A client from Westminster came to Westminster Speed and Sound with a beautiful 2011 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic, looking to upgrade the stereo system. He had been looking at new bikes and one of the things he liked about them was the smartphone integration, which would allow him to easily stream his music. The downside was that he loved his current bike, so it was off to see us in search of solutions available to him.
When he arrived, we went out to the bike, looked it over with him and listened to the existing stereo system. In typical Harley fashion, it sounded dull and had very little output. He explained that he wanted his music to sound full-bodied and have the ability to hear it clearly at riding speed. Of course, he also wanted an easy way to play his music from his phone, all while keeping the bike looking beautiful. At the end of our consultation, we worked up a proposal for him that he approved, so we set a time for him to drop off his bike.
Aquatic AV Harley-Davidson Radio
Right from the beginning of the conversation, we knew a new in-dash stereo system was in order. The good news for the client was that Aquatic AV recently released a great new stereo system for Harley-Davidson owners with 1998–2013 bikes. It is model # AQ-MP-5UBT-H and is the nicest Harley-specific radio we have ever seen. It fits perfectly in the fairing, looking factory-installed, and works with the handlebar audio controls as well as the factory wiring harness. It comes with a beautiful full-color display and is waterproof.
If you take the face off the unit, you will notice how solid and well built it is, as well as the quality of the gasket that seals the face to the body of the unit. Inside the unit is an aux input port and a USB port that can control and charge portable media. You also get a retractable drawer that can hold many compact media devices and cellphones. Topping it off is full wireless Bluetooth streaming from all of your favorite music sources. As you can see in the pictures, it looks great in the dash.
Front Speaker Upgrade
Now it was time to upgrade the speakers. Factory Harley speakers leave a lot to be desired when it comes to sound quality. Fortunately, Westminster Speed and Sound has a large selection of speakers that will fit in the factory locations and sound a lot better. For the fairing, we chose the Hertz HCX165.4 6.5” coaxials. These speakers make a huge improvement in sound quality and, when coupled with an amplifier, can really jam.
We used a set of Arc Audio speaker adapters to allow us to upgrade the front sizes from the factory 5.25” to the larger 6.5”. This upgrade alone gets the client significantly more output.
Rear Tourpack Speaker Upgrade
In the rear tourpack, we installed a set of Audison APX5 5.25” coaxial speakers. What we love about these speakers is their compact mounting depth, so they fit perfectly in the factory locations, yet somehow Audison has managed to provided increased efficiency and output compared to other speakers this size. They are a great solution for rear speakers on a Harley.
Power By Arc Audio
At this point, we needed power. The integration was finished and the sound was a lot better, but now we needed volume, and a lot of it. We turned to Arc Audio again, and used their KS125.2 mini amplifier. This little guy packs more than 250 watts of clean power with an integrated “BX Circuit” unique to Arc that does a great job of giving the client a big boost in bass response – one of the things lacking on a bike stereo system.
This amp won’t affect radio reception, either, which is something most motorcycle amp makers can’t say. We have even removed competitive products and replaced them with this Arc amp just because the client lost all his radio reception when he chose an amp from another shop.
Top Quality Installation
In our usual fashion, we went to extreme lengths in this install to make sure everything can take the abuse of life on a motorcycle. We solder our connections with heat shrink, and our wiring is neatly loomed and securely mounted to allow for easy servicing in the future. Any items that need quick disconnects get weatherproof connections that can only be plugged in one way for easy and reliable use. When our installs are completed, we spend significant time on fine-tuning the system, looking for every last bit of sound quality and output for the client.
Client Loved His Ultra Classic Stereo Upgrade
As you can see in the finished pictures, the final install looks like it was factory-equipped. When the client came to pick up his bike, he couldn’t believe how great it sounded. When he cranked it up, he knew he would be able to hear his music clearly at speed, something he couldn’t do before.
Stop By Today To Learn More About Our Motorcycle Audio Upgrades
When you are ready to upgrade the sound system on your motorcycle, we invite you to ride on over to Westminster Speed and Sound in Westminster, Maryland. One of our highly trained staff will work with you to find the best solution for your needs.
You can also contact us by clicking HERE.
Leave a Reply