Completed an install of a BT system last night and can tell you I am very impressed with what I have heard from it thus far. First the components: BT4180 amp, Pro7.1-14 front fairing spkrs., BT Titan II speakers for the tour pack pods. Of course, line levelers, BT wiring harness for plug-n-play connectivity, etc. I purchased the V-twin speaker spacers for the rear pods to gain enough room for the Titan II 6 1/2 inch speakers.

First I will say I have installed several BT systems over the years. This one took the longest. Can't tell you why, it just did.

Installed the tour pack speakers first. That was fairly straight forward except the speaker magnets do rest against the extremely long bolts that the Moco used to attach the pods to the tour pack. Seems odd they used that long a bolt.

I checked with BT and was advised as long as resting the speaker against the bolts did not interfere with the operation of the speaker, not to worry.

Completed installation on the rears and tested them. They sound fine even though I had not installed anything behind the front fairing. Much fuller sound as one would expect over the OEM speakers.

Pulled front fairing and commenced to removing the OEM speaker pods. OMG, what a deal that was. After trying numerous tool combinations to get to the notorious three inner frame bolts, I finally hit on the combination of 1/4 inch ratchet, long extension, 1/4 inch elbow and a 11 mm short socket. Even so, it took awhile to remove both pods. Once that was completed, I removed OEM speakers and installed the BT speaker mounting hardware. Very hefty mounts by the way. Next came the amp tray, amp and BT Line Levelers. By the way, I first installed the Line Levelers atop the amp, side by side oriented left to right, lengthwise. WRONG!! I later determined there wasn't enough clearance for the fairing mounted there. So I ended up mounting them along the left/brake side of the amp one on top of the other using double sided tape.

Hook ups to the BT wiring harness are not documented in my stuff. But if you think about it awhile you'll figure it out. Here's the problem though, the BT wiring harness takes up allot of room between the amp/radio and inside the fairing. So much so, I really had to practically cram the headlight into the cavity previously not occupied but now occupied by the large harness wires and connectors. My question is: for those of you who used the BT harness, what did you do to clearance the headlight???

Anyway, after tie-wrapping and securing every wire in sight, I tested the system and even with the fairing off, I was blown away at the SPL of this combination of amp and speakers. Holy eardrums this thing can get loud. But not for the sake of SQ. I found the music to be quite clear and distortion free even at 100 db+ SPL. Which, by the way was barely over half volume.

Completed the install by putting the fairing on and buttoned everything up. Tested the system for quite awhile with the bike at idle. Haven't had a chance for on-road testing just yet. But after having played with the system for over an hour with a dozen or so different genres of music, I will say that I have not been more impressed with a system as much as I am this one.

I'm one that will always want to "improve" things. But honestly, I don't see me touching this one anytime soon. Now it's time to just catch the wind and listen to the music. Maybe put some music by the late (now) and great David Bowie on going down the road.

Will report more later.

Jim

 

Great post man! I love hearing success stories. Biketronics is an awesome system! No doubt about that! Once those PRO's get broke in it gets even better!

 

Video or it never happened!!!

 

Haze, I bloodied up my knuckles so bad on the pod removal, I didn't want to have hazmat have to clean the video camera. So, can you answer my question concerning clearance behind the headlight due to the bundles from the BT wire harness?

Thanks,

Jim

 

Thanks Gannicus. I can't wait to get out on the road to hear it.

Jim

 

Take a look at this thread where hbsoldier3 did the same install using the breakout harness.

 

Pod knuckle.

Most of us here have it.

 

HardyHar, your gonna love that system when you get on the road, you might think your done for a while but...I see lowers in your future...and then lids.. lol!

 

Don't know that I'll be doing the lowers. Bike is a 2014 Ultra Limited HO 103 with liquid cooling. Darn lowers are taken up to help with cooling.

Lids, that's a whole 'nother story. One can never have too many speakers on his motorcycle.

 

that system will get better with age. nice write up.