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

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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.

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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.

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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 tho