Harley Street Glide Audio System Upgrades for Manchester Client

A client from Manchester, Connecticut, recently contacted Mobile Edge in Lehighton for assistance in upgrading his 2011 Harley Street Glide audio system. The bike had an existing audio system with great components, but the owner was having trouble with them after they’d been exposed to water. We had a look at the bike and talked to the client about his goals for the system. After auditioning several products in our showroom and speaking with Bob about how we could upgrade the system, the client gave us the go-ahead to schedule the installation.

Aquatic AV Harley-Davidson Radio

The previous installation used equipment that wasn’t designed to handle the elements.

All of the areas we would be in contact with on the bike were protected with tape.

The large display on the new radio makes operation safe and simple.

The chrome accents on the radio look right at home in this Harley cowl.

After removing the existing equipment from the motorcycle, we started the upgrade project by installing an Aquatic AV AQ-MP-5UBT-HS digital media receiver in the dash. This radio includes a color display that makes using the device easy in bright sunshine. A storage compartment behind the flip-down face of the radio serves as a home for the client’s smartphone. A USB connection allows the phone to charge while concealed safely in the unit. Bluetooth connectivity makes it easy to access music stored on the smartphone or via an online streaming service like Pandora, iHeartRadio or Tidal.

The AQ-MP-5UBT-HS also has an AM/FM receiver and is satellite radio ready. If the client wants to upgrade the bike with SiriusXM, we can add a receiver module for him anytime.

The Aquatic AV radio fits directly into the radio opening in the Harley fairing and plugs into the factory radio power harness with no modifications required. The face of the radio has an IP55 water- and dust-intrusion rating, so it can handle getting rained on.

Hertz Powersports Amplifier

A metal mounting bracket was custom-fabricated for the amplifier.

The wires for the amplifier were pre-prepped for the installation.

The compact size of the Hertz amplifier allows it to easily fit above the radio.

The next step was to install a four-channel Hertz HMP 4D amplifier on the bike. This compact amplifier is rated to produce 65 watts of power per channel and carries an IPX6 water-intrusion rating. Mike welded together a compact rack for the Hertz amp that bolts directly to the steel structure in the fairing. We painted the rack with black paint to prevent rust and corrosion.

All the wiring for the speakers and amplifier is wrapped with automotive-grade fleece tape then bundled to the factory harness above the radio to ensure there are no buzzes or rattles as the bike travels down the road. The result is neat and tidy and, other than the branding on the new amplifier, looks as though the bike rolled off the assembly line in Milwaukee with the gear installed.

Hertz Powersports Speaker upgrades

Bob chose a set of marine speakers that will offer extended life in this Harley.

The new Hertz speakers were securely bolted to the housing.

A custom adapter plate was fabricated for the rear speakers.

The rear speakers were bolted in the same manner as the front speakers.

The adapters allowed the new speakers to fit in the 6×9 opening.

The last step in this Street Glide audio system upgrade was to replace the speakers. The client liked the way the new Hertz HMX 6.5 S coaxial powersports speakers sounded in our showroom so he knew they’d be perfect for his bike. The Hertz speakers are a coaxially mounted component set rather than a true coaxial design. As such, the tweeter is mounted to the grille rather than on a post that extends through the woofer. Mike created custom mounting adapters to fit the speakers into the factory speaker location in the fairing.

The saddlebag lid speaker openings are designed for 6×9-style speakers. Mike was once again able to create a set of custom adapters out of weather-resistant plastic to make the 6.5-inch speakers fit nicely in the saddlebags.

Harley Street Glide Audio System Configuration

The last step in installing any audio system with an amplifier is to configure the amp to work with the chosen source unit and speakers. Mike set the sensitivity controls and crossovers on the MHP 4D amplifier and gave the system a thorough run through its paces before installing the provided splash covers on the end-panel of the amp.

With the system dialed-in and buttoned-up, it was time for the client to pick up his bike and have a listen to his new Harley Street Glide audio system. He loved the way it sounded and was impressed with the fit and finish of the installation. If you are in the Lehighton area or are willing to travel to Carbon County to see us, the staff at Mobile Edge would love the opportunity to help with your next audio system upgrade. For more information, give us a call or click on the button below to send us an e-mail.