Posted this in the new members area, but figured the guys here in the Touring area might generate more discussion on the questions below:

Just picked up my first HD after two owning two Metric bikes.

2007 FLHTP with just over 9k miles.

Dealer added a lot of extras for me at no cost:

-Fairing mounted mirrors
-Street glide rims and new tires
-New engine guard
-New Grips
-Screamin Eagle pipes off a CVO Ultra
-Chrome pucks to open the bags
-Slanted style bag guards
-Street Glide windshield

The pipes aren't nearly loud enough, any tips on pipes that will give it that distinct Harley sound, but not make it unbearably loud?

Also, I'm not interested in spending $1,000 on a radio. Any good or bad aftermarket radios that people are running? Can a place like Best Buy or HH Gregg typically do an install?

 

I wouldn't trust best buy or hh to touch my bike.

 

Well as far as electronics go, i'm pretty bad with them. I'd probably screw it up worse than they could ever dream of screwing it up.

 

I would think any aftermarket radio would be fine. I have a detachable fairng on my RK FLHPI and I installed an Alpine head unit and as far as pipes I went with Rush slip on, nice sound and they weren't heavy on my pockets. Oh yeah as far as radio install do it yourself and save a few pennies...

 

If you can read and follow instructions you can do the install yourself it should only take you a couple of hours or so to do the install bro just take your time you'll be fine

 

I just bought a clarion radio w/ CD and USB input and a couple of decent speakers off an Ebay shop. Tough part was making it fit into the fairing glove box hole. Wiring it was easy. The whole project cost around $100. It was a fun project and not something I would pay anyone to do. Wrenching on your bike is all part of the fun of having a Harley.

Mufflers: I have a set of cycle shack slip ons that are loud but not terribly so. I actually prefer my stock mufflers that have been drilled through the center baffles. They bark when you hammer it and are not so loud during cruise when you want to hear that stereo you put in!

 

I'm now leaning towards doing a radio install myself, as I've seen a couple of DIY tutorials and it doesn't look too difficult.

My next question is this though; i've seen some discussion about the FLHTP model not having speakers, is this true, or is it just certain years/models? Clearly the speaker's are on the fairing, but is there no speaker module inside the fairing?

 

There were no speakers inside my fairing. There may have been at one time for the police radio, but not when I bought it. There is a phone jack in the fairing where the usual air temp or oil pressure gauge goes on the regular Electra Glides, that I think the cop plugged into for helmet wired speakers.

You'll have to pull the front fairing/windshield off to see what you have in there. I'd replace the speakers you might find anyway. I'm sure they're crap for anything but simple voice com radio use anyway. The speakers I used came with mounting rings and they screwed right into place. I used the grills that were already in the speaker holes. Or, there are all kinds of jazzy looking chrome speaker grills out there you could use.

The hardest part is mounting the radio into the glove box slot. You have to rig up some supports and some way to blend the radio face plate into the slot. I used sheet aluminum, covered with thin black leather glued on with contact cement for a face bezel. It blends in nicely.

Radio considerations: removable faceplate for security and if it rains a lot where you are, perhaps a hinged, marine type face cover or get a marine rated (water proof) radio from the get go. Get a radio with a VOLUME ****. Pushbutton volume will be a pain with winter gloves on. I didn't install an amplifier, and have to run the volume up pretty high at highway speeds, but it's been fine for me with good clarity. I'm not a real audiophile anyway. Here's the radio I used:

http://www.amazon.com/Clarion-CZ309-...4085704&sr=1-4

 

Biketronics sells an installation kit for $50 that includes a face plate and mounting hardware for a very clean install--many replace HD's OEM radio on their civilian EG's with aftermarket radios. You'll remove the plastic tray that you currently have.

In addition to speakers, you will need speaker adapters to mount 5.25" speakers to the inner fairing--the adapters come stock on civilian EG's, but not police EG's. Alternatively, you can buy 6.5" aftermarket speaker adapters and use 6.5" speakers.

Buying the HD Service Manual and police supplement is highly recommended if you plan to work on your bike. They have excellent wiring diagramss which come in handy.

You may find that you will want to add the oil pressure gauge, cruise control, handlebar control of the radio, etc. to your bike. You can modify your police wiring to accommodate these additions, but an easier solution is to buy the civilian interconnect harness and install it in place of the police interconnect harness along with civilian handlebar switches.

Congrats on the new bike.

Carl

 

The dealership redid all the wiring to what would be found on a normal Electra Glide Standard. I'll pick up some manuals to make my life easier though.