Been researching this topic alot on this forum. I was ready to send my 09 ultra to the dealer to install a mini amp (arc,hogtunes,or hawg wired) and their respective speaker upgrades along with adding satellite to my stock head unit ($400 with the 20% off at Madison, WI HD). I was also considering the HD amp that mounts under the tour pac. Also looking at a Biketronics set up. I figure the total cost would be 700-1000 depending on the set up plus the likely outrageous dealer labor.

So I stopped by my local electronics shop (Team in Janesville,WI) and talked to the guy that has installed several systems into a few cars I've owned over the years. He said he does lots of bikes (mostly Harley and Goldwings). He likes Boston Acoustic and is proposing marine grade speakers (150$) and a BA amp (200$) that he says will be much better then the mini amps. He would try to install it under the tour pack (like the HD amp). Also looked at a marine grade head unit (200$ plus 150$ for the XM receiver). He says he has a unit that will make this work with the thumb controls.

Wondering what experience people have had with independent installers. How would it work mounting an amp under the tour pack (weather and washing are a concern). Anyone else that has used a non Hawg wired or biketronics system to make thumb controls compatible? He is also more then happy to go with the mini amp of my choice. Labor would likely be below the dealers.

Thanks

Rick

 

I'd probably tern him on to the arc amp and mont it under the fairing. Or if you e-mail me I'll get the name of a mini amp were using on a system that were doing at the shop now. I believe my son said it's 200 amps and it's pretty small. I'd hate to take up the room in the bags, just mt opinion. Also I have had to issues that when they run the wires from the amps in the rear they have run then to close the eletronics system rt/side and have picked up feed back.

 

I'll toss in my two pennies. I've tried a few diff setups, researched this painstakingly over and over. Two words: Hawg Wired. There is no substitute. Yes, they are not cheap but you get what you pay for. They have Class T amps and can handle anything you'd throw at them and their speakers are right up there as well. I'm ordering a 150 Watt amp and speakers sometime next week and managed to find a perty dang good price on them.

So there you have it lol....

Best of luck.

 

arc here i did speakers in the lowers and replaced the stockers. i run the mini amp at 125ch. i`m very happy with setup and i`m hard to please.

do a searck alot of us have posted about our installs.

 

alternative set up
1. Alpine PDX 4x150 digital amp fits perfectly on the saddlebag latch

2. Infinity Kappa 6 1/2 speakers in the fairing

3. infinity dome tweeters

4. pioneer pro series 2 way 6x9 speakers (yellow cone if you can find them) in the bags (2 or 4)

JVC/Pioneer/Kenwood/Alpine head unit

without an amp you might as well leave it stock

 

Like lkr0, I have also done a system with an Alpine Amp in the bags and even went as far as mouning subs within an enclosed box at the rear of the bags. ARC, Hawg Wired and Biketronics make some great stuff and it's all relative to your budget I would suppose. I just did another install with the Biketronics stuff which is now posted in a sticky thread in the touring section and their products are downright wicked. They run cool, protect the bikes electrical system, and BT will match components for whatever you want to achieve including handlebar controls.

After finishing the install in my garage on Saturday, I had this thing cranked at a volume that all of my neighbors could hear in their homes for almost an hour an a half. The draw at one point was so hard that I popped the 15 amp fuse in the battery harness. When that went, I immediately opened the fairing and checked to see if I cooked an amp? No such luck, they were pounding for well over an hour inside that fairing at 180 watts per channel and I literally laughed my azz off when I touched them. Not a single ounce of heat that could be felt by the human hand. Now try that with any other amplifier on the market.

UcD Class amplifiers are the best thing on the block at the moment and very few are using this stuff right now. It's an expensive technology that has just been refined, but it sure is impressive. Be sure to read my posts on this topic and don't overlook Biketronics before you buy anything. Just so you know, I have no affiliation with this vendor. Just tried their product and can state it has more than proven itself. Pez at Hogtunes suggested their amps to me and I thank him for that.

By the way, your local guy is likely using PAC product to get the handlebar controls working, but others like Biketronics have been doing this for years already and have built their own products with lifetime warranties. Give them a call is my advice to you. I also hear Firecap is working on a controls setup but don't think it's out yet.

 

correct, I'm using a PAC with my Kenwood kvt-512 still trying to work some bugs out it -- have slight wiring problem everything will go up with the hand controls but not down -- it's minor issue somewhere but a b*tch to locate and isolate the problem

 

I have hawg wired in my bike bought my bike used It is freakin ausome! I'm the 2nd owner and had a small problemm with my amp .and they fixed it for free!!! there customer service and product are great! I was very surprised being the 2nd owner and the product being out of warrenty they fixed for free! Its really a big debate kinda like the oiul debate but I love my hog wired punch in the face set up!!!

 

You could mount the amp under the tour pak, but I would make sure its sealed. Sony makes a nice affordable mini amp. Its the XM-4s, four channel for around $150. If you choose a mini amp I would recommend the Arc KS 125.2 or 125.4 (two or four channel). This topic is as diverse as 'what oil to use', 'what swingarm brace to use' etc. The main thing is using good speakers, (it doesnt take much to beat out the OEM's), and use an amp, other than that its all relative.

 

How is this in regards to your charging system? I have those speakers in my dash, some 6x9's ordered with speaker boxes for my sidecar and the 4x100 Alpine amp to mount in the sidecar's storage area behind it's seat. Should sound sweet but curious if it will tax the charging system.