I have been reading for awhile that the stock radio "sucks" but I also see them selling for 400-500 dollars, If they suck why & who are gobbling them up?

 

its all in the name, just because its said harley davidson on it.

 

I think its all in the perception. I love my HD/HK radio. Is the very best radio I could put in, hell no, but it gets the job done. Lots of folks with EG Standards, could be looking for a HD radio.

 

It's got some issues, but so does every other OEM unit in every other motorcycle and car on the planet. I would have loved to have seen Sony, , Pioneer, or any other one of the "big" name manufatures have taken a shot at a stock unit in this bike environment. But then I ask myself...How would have a Japanees stock radio have gone over with the Harley crowd? It's pretty easy to have a failure rate fly under the radar when you only supply a few thousand aftermarket units rather than a few hunderd thousand stock units. In addition, HK, like any other OEM supplier, is bound by the constraints and the specs of the customer. The biggest weakness with the stock system is the speakers...again, specked by Harley.

People get excited by the "marine grade" tag on some of the aftermarket units used here. And that's great, only marine grade units should be used. But what does that mean? it means the boards have a conforman coating on them...nothing else. If your stock HK unit was sold as an aftermarket, it would be marine grade.

There are alot of reasons why people give up on a stock unit. For some, it's as simple as "it's a stock unit". Some have had multiple issue. Some want features Harley does not spec. Every reason is valid.

But people who know, know this. It's the same company with the acess to the same resources as Infinity, JBL, AKG, Crown, Mark Levinson, just to name a few. And it's the OEM supplier to not only Harley but BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Land Rover, Ferrari, Aston Marton, Porsche, Infinity, Toyota, Hundai, and Chrysler. There are names on that list that would dump Harman in a minute if quality was an issue.

One last thing...and mybe this means something or maybe it doesnt. Used to mean alot to people who rode Harleys. Your HK unit is made in the US by a US owned comany.

Why does the unit sell for $500 on ebay? Because people are willing to buy it. Is it because it says Harley? Could be...but that could be said about alot of things we all buy that say Harley.

 

This may be off topic but a friend of mine test rode a Victory Vision and a Street Glide and thought the stock Harley stereo was way better. Maybe the HD unit is'nt that bad.

 

My HK unit is pretty good. I'm happy with its operation and that it was made in the good old USA.

 

I have my 87 stock am/fm cassette, if anyone wants to pay big bucks for it it's yours! I'll even throw in the stock speakers and shipping

 

LOL! I've got one to.

 

I like the HD player. I only use CD's and my MP3 player. The radio reception isn't that great. I'd like to upgrade to the newer HK/HD. Is there an adapter to fit the newer HK radios in an 05 touring?

 

$400-$500????? man mine is going up on ebay reaaaal soon