Started off with the stock setup on my bike. Not good enough. Had my indy install some boom speakers in the fairing when I had him do bars. I tackled the tough job of putting the new ones in the tour pac. I thought that the left front one was blown (turned out it wasnt, just sounded like it), so I do some more shopping.

Pick up the popular BT 7.1s for the fairing, MM651s for the tour pac, and the SS PN4.520 amp and get the same indy to install it. Sounds good as I head out for Gettysburg (1500 mile trip), until the second day. Then start having the same issue with the left front speaker, sounds like crap, popping, cracking, and distortion. Comes and goes as I hit bumps, acts like a bad connection.

I take it back to the same indy, telling him that theres a bad connection, or something similar. He just calls me after having it for a week and tells me he can find nothing wrong, other than it doesnt seem "as loud" as it was when he first installed it all. He makes sure to complain about having "to hack into the factory wiring harness to hook up that car amp". He said that he adjusted the gain down a bit.

I want to keep the HK radio, as I want to keep the handlebar controls. I'd really like to find someone somewhat local to fix what I consider to be a mess. I know that I really dont want to fool with it myself, but will if I have to. I've built motors, transmissions, etc for years but really dont want to fool with all that wiring inside that fairing!

Anybody have any ideas? Other than not to take it back to the same indy?

 

Have you looked into the new Jensen, it is plug and play AND allows you to retain use of your handle bar controls.

 

Nope. My memories of Jensen are right up there with Kraco. I'm sure that things may have changed by now though.

Is it a marine radio? What model are you referring to?

 

Ask him to make sure the filter switch is seated in the FULL position. Not saying that's the problem but it could be as I experienced the same thing when I first installed my PN4 and that solved it. I even put a piece of electrical tape over the switch so it couldn't move.

 

Its a Jensen in name only, I think its made by a reputable company named ASA or something. Here is a thread that goes into a lot of detail about it.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/audio...ide-today.html


This should get you going in the right direction.

 

Could it be a bad speaker - maybe the voice coil is starting to go?

 

Chuck,


I have this on my bike and I still have handlebar controls. Volume, changing stations, songs, all of that. Sony also makes a unit that allows handlebar controls.


Get the plug 'n' play installation kit from Biketronics and it will sound great. They even include a weather proof cover for the radio. Face is detacheable as well.

 

Most local indy's are clueless when it comes to audio on a bike. You would be better off reading THIS FORUM and getting some advice from the gurus here and installing yourself. If you can work on transmissions and motors you can install your stereo. You can start by reading the Ultranutz install sticky at the top of the audio forum.

 

Wiring has always been my arch nemesis.


I actually printed out Ultra's instructions for the Indy.


Picked up the bike yesterday. It actually sounds better, still not as good as I expect with the components I have. The Indy said that the problems are the car amp and the cheap fairing speakers (BT 7.1s) . He said that he had to set the gain very low to keep the front speakers from distorting. That the front ones can only handle about half the power of the rear (Polk MM651s).


He's limited in his stereo work to replacing stock stuff with plug and play J&M stuff.


I think I'll start shopping for a head unit that will allow me to keep the handlebar controls. And maybe for someone to do the work that knows what he is doing and isn't too far away.

 

Wow. . . I hear you brother. In regard to your Indy. . . The old folks used to say if you can't say something nice about a person Don't say nothing at all. You have some of the best speakers you can have on a Bike with the 7.1's They are water resistant, they have a lifetime warranty and they sound DAM good if set up properly and more importantly No way in hell they are "Cheap" speakers. I also have to call BS on the "car amp" thing. An Amp is an Amp. The 520.D is an excellent amp for your application. Your components are good to go. Your Indy? Another story. You are heading in the right direction with the new head unit. It will make a world of difference. Good luck my man!