Not another XAV7000 thread....
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Westford, MA
Not another XAV7000 thread....
For those who have installed the XAV 7000, has there ever been an issue from getting caught in the rain or any moisture wreaking havoc on this system. Yes there are a ton of threads but I must have missed the comments that will answer this question. I see a ton of people enjoy this over the stock Harley option and this is the only concern that is keeping me from making the move.
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From: Southern Virginia
If it gets good and wet it will crap out on you. There was some misinformation early on from Sony that led folks to think the buttons were sealed but they are not. Users in the audio forum have reported that it will take a light misting of water but a good downpour will cause the screen to fog up inside and go nuts. It just is not a "marine" unit. Also keep in mind the head units that do claim to be "marine" only have a conformal coating sprayed on their circuit boards to help prevent corrosion from salt air. Get a good dose of water sprayed on them like a hard rain and they will crap out as well. The 7000 does not even have the conformal coating on its circuit boards.
There were some pics guys had posted of the water damage but I don't recall what the title of the thread was. If I had a Rushmore and wanted an upgrade I would just save up for the newer GTS unit. I have read some posts where guys have done that and been happy with the upgrade. Yeah it is stupid expensive but you don't have to worry about it getting wet. Also with the Sony you lose satellite GPS functionality and a good chunk of your handlebar control capability.
I was considering the 7000 switch as well (Metra makes an inner fairing for my bike to fit it) but the water issue wasn't something I was willing to deal with. Here is a link on the Road Glide forums where guys actually talked to Sony about it and Sony specifically said not to get the screen wet:
sony xav-ax7000
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
There were some pics guys had posted of the water damage but I don't recall what the title of the thread was. If I had a Rushmore and wanted an upgrade I would just save up for the newer GTS unit. I have read some posts where guys have done that and been happy with the upgrade. Yeah it is stupid expensive but you don't have to worry about it getting wet. Also with the Sony you lose satellite GPS functionality and a good chunk of your handlebar control capability.
I was considering the 7000 switch as well (Metra makes an inner fairing for my bike to fit it) but the water issue wasn't something I was willing to deal with. Here is a link on the Road Glide forums where guys actually talked to Sony about it and Sony specifically said not to get the screen wet:
sony xav-ax7000
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
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From: Puyallup Wa.
I do not have one but I do know there's some good comparison videos on YouTube.
I was thinking about one but I have been swayed from watching by YouTube videos.
At the end of the day stock is doing okay and I've been in some absolutely Gully Washers of rain with it and did not have a problem.
I was thinking about one but I have been swayed from watching by YouTube videos.
At the end of the day stock is doing okay and I've been in some absolutely Gully Washers of rain with it and did not have a problem.
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From: Southern Virginia
I wasn't even really looking for a vid on the 7000 but one popped up in the thumbnails on YouTube. This guy here gives an objective review of the pros and cons of the Sony. I also forgot that the touch screen does not work if you are wearing gloves. They say the gloves with special tech fingertips work but most of us have gloves we like and don't want to change.
Also I have seen several Road Glide owners say that they cannot see the display during the day time. I haven't heard this complaint from batwing owners but I would assume it wouldn't be as easy to read as the stock unit.
I just noticed that this fellow had a follow up video with some more observations after a lot more use:
Also I have seen several Road Glide owners say that they cannot see the display during the day time. I haven't heard this complaint from batwing owners but I would assume it wouldn't be as easy to read as the stock unit.
I just noticed that this fellow had a follow up video with some more observations after a lot more use:
Last edited by Hoyt 1911A1; May 21, 2020 at 03:05 PM.
I went with the Sony 7000 through Fat Head Cycles. I'm pretty sure you can find reviews that hate anything your looking at. I figure at almost 1/4 the cost of the HD unit I'll go this way for now. It works well and I'm satisfied with it. My plan is to turn the radio off and focus on riding if the rain is really that bad... or stop.
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From: Southern Virginia
I went with the Sony 7000 through Fat Head Cycles. I'm pretty sure you can find reviews that hate anything your looking at. I figure at almost 1/4 the cost of the HD unit I'll go this way for now. It works well and I'm satisfied with it. My plan is to turn the radio off and focus on riding if the rain is really that bad... or stop.
Some of the reviews I have seen on YouTube about the Sony really show what it can do. It does have some amazing features but I've gotten my system to where it sounds halfway decent so I'll probably leave it as is. Ryan Urlacher had a comparison review of the Boom Box GTS vs. the Sony which was pretty good. Most of the comments about the Sony from folks that actually use it were positive. Then I found this comment here:
My advice is stay away from the sony unit I installed one in my 2017 street glide following instructions from :%#*$ cycles ..the kit was plug and play it worked fine until I washed my bike it completely failed . with no precaution about covering the unit to further try to water proof it from said cycle supply .i talked to tech support prior to purchasing the sony unit and asked them if there was any concerns about weather proofing and no mention of going the extra step to cover with some type of Tupperware (insert better description here) ....i ultimately returned with no question asked other than what happened so Like you said Ryan. (FAIR WEATHER ONLY) don't even wash your bike Buyer beware
BikeTronics makes a sealed 7000 that is supposedly completely waterproof but I wonder how the touchscreen would work with that cover on it? I haven't seen one in real life to know.
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Grand HDF Member
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I wonder how you can access the screen of the radio to work the controls? Does the waterproof screen flip up?
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Not sure. I just knew they had developed a "Radio Wrap" that was waterproof. The website says "Retains handlebar controls", so maybe you wouldn't need to access the screen?
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From: Southern Virginia
Edit: the paste link function will not play the video for some reason. If you want to see the radio wrap kit installation just go to YouTube and search for
Biketronics RadioWrap Sony AX7000 install
I'm guessing that with this mount and bezel it wouldn't fit into the Metra double din fairings for the pre-Rushmore bikes.
Last edited by Hoyt 1911A1; May 22, 2020 at 11:14 AM.