The Official 2014 audio upgrade thread
Cruiser
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 123
Likes: 2
From: New Jersey
I just left the Harley dealership after checking on the installation of my Biketronics setup. I got the 7.1's for the fairing and the 6.5's in the lowers with the 4180 amp. We had to order some ledge that only comes with the Harley Boom setup for the lowers. You CANNOT order them separately (what BS). So in order for me to get these things in the lowers, I have to get the whole Boom setup including the speakers...something like $280. Ridiculous! Anyone put speakers in their lowers that has found a way around this?
Also, more importantly, the fairing speakers are installed with their new bracket system and I can honestly say, it sounds terrible! I primarily listen to hip hop/r&b and when I turned these things on, the highs were good, but man the mids and bass were not. I turned the bass all the way down to 0 and the things are still rattling. I'm praying that once the lowers are installed and a flash is done, it's 1000% better because right now, I'm kind of pissed lol.
Also, more importantly, the fairing speakers are installed with their new bracket system and I can honestly say, it sounds terrible! I primarily listen to hip hop/r&b and when I turned these things on, the highs were good, but man the mids and bass were not. I turned the bass all the way down to 0 and the things are still rattling. I'm praying that once the lowers are installed and a flash is done, it's 1000% better because right now, I'm kind of pissed lol.
I have a the Biketronics set up for my ultra limited. 7.1 for the front and 6.5 for the rear pods with BT4180. I was planning to install it over the coming weekend. Now reading your post I am not sure if I should open the boxes. If it sounds as bad as you are saying I am may just return the damn things. I expected greater reviews for $1150 plus system. You can check out VTWIN Audio for you lower adapter, they seem to carry some stuff. Can you please post again with you results after the Flash. I had Flash done already and was looking forward to the install..... Oh well
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Hey Redeye,
I have a the Biketronics set up for my ultra limited. 7.1 for the front and 6.5 for the rear pods with BT4180. I was planning to install it over the coming weekend. Now reading your post I am not sure if I should open the boxes. If it sounds as bad as you are saying I am may just return the damn things. I expected greater reviews for $1150 plus system. You can check out VTWIN Audio for you lower adapter, they seem to carry some stuff. Can you please post again with you results after the Flash. I had Flash done already and was looking forward to the install..... Oh well
I have a the Biketronics set up for my ultra limited. 7.1 for the front and 6.5 for the rear pods with BT4180. I was planning to install it over the coming weekend. Now reading your post I am not sure if I should open the boxes. If it sounds as bad as you are saying I am may just return the damn things. I expected greater reviews for $1150 plus system. You can check out VTWIN Audio for you lower adapter, they seem to carry some stuff. Can you please post again with you results after the Flash. I had Flash done already and was looking forward to the install..... Oh well
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 815
Likes: 28
From: Montgomery, AL
I sure will. I'm going to check out the v-twin site for the lower adapter. I was thinking the same thing too. I thought these things were going to be amazing. At the very least, better sounding than stock. The tech is a buddy of mine and he gave me the "I told you so" face when it started to play lol. It was rattling and distorted and my heart dropped. After all I had read, I was expecting this thing to be the shiznit! I am really hoping I am wrong. I also thought about putting the 6.5's into the pods and getting rid of that whole bracket deal to see if they sounded better in the pods and if it worked, just exchange the 7's for another set of 6.5's. The HD tech spoke with Biketronics several times that day with questions on the install. He told me he did exactly as they instructed him to do. That makes me nervous too lol.
lcjayhawk do you get the rattling with the magic box? The tech also showed me where the brackets use a couple less mounting points than the pods and it gave a little flex on the inner fairing. That made him nervous too.
I'm going back and see if he flashed it today to see if it's any better. If not, I'll be on the horn with BT asap! I'll keep y'all updated.
lcjayhawk do you get the rattling with the magic box? The tech also showed me where the brackets use a couple less mounting points than the pods and it gave a little flex on the inner fairing. That made him nervous too.
