Speaker kits

[Scruffy Pup]

KJBS,
Concerning the ohms, the newer fairing-type baggers (2006 & later, with the Harman-Kardon sound system) require a 2-ohm speaker; the earlier models used an 8-ohm speaker (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong here). The stock Harley speakers are not waterproof, but rather use a dense grille with teeny tiny holes to attempt to keep the water off the speakers. The result is that it's like putting a bath towel over the speaker and trying to get a high-quality sound at a reasonable level of loudness - in other words, it ain't gonna happen. I replaced my factory speakers (2007 Street Glide) last year with J&M speakers and was amazed at the quality of the sound. I heard guitar riffs I'd never heard before, even at highway speeds. The sound clarity and quality improvement was great. The secret is a much better quality of speaker, as well as the speaker itself being waterproof and not having to depend on teeny tiny holes in a speaker grille to stay dry. The J&M grilles have big holes so the pure sound can actually make it to your ears, unhindered. I went to J&M's website and ordered the speakers direct and had them shipped to my house for about $100 total - that's for BOTH speakers, not each - plus shipping. I did not need the amplifier for quality sound or loudness. J&M is quality stuff. As for myself, I would hesitate to spend $30-40 per speaker at Radio Shack and not get the quality, but hey, it's your money and your bike.

Just something to think about before you turn loose of those hard-to-come-by nickels and dimes.....

Good luck.

I started this post and finally decided on UNiQ Cycle Sounds® Classic Edition™ handle bar speaker kit for my Road King Classic. To keep anyone who's interested updated. These speakers look great and sound great. I connect a small MP3 player that has FM readio and holds a 1000 songs (2gb and it was cheap). The only catch is some songs I down load to the MP3 are louder then others I wish I knew how to get them all at the highest volumn (any ideas) After all my online checking I guessed right. I am not endorsing this product but for me it's an excellent choice. Also I found the kit for a reduced price, just surf and compare. Thanks for all the above help. UNiQ Cycle Sounds Classic Edition Motorcycle Speaker System

[Gas Man]

How about some pics on the bike?

I am the original poster on this thread. Here is the speaker system I purchased. UNiQ Cycle Sounds Classic Edition Motorcycle Speaker System. Looks great and sounds great. I use a small Sandisk Sansa Clip MP 3 player w/FM. The radio is excellent even at pretty high speeds, the downloaded songs can vary at the downloaded volume (some loud and some lower). I am trying to get my music to download louder and more consistant. (any ideas)? I also compared the price of the handle bar kit and did real good. Here is a few pics (I am trying to attach them). I am not endorsing these items but for me there great!

One more Pic 09 Road King Classic.

[hardtimeharley]

Originally Posted by firestpr111

I am the original poster on this thread. The radio is excellent even at pretty high speeds, the downloaded songs can vary at the downloaded volume (some loud and some lower). I am trying to get my music to download louder and more consistant. (any ideas)? I also compared the price of the handle bar kit and did real good. Here is a few pics (I am trying to attach them). I am not endorsing these items but for me there great!

Firestpr111; I had the same issue. Here is the answer that was given to me on another forum. It worked for me, let me know if it does for you.
"I don't claim to be an Ipod expert, but I do own a 60gig Ipod and an Iphone as well. If you are downloading all the music from Itunes, check to see if the songs are all converted to AAC format. Also, make sure they are at least 128kbps bit rate. You can check this in Itunes by "Right Clicking" on each song in the music list and Choosing the "Get Info" tab.

If the songs are in AAC format, Itunes has already tried to adjust the volume to the correct level for each song. However, you can also select the "Options" tab on the song and there is a Volume Control slider at the top there as well that can be adjusted up or down to manually adjust and save the volume for each song. If you have several songs that are lower in volume, you can "Shift Click" on several songs at a time and indicate that you would like to adjust several choices at once. Once selected, the "Option" tab is again available and the master volume control slider is available for adjustment that will adjust all the songs AT ONCE that were selected.

I always convert all songs that I rip from CDs or any other source to AAC format as well because they take up less room on the Ipod and are adjusted automatically as well. I usually adjust the main volume on my Ipod to about 90% and then control to overall volume of the songs on my bike radio. However, they will still vary some (smaller levels) from song to song as recording quality will still vary from song to song. Hope this helps."

thnaks I will try this.

Thank you, I will try this.

[PeterV]

Originally Posted by firestpr111

.... I am trying to get my music to download louder and more consistant. (any ideas)? ...

Download WavePad Sound Editor from NCH software.

[jonlyjayman]

I put marine grade speakers in my FLHT when I bought it new in '02. Obviously I got the radio as an accessory. They work fine with a small aftermarket car amp. That was before the "bagger-craze" and now there are probably better choices. The only thing about my marine grade speakers was the ohms were different than the stock radio so I just made sure my car amp was same ohms as speakers and all is good. Much louder and better quality than the stock set-up was....but again my stereo is the older cassette type.