An Allentown client brought his 2017 Harley-Davidson Road King Special to Mobile Edge for an audio system upgrade. Unlike other Harley touring bikes, this Road King doesn’t have a front fairing with provisions for speakers. Likewise, there’s no location for a standard radio. Nevertheless, our team quickly put together a plan to provide this client with a fantastic sound system for his motorcycle.
Bluetooth Harley-Davidson Audio Upgrade
The Metra Bluetooth controller ws mounted within easy reach of the client.
We proposed using a compact stand-alone Bluetooth audio receiver as the Road King’s source unit after inspecting the client’s smartphone. He liked the idea of playing both the music he had stored on his phone and streaming services like Pandora, Spotify and iHeartRadio. We chose the Metra MPS-BTK1 controller because it has an easy-to-use single-knob interface for power, volume and track selection. The last thing we wanted is for the client to take his eyes off the road to adjust the stereo.
Our technicians mounted the MPS-BTK1 in the front of the left-side saddlebag so the client can reach down and adjust the system easily. The audio output of the Bluetooth receiver feeds a Hertz HMP 4D four-channel powersports-grade amplifier. We mounted the amp in the same saddlebag as the Bluetooth receiver and ran power cables along the bike’s chassis to the battery. Speaker cables were routed to the front using well-concealed and protected methods.
The amplifier is wired in a two-channel configuration. As such, it can deliver as much as 150 watts of power to each speaker. This power will be more than adequate to ensure that the client can hear his music – even at freeway speeds. Should the client decide to add saddlebag speakers in the future, we can reconfigure the amp quickly and easily.
Road King Speaker Upgrade
What made upgrading this Road King possible was a set of front lower speaker pods from the Saddle Tramp division of Metra. The BC-HDLFSP2 pods fit into the lower fairing and engine covers and provide mounting locations for a pair of 6.5-inch speakers. The pods are a bolt-in design that leaves adequate clearance for the shifter and brake pedals.
The pods are designed for small car audio-sized speakers. Since we planned to install a set of Hertz HMS 65 S 6.5-inch coaxial marine speakers in the new speaker pods, we created a set of mounting spacers out of HDPE plastic to let these larger speakers fit perfectly. The Hertz marine speakers carry an IP65 rating so that water or dust won’t damage them. The plastic and metal components used to construct the speakers are corrosion- and UV-resistant so they’ll continue to look great for years.
Carbon County’s Motorcycle Audio Experts
With the new stereo system installed and tested, it was time for the client to return to Mobile Edge and pick up his amazing Harley. We had the bike out in front of the shop, and the client gave the audio system a test drive before leaving. He was thrilled with the clarity and loved the way we installed everything.
If you’re interested in adding an audio system to your motorcycle, ATV or side-by-side, or want to upgrade an existing system, drop by Mobile Edge and speak with one of our product specialists. Alternatively, if you can’t visit the store, send us an e-mail using the red button below.