I'm going back and see if he flashed it today to see if it's any better. If not, I'll be on the horn with BT asap! I'll keep y'all updated.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 123
Likes: 2
From: New Jersey
I sure will. I'm going to check out the v-twin site for the lower adapter. I was thinking the same thing too. I thought these things were going to be amazing. At the very least, better sounding than stock. The tech is a buddy of mine and he gave me the "I told you so" face when it started to play lol. It was rattling and distorted and my heart dropped. After all I had read, I was expecting this thing to be the shiznit! I am really hoping I am wrong. I also thought about putting the 6.5's into the pods and getting rid of that whole bracket deal to see if they sounded better in the pods and if it worked, just exchange the 7's for another set of 6.5's. The HD tech spoke with Biketronics several times that day with questions on the install. He told me he did exactly as they instructed him to do. That makes me nervous too lol.
lcjayhawk do you get the rattling with the magic box? The tech also showed me where the brackets use a couple less mounting points than the pods and it gave a little flex on the inner fairing. That made him nervous too.
I'm going back and see if he flashed it today to see if it's any better. If not, I'll be on the horn with BT asap! I'll keep y'all updated.
lcjayhawk do you get the rattling with the magic box? The tech also showed me where the brackets use a couple less mounting points than the pods and it gave a little flex on the inner fairing. That made him nervous too.
I'm going back and see if he flashed it today to see if it's any better. If not, I'll be on the horn with BT asap! I'll keep y'all updated.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
lcjayhawk do you get the rattling with the magic box? The tech also showed me where the brackets use a couple less mounting points than the pods and it gave a little flex on the inner fairing. That made him nervous too.
I'm going back and see if he flashed it today to see if it's any better. If not, I'll be on the horn with BT asap! I'll keep y'all updated.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 815
Likes: 28
From: Montgomery, AL
Update:
Went back to the dealer today and it sounded better today. He did the 1 amp/4 speaker flash and it sounds alot better than yesterday. There is still a problem I think with the 7.1 in these 14's. They sound ok. Highs are good and mids are better. They even commented that they sound good for a '13. To my ear, though, it does not sound as full even as the stock. I think that JMJOHN and others who said removing those pods would be the culprit are right. The solution to fit those 7.1's does technically fit and work, but to my ear it doesn't sound much better. Not $400 better. The 6.5's will fit in the speaker pods and we are going to try and put those into the pods and see if they sound better than those 7.1's. That bracket setup just doesn't work to give you the full sound. No enclosure negatively impacts the overall sound period. The owner's '14 Limited was next to mine and listening to them side by side, I definitely noticed a fullness in the HD boom that was severely lacking in the bracket setup. They tried to convince me to go Boom and I fought them saying this Biketronics setup would kick their butt. Not really...4180...awesome...6.5's...great...7.1 with the brackets...not so good. Hopefully, he can get to it tomorrow and I will report back on the 6.5's in the enclosures. If it works out like I think it should, I'll just exchange those for another pair of 6.5's. I might even look into some J/L's or bite the bullet on the Focals down the road.
I do like the idea of the 7.1's. I wish we could just alter the pods to get them in there.
Went back to the dealer today and it sounded better today. He did the 1 amp/4 speaker flash and it sounds alot better than yesterday. There is still a problem I think with the 7.1 in these 14's. They sound ok. Highs are good and mids are better. They even commented that they sound good for a '13. To my ear, though, it does not sound as full even as the stock. I think that JMJOHN and others who said removing those pods would be the culprit are right. The solution to fit those 7.1's does technically fit and work, but to my ear it doesn't sound much better. Not $400 better. The 6.5's will fit in the speaker pods and we are going to try and put those into the pods and see if they sound better than those 7.1's. That bracket setup just doesn't work to give you the full sound. No enclosure negatively impacts the overall sound period. The owner's '14 Limited was next to mine and listening to them side by side, I definitely noticed a fullness in the HD boom that was severely lacking in the bracket setup. They tried to convince me to go Boom and I fought them saying this Biketronics setup would kick their butt. Not really...4180...awesome...6.5's...great...7.1 with the brackets...not so good. Hopefully, he can get to it tomorrow and I will report back on the 6.5's in the enclosures. If it works out like I think it should, I'll just exchange those for another pair of 6.5's. I might even look into some J/L's or bite the bullet on the Focals down the road.
