180 watts per channel - I may have solved my radio problem
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: U.S.S.A.
Stock ('08) HK head unit, 2 Polk MM-651's in the front, stock HD speakers in the rear. No amp. Only listen to my iPod. Result? Stereo is louder than I can take at 80 mph. I'd dig more bass, but nothing is going to out-thump a loping twin cam with V&H true duals. 
Thread Starter
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
Yes you will need to run the power direct from the battery. I did have some great luck here. One of the 450 improvements Harley made to the '09s and newer is, that the tank is actually a breeze to take off. Even for us "Shade Tree Mechanics".
The gas line is a coupler that will just pop off with your fingers and there isn't a cross over pipe on the front anymore to mess with.
The Tank Panel is: take the gas cap off, then two screws (one back and one tiny one in the front). Unplug the wires and pull off the over flow tube. I did that at the bottom of the tank next to the frame. It will then hang off to the side.
The gas tank is: two screws on the rear and one on each side in the front. They are behind a rubber cover that just pops off with you fingers.
Then there is a covered tray full of wires to run one more wire in.
There is actually also a power hookup off the cigarette lighter plug (inside the fairing) too for the pre-amp or something. It's also simple.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
As far as "more bass" goes, it ain't gonna happen at highway speeds. If you are happy and can hear it, then that's about all you can do.
Biketronics is the way I would go if I ever decide to do an audio upgrade. Been running their light modules for several years. Had a few issues when I traded bikes but they were quickly resolved with a revised model. Top notch company.
TFB: Would you say you get better bass response with this set-up. I'm not talking subwoofer boom. Just more low end. How about clarity throughout the whole frequency band. I actually have no problem hearing the stock set-up even at highway speeds. I just don't like the way it sounds. And I listen to alot of heavier music so that makes it worse.
TFB: Would you say you get better bass response with this set-up. I'm not talking subwoofer boom. Just more low end. How about clarity throughout the whole frequency band. I actually have no problem hearing the stock set-up even at highway speeds. I just don't like the way it sounds. And I listen to alot of heavier music so that makes it worse.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,749
Likes: 16
From: sand mountain Alabama
I have tried several types of speakers with my biketronics set up.
all 6 1/2 inch speakers
I already had these speakers
memphis- lots more volume but no bass
alpine clear with fair bass but will not handle the 180 watts
ended up staying with the titan speakers best bass and clarity
There are several other systems that are good so I am told.
Hog tunes do sound good with the new tweeter pod
Haven't heard any others in person myself
Texas Fat Boy was only showing other products that are out here and that it solved his mystery
I went with the biketronics because it was made in America with a life time warranty and was plug and play.
Made in America was the most important part for me
In God we Trust
dd
all 6 1/2 inch speakers
I already had these speakers
memphis- lots more volume but no bass
alpine clear with fair bass but will not handle the 180 watts
ended up staying with the titan speakers best bass and clarity
There are several other systems that are good so I am told.
Hog tunes do sound good with the new tweeter pod
Haven't heard any others in person myself
Texas Fat Boy was only showing other products that are out here and that it solved his mystery
I went with the biketronics because it was made in America with a life time warranty and was plug and play.
Made in America was the most important part for me
In God we Trust
dd
Thread Starter
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
Biketronics is the way I would go if I ever decide to do an audio upgrade. Been running their light modules for several years. Had a few issues when I traded bikes but they were quickly resolved with a revised model. Top notch company.
TFB: Would you say you get better bass response with this set-up. I'm not talking subwoofer boom. Just more low end. How about clarity throughout the whole frequency band. I actually have no problem hearing the stock set-up even at highway speeds. I just don't like the way it sounds. And I listen to alot of heavier music so that makes it worse.
TFB: Would you say you get better bass response with this set-up. I'm not talking subwoofer boom. Just more low end. How about clarity throughout the whole frequency band. I actually have no problem hearing the stock set-up even at highway speeds. I just don't like the way it sounds. And I listen to alot of heavier music so that makes it worse.
