Music Options on a Road King Special
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 57
Likes: 14
From: Atlanta
I love m LG Tone Bluetooth Earbuds . Noooo problem hearing them with my 1/2 helmet, in any condition. I listen to Spotify because you can make playlists on your phone for your different moods and listen to them when your offline out in the boonies or in the mountains. Plus the wife, kids, and work know that they can text me on the road and my earbuds read out the text to me. That comes in handy if there's bad traffic on the way home from work and the wife can text me ahead of time and I'll take a different route!
How much communicating do you actually do with your fellow riders while cruising down the road any how? Maybe you guys should all get an intercom system......
How much communicating do you actually do with your fellow riders while cruising down the road any how? Maybe you guys should all get an intercom system......
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,028
From: Carlsbad, CA
Yeah, that. But, but my helmet is the Sena Neotech, and I have the integrated Sena 10s.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 3,960
From: Near Yosemite
Lol, yeah..... I just got used to it. One of the earlier models had the button on the top and I got so I could actually play/pause with my chin EVEN with my jacket on, lol!
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 153
From: Fayetteville, NC
My very close friend put lowers on his 13RK and put speakers in the lowers as well as the bags.........he uses an ipod connector to play music I believe. His ipod is actually in a very small mount on the bars.......or sometimes he just plugs it in inside his bag and leaves it there. I have another buddy who has the exact same setup.
It's not about other people hearing your music; it's about having options and enjoying what you want to enjoy. I, too, can play my music in my helmet but there are times I prefer it coming from my speakers. As for ear buds in my ear.......FOR ME, those are very uncomfortable. Plus, I ride with ear plugs anyway. OH.....and I've been at the light playing old skool Motown/blues songs (at a friendly volume) and I look over at the old white lady, the old black man, the younger person and they are smiling, bobbing their heads, and actually singing the song. Now if you're the rider who doesn't turn down your screaming, profanity filled music.....that may be different
FWIW, the quality of the music coming from 2-4 6x5 speakers is far better than any in-helmet or ear bud. Also, I think you should save your pennies and get a better helmet than Bilt. I'm sure it does what you want, but there are quieter helmets out there that will allow you to hear your music better ................man, you're in Atlanta, the King of customizers. I'm sure you know some of those Dirty Birds and you can get some great music ideas from them and other clubs. You can also go over to the Audio section of the forum.......there, you will meet people who want others to hear their music
It's not about other people hearing your music; it's about having options and enjoying what you want to enjoy. I, too, can play my music in my helmet but there are times I prefer it coming from my speakers. As for ear buds in my ear.......FOR ME, those are very uncomfortable. Plus, I ride with ear plugs anyway. OH.....and I've been at the light playing old skool Motown/blues songs (at a friendly volume) and I look over at the old white lady, the old black man, the younger person and they are smiling, bobbing their heads, and actually singing the song. Now if you're the rider who doesn't turn down your screaming, profanity filled music.....that may be different
FWIW, the quality of the music coming from 2-4 6x5 speakers is far better than any in-helmet or ear bud. Also, I think you should save your pennies and get a better helmet than Bilt. I'm sure it does what you want, but there are quieter helmets out there that will allow you to hear your music better ................man, you're in Atlanta, the King of customizers. I'm sure you know some of those Dirty Birds and you can get some great music ideas from them and other clubs. You can also go over to the Audio section of the forum.......there, you will meet people who want others to hear their music
Last edited by sfcmo357; Apr 17, 2018 at 06:53 AM.
I have ceramic speakers in the side pouches of my Harley half helmet. I also installed a USB outlet on my bike to keep my phone charged up. I downloaded 500+ 60s/70s rock'n roll songs to my phone. I'm hardwired from my helmet speakers to my phone. I tried streaming music but on a lot of rides I keep losing the signal. Without earbuds I can still hear my surroundings and easily turn down the volume, need be. The whole setup ran me <$40. I'm very happy with my setup.
Novice
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 19
Likes: 7
From: Syracuse
Originally I didn't think I would want music on my RKS, but after a few long distant trips I think i'm getting the itch. I currently ride with earbuds which becomes a hassle when trying to communicate with my fellow riders. Not to mention at highway speeds, I can barely hear the lyrics. I'm definitely not feeling the look of lowers or handlebar mounted speakers and I'm concerned about how much sound I will get from just having speakers in the bag. 
My previous HD, a CVO Ultra had Boom audio speakers in front fairing and back and was audible at low speeds but unsatisfactory at anything over about 45 mph.
On the RKS, looks were important and I didn't always want music and nav when I ride. I already had a Garmin 660 which works fine for nave, phone control, built in media storage. It was a simple matter to get a small handlebar clamp and run a SAE power cord from under seat to front under console which a very small amount hanging.out front which is almost totally hidden when the 660 is not in use. I can unplug and remove this setup in less than 20 secs. It can than go in the saddlebag if on a stop or I am switching the 660 to the Ducati Multistrada.
With current Senna 20S paired with the 660, I get in helmet nav, phone, intercom and rider to rider BT and even FM radio.
There are adapters to convert the SAE 12V outlet plug to USB and with a different Ram mount, I could just take the iPhone and still have other features like the apps for music streaming, maps, phone etc with the same set up. Very customizable.
I can grab some pics, if anyone wants.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 153
From: Fayetteville, NC
My current limited is all stock and I can hear mine loud and clear at 80 and only have to turn it up to about 3/4.....and that's with a Shoei Neotec. If I put in ear plugs, I can hear it even better...........but like you, I do have various in helmet speakers also. I think your setup advice is a good one.
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Novice
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 19
Likes: 7
From: Syracuse
My current limited is all stock and I can hear mine loud and clear at 80 and only have to turn it up to about 3/4.....and that's with a Shoei Neotec. If I put in ear plugs, I can hear it even better...........but like you, I do have various in helmet speakers also. I think your setup advice is a good one.
Don't miss the plug in helmets for passenger and rider at all.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 153
From: Fayetteville, NC
Your Limited is the next gen, my CVO Ultra was a 2010. Audio Boom Box stock was just OK. You really needed a half helmet with open ears and speeds @ 30. Exhaust was a VH with baffles still in and headers so was only mildly louder than stock unless WOT. That Ultra also had the same 660 and could do BT helmet or play as aux through stock sound and use the wired plug in in helmet speakers.
Don't miss the plug in helmets for passenger and rider at all.
Don't miss the plug in helmets for passenger and rider at all.