Radio options for my FLHTC?
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 957
Likes: 2
From: Carlsbad Springs Ontario
tunes
Hello all,
My radio has been dead since i got my 1986 FLHTC, I am looking for a good option (as cheap as possible) to restore some tunes to my ride! I am not afraid to tear into the wiring if some splicing is required (I have diagrams somewhere....) but a plug and play connector would be great or even (gasp!) an original factory radio! I know people want millions of dollars for the factory set-up and the radio is too old for the manufacturer to fix it.
Looking for opinions.....
Jesse
My radio has been dead since i got my 1986 FLHTC, I am looking for a good option (as cheap as possible) to restore some tunes to my ride! I am not afraid to tear into the wiring if some splicing is required (I have diagrams somewhere....) but a plug and play connector would be great or even (gasp!) an original factory radio! I know people want millions of dollars for the factory set-up and the radio is too old for the manufacturer to fix it.
Looking for opinions.....
Jesse
Lose the stereo and buy an ipod that will sit your pocket with a good set of earbuds. You can load a zillion of your favorite tunes on it and they sound excellent .
Try it .
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 2
From: Florida
Im an ex. car stereo shop owner and i have said this many times on many different bike forums ... the WORST place to get deceant sound from a stereo is on a bike ! I could list the obvious reasons why big buck amps. and speakers only give loud clear volume up to the point were you sound like a traveling radio show.
Lose the stereo and buy an ipod that will sit your pocket with a good set of earbuds. You can load a zillion of your favorite tunes on it and they sound excellent .
Try it .
Lose the stereo and buy an ipod that will sit your pocket with a good set of earbuds. You can load a zillion of your favorite tunes on it and they sound excellent .
Try it .
That make work for some, but I do like to hear the traffic around me so I know where everyone is and what they's doing. The earbuds just eliminate all that good music!
Cruiser
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 144
Likes: 2
From: Chicago, IL
This is what I use, with helmet speakers - works great! http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcyc...-jhd910-radio/
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,376
Likes: 36
From: Round Rock, TX
I have a set of these. I can still hear traffic just fine. On highway trips I wear ear plugs as well and it really cuts fatigue.
http://www.cardosystems.com/scala-rider/scala-rider-g9
http://www.cardosystems.com/scala-rider/scala-rider-g9
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,816
Likes: 7,848
From: SE Louisiana
I have the dsx ms60 Sony marine stereo, ktp 445u Alpine low draw amp, 4" & 5.25" infinity kappa speakers.
Sounds good and never have the volume turned more than 1/3, amp gains are less than 1/4.
No problem listening at 70 mph.
On road trips, if I'm going to be on the interstate all day, I use my Sony ear buds anyway,
I'm definitely less fatigued after 10plus hours at speed.
A friend of mine rides a heritage and never uses ear plugs of any kind,
by the end of the day,I joke with him that he seems "lost in space", and if I just wait for it, at some point, he gonna complain that his ears are buzzing.
He won 't use plugs or buds and I don't understand why not.
Sounds good and never have the volume turned more than 1/3, amp gains are less than 1/4.
No problem listening at 70 mph.
On road trips, if I'm going to be on the interstate all day, I use my Sony ear buds anyway,
I'm definitely less fatigued after 10plus hours at speed.
A friend of mine rides a heritage and never uses ear plugs of any kind,
by the end of the day,I joke with him that he seems "lost in space", and if I just wait for it, at some point, he gonna complain that his ears are buzzing.
He won 't use plugs or buds and I don't understand why not.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,816
Likes: 7,848
From: SE Louisiana
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,200
Likes: 3,089
From: NW AR
Went a bit manic today and bought one of those Alpine KTP 445U amps as well. With the current I should be saving from the LED headlight, I should be OK on feeding the amp, which I can drive off of low power outputs on my head unit. When you only have 22 amps, you have to be careful with the add-ons. I previously replaced all the little bulbs like the fender tips and tour pack with LED's.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,816
Likes: 7,848
From: SE Louisiana
Did a good bit of reading before I installed it, the consensus was better performance(louder) hooked to line level inputs,
which will end up with the amp gains at less tha 1/4, less work the amp has to do, less draw, I think.
Suppose to have less noise with low level RCA, but on the bike environment, you won't notice a difference.
I also have all led except turn signals and dash lights.
Really made a difference.
which will end up with the amp gains at less tha 1/4, less work the amp has to do, less draw, I think.
Suppose to have less noise with low level RCA, but on the bike environment, you won't notice a difference.
I also have all led except turn signals and dash lights.
Really made a difference.
Last edited by Schex; Mar 25, 2013 at 05:22 PM.