A repeat client from Jacksonville came to Audio Designs & Custom Graphics with his 2015 Harley Davidson Road Glide audio system with big upgrades plans in mind. He was looking to outdo the motorcycle audio system we had done on his last bike. That was not going to be an easy feat since the last one was pretty incredible, but hey, we love a challenge.
When we got together with the client, he gave us a pretty simple directive: Make it really loud while still sounding good. We took that information and worked up a proposal for the client that he liked, so we set a time for him to drop off the bike.
Starting With A Top Quality Deck
Numerous audio adjustability settings and a strong preamp make this a powerful source for the system
Since we knew the client wanted an incredible audio system, we started by replacing the factory Harley radio with a Pioneer AVIC-8100-NEX unit. It is the most advanced in-dash multimedia, navigation system currently on the market. It combines an integrated turn-by-turn navigation with full smartphone integration that includes Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto. When you add in the great preamp, it makes a strong foundation for a stereo system.
Proper Coaxes For Sensory Satisfaction
When it came time to choose front speakers, we went to Hertz, using their HSK165XL woofers in the factory fairing locations. Our team custom-made a tweeter mount above the factory speaker grille to house a Hertz ML280 tweeter. As you can see in the pictures, the tweeter looks like it was factory-installed. If you would like to order these tweeter mounts for your Harley, click here to go to our online store.
Custom Bags; Classy And Loud!
We knew the rear bags were going to play a big part in the audio system on this Harley, so we fabricated custom bags to hold the speakers and amplifiers. In the bag lids, we flushed a set of Diamond Audio HXM8 8” coaxial speakers aimed forward, toward the riders. In the rear section of both bags, we made sealed enclosures to hold a pair of Digital Designs SW1006 6.5” subwoofers. While these puppies may be small, they pack a punch that is unbelievable. They are aimed at the rear wheel, making them completely hidden from view. We designed a custom grille to protect them from road debris kicked up by the tire. We covered the inside of the bags in a black suede to give them a finished, classy look that makes for an impressive demo compared to just plain fiberglass.
Compact Amplifiers – Small Footprint; Big Sound
Compact, tucked and hidden away. These amplifiers may be small, but they are mighty!
Once the speakers were all installed, we turned our attention to the amplifiers. In one rear bag, we installed an Arc Audio Moto600.4 amplifier, which we bridged to run the Hertz woofers in the fairing. They are getting more than 300 watts per channel of clean power, so when we tell you they jam, they really jam! In the other bag, we installed an Arc Audio XDi1200.6 amplifier. It sends 150 watts per channel to the Mille tweeters in the fairing and another 150 watts per channel to the Diamond Audio rear speakers. The remaining two channels are bridged and send 600 watts of power to the Digital Designs subwoofers.
Wiring Protected From The Elements
Aftermarket amplifier wiring… where!?
As you can imagine, any electronics or wiring installed on a motorcycle will live in an abusive environment compared to an automobile. Dust, dirt and vibration are a normal occurrence in this environment, so Audio Designs & Custom Graphics builds our systems to take this abuse. All of our connections are soldered and then covered with heat shrink. All of the wiring is neatly loomed with Tesa tape and securely fastened, to allow for easy servicing in the future. In case this client wants to remove the rear bags, we designed quick-disconnect waterproof connectors that allow him to easily remove and reinstall the bags without having to worry whether he is making proper connections.
Tuning For Clarity And Volume
Once the installation was finished, we spent significant time on tuning the system, including setting the gain controls with an oscilloscope to ensure the amplifiers aren’t clipping when run at full tilt.
Harley Davidson Road Glide Audio Upgrades Wow Client
As in any big build, the proof is in the client’s face. When he came to pick up the bike, he loved the fit and finish of our work. Even better, when we cranked it up the first time, he was all smiles. He marveled at the low-end bass, and the clarity just made him want to listen longer and longer. As he turned up the volume on the handlebar controls that we integrated with the Pioneer unit, he was blown away by the output. This bike was truly a concert on wheels. Check out this video of the finish installation below:
Stop By And See Us Today!
When you are ready to upgrade your motorcycle audio system, we invite you to ride on over to Audio Designs & Custom Graphics in Jacksonville, Florida. Our team of experts will work one on one with you to design and build the motorcycle audio system you have always wanted.
You can also contact us here for more information about any of our products and services.
Just wondering if you have anything for a 2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD double cab. It seems whatever changes Toyota made have made TacoTunes clueless. I built my own stereo years ago with JL, Focal, and MB Quart components so it’s not as if I am clueless, just getting old and a bad back is slowing me down. If you have plug and play components (I don’t want to cut wires on the original non-JBL system) please give me a quote. I hope somebody in this city knows what they are doing! I like good, quality music, not a subwoofer that makes your ears bleed. I have a JL 1000.1 amp that still works so I could have that power my sub I just need front 6×9’s or 6.5’s and rear 6.5’s to go with it. Let me know if you can do this, the 2016 Tacoma seems to be different than all the previous years due to the navigation system and Entune they have added. Thank you!
Barry Payne
CPO USN Retired