I do like the idea of the 7.1's. I wish we could just alter the pods to get them in there.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Update:
Went back to the dealer today and it sounded better today. He did the 1 amp/4 speaker flash and it sounds alot better than yesterday. There is still a problem I think with the 7.1 in these 14's. They sound ok. Highs are good and mids are better. They even commented that they sound good for a '13. To my ear, though, it does not sound as full even as the stock. I think that JMJOHN and others who said removing those pods would be the culprit are right. The solution to fit those 7.1's does technically fit and work, but to my ear it doesn't sound much better. Not $400 better. The 6.5's will fit in the speaker pods and we are going to try and put those into the pods and see if they sound better than those 7.1's. That bracket setup just doesn't work to give you the full sound. No enclosure negatively impacts the overall sound period. The owner's '14 Limited was next to mine and listening to them side by side, I definitely noticed a fullness in the HD boom that was severely lacking in the bracket setup. They tried to convince me to go Boom and I fought them saying this Biketronics setup would kick their butt. Not really...4180...awesome...6.5's...great...7.1 with the brackets...not so good. Hopefully, he can get to it tomorrow and I will report back on the 6.5's in the enclosures. If it works out like I think it should, I'll just exchange those for another pair of 6.5's. I might even look into some J/L's or bite the bullet on the Focals down the road.
I do like the idea of the 7.1's. I wish we could just alter the pods to get them in there.
Went back to the dealer today and it sounded better today. He did the 1 amp/4 speaker flash and it sounds alot better than yesterday. There is still a problem I think with the 7.1 in these 14's. They sound ok. Highs are good and mids are better. They even commented that they sound good for a '13. To my ear, though, it does not sound as full even as the stock. I think that JMJOHN and others who said removing those pods would be the culprit are right. The solution to fit those 7.1's does technically fit and work, but to my ear it doesn't sound much better. Not $400 better. The 6.5's will fit in the speaker pods and we are going to try and put those into the pods and see if they sound better than those 7.1's. That bracket setup just doesn't work to give you the full sound. No enclosure negatively impacts the overall sound period. The owner's '14 Limited was next to mine and listening to them side by side, I definitely noticed a fullness in the HD boom that was severely lacking in the bracket setup. They tried to convince me to go Boom and I fought them saying this Biketronics setup would kick their butt. Not really...4180...awesome...6.5's...great...7.1 with the brackets...not so good. Hopefully, he can get to it tomorrow and I will report back on the 6.5's in the enclosures. If it works out like I think it should, I'll just exchange those for another pair of 6.5's. I might even look into some J/L's or bite the bullet on the Focals down the road.
I do like the idea of the 7.1's. I wish we could just alter the pods to get them in there.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 815
Likes: 28
From: Montgomery, AL
But what I don't understand is this: they've been putting these speakers in all the previous years' touring models and getting great reviews, and they don't have pods, they have open fairings. Which is basically what these brackets are creating. I still think it's more due to the stupid radio than the speakers.
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I think that's because they were a huge upgrade for the pre-14's. The 14 systems stock have a way fuller sound than the previous audio did stock (I had a 12 previously) . I think when we go to those 7.1's in an open fairing, we basically go back to older technology. We all know HD wouldn't pay to put anything additional in there unless, they felt it was necessary. I'm just talking out loud here. I'm thinking that I may get better sound out of the 6.5's in the enclosure than the open fairing 7.1's. I'm going to try it out and see. If not, I'll just switch back. I'd love for any of our audio gurus to chime in with their thoughts on this.
I will be installing the 7.1 (pro line) in my 14 in the very near future. Until then I guess the jury is out.