The main thing I like about the setup (other than the 180 watts per speaker) is no "Gain and Frequincy adjustments" bull crap.
I would also think the 6 1/2" speakers should help you with the bass, along with enough power to push them.
If you can hear your stock set up now, but hate the quality you should love this setup. The quality is great (to me anyway, I know we are on bikes) at all levels. That is why I was unimpressed with the Hawg Wired setup. If I had it set up for highway speeds, the anything 60 amd under was extremely weak sounding. Because I had to turn the bass down so much.
The main thing I like about the setup (other than the 180 watts per speaker) is no "Gain and Frequincy adjustments" bull crap.
I would also think the 6 1/2" speakers should help you with the bass, along with enough power to push them.
The main thing I like about the setup (other than the 180 watts per speaker) is no "Gain and Frequincy adjustments" bull crap.
I would also think the 6 1/2" speakers should help you with the bass, along with enough power to push them.
You think the smaller of the two titan amps would do the trick??? I mean it is still 75 watts RMS compared to the probably 14 or less the stock head unit puts out.
Thread Starter
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
I doubt I will go with their speakers. Nothing against them and I am sure they are top quality. I'm just a little partial to Infinity speakers. The silk dome tweeters sound so smooth.
You think the smaller of the two titan amps would do the trick??? I mean it is still 75 watts RMS compared to the probably 14 or less the stock head unit puts out.
You think the smaller of the two titan amps would do the trick??? I mean it is still 75 watts RMS compared to the probably 14 or less the stock head unit puts out.
I'm not looking for a Mark Levinson sound system for my bike. I just want to be able to listen to tunes running 70 mph.
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Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,310
Likes: 1,079
Thanks but I really wasn't trying to endorse anything here, just my observation after a year of struggling with hearing the radio.
Yes you will need to run the power direct from the battery. I did have some great luck here. One of the 450 improvements Harley made to the '09s and newer is, that the tank is actually a breeze to take off. Even for us "Shade Tree Mechanics".
The gas line is a coupler that will just pop off with your fingers and there isn't a cross over pipe on the front anymore to mess with.
The Tank Panel is: take the gas cap off, then two screws (one back and one tiny one in the front). Unplug the wires and pull off the over flow tube. I did that at the bottom of the tank next to the frame. It will then hang off to the side.
The gas tank is: two screws on the rear and one on each side in the front. They are behind a rubber cover that just pops off with you fingers.
Then there is a covered tray full of wires to run one more wire in.
There is actually also a power hookup off the cigarette lighter plug (inside the fairing) too for the pre-amp or something. It's also simple.
Yes you will need to run the power direct from the battery. I did have some great luck here. One of the 450 improvements Harley made to the '09s and newer is, that the tank is actually a breeze to take off. Even for us "Shade Tree Mechanics".
The gas line is a coupler that will just pop off with your fingers and there isn't a cross over pipe on the front anymore to mess with.
The Tank Panel is: take the gas cap off, then two screws (one back and one tiny one in the front). Unplug the wires and pull off the over flow tube. I did that at the bottom of the tank next to the frame. It will then hang off to the side.
The gas tank is: two screws on the rear and one on each side in the front. They are behind a rubber cover that just pops off with you fingers.
Then there is a covered tray full of wires to run one more wire in.
There is actually also a power hookup off the cigarette lighter plug (inside the fairing) too for the pre-amp or something. It's also simple.
Thread Starter
|
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
Did the Biketronics instructions provide these steps on the tank removal or did you use the HD service manual? When I spoke to the Biketronics folks they said the wiring harness can be "fished" through the harness channel under the tank without its removal. Did you consider trying to run the power harness under the tank without removal or was that a non-starter?
I got the advice right here on HDForums from Gas Can. he did a write up on changing speakers, adding the amp and changing out the junk stock HK radio. It's at the top of page 1 of the Touring Section page every day.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/elect...s-part-ii.html
If the tank was going to be a pain in the a$$ I would have just ran a wire in under it somehow. But this was just too easy, I had even run the tank down to about 1 gallon of gas left, in hopes my amp would come in.