as I know, Harley's are charging any time the engine is running.  Now at very low RPM they may not put out enough to run the accessories and chagre the bike, but they are putting out current.

Deader statement--"--at highway speed will take 2 miles to bring battery to full charge after cold start." That is for 2005 Suzuki Bulivard C90 with low beam and Driving light Bar on. Turn the Driving Light Bar off wii be ok after 1 mile. Gel Cell Battery

Some people just get recharged in differant ways..???

All I can think of is Dragon trying to use his Tongue to see of the battery is good.....

LOL

Seakers

Digital voltmeters are your friend, can do so much with them, damn good tool for the money, $20.00 +or-. Every alternator and generator has a voltage regulator in line either internal or external, the volt meter will tell you when it clicks on, all different. I was surprised to see mine come on at 4000 rpm.

Dragon youve either a little battery or watch out girlz

I perfer alligator clips attached to my ear lobes then attached to the battery!

Clears my sinuses!

Short rides that do not let the engine reach operating temps for a sugnificant amount of time will cause a moisture buildup with in your crank case also which will play havoc on polished machined clearenced parts (example: cam, main bearings crankshafts etc.) Stay in a lower gear longer to keep RPM higher and Increase temps. to disapate moisture.