Interstate radio - possible to hear at speed?

[Ceebass68]

New to a touring bike... love the idea of the radio but, even with upgrades (amp and better speakers), will it ever really sound good at speed (55mph+)??

Hate to spend the cheddar to upgrade unless it will really be worth it!

[The emperor has no clothes]

Not in my opinion. I use my OEM cord or my Sena for music.

[Firefighter]

I use my mp3 through the bikes radio. I could usually never hear the fm radio, but the mp3 is much more clear to me. I can have trouble on windy days especially a cross wind. I think since I know the music on my mp3, I am able to understand (hear) better. Usually is good enough.

[Ceebass68]

I use my mp3 through the bikes radio. I could usually never hear the fm radio, but the mp3 is much more clear to me. I can have trouble on windy days especially a cross wind. I think since I know the music on my mp3, I am able to understand (hear) better. Usually is good enough.

Stock system or upgraded?

[Firefighter]

ALL STOCK. I have wanted to upgrade a few times but never followed through. I have over 100 of my favorite songs on the mp3 so I never get bored.

[Ceebass68]

Funny, I dont know that I really need the radio. But, since I now have it...

I have Tinnitus (constant ringing in the ears). I have avoided tunes in my Sena as I have to turn it up so loud, it's uncomfortable. The sound is really tinny through the sm5h speakers anyway. I bought it to use as a communicator when my 19yr old son and I ride together. For that, its AWESOME!

[ValkISDan]

My polk speaker upgrade improved the sound quality but not the volume at speed. After the Rockford Fosgate 300W amp install I have no problem hearing the words to any song at any speed. I typically only have to turn it up to 11 but should turn the amp down a little. I still don't have the base thump because of the small speaker size but some have cut inward facing subs or speakers in the hard bags. Even they say at speeds you don't hear the deep base that well.

[Gavin_Sons]

My polk speaker upgrade improved the sound quality but not the volume at speed. After the Rockford Fosgate 300W amp install I have no problem hearing the words to any song at any speed. I typically only have to turn it up to 11 but should turn the amp down a little. I still don't have the base thump because of the small speaker size but some have cut inward facing subs or speakers in the hard bags. Even they say at speeds you don't hear the deep base that well.

  exactly what I have also. Can even hear it at 100 mph. Not that I have ever tried. 

[Savago]

Same thing here... all stock, couldn't hear the radio but can hear the mp3s from my cellphone just fine up to 80mph (my bike has 4 speakers, 2 in the front fairing and 2 in the trunk).

[Gavin_Sons]

Not in my opinion. I use my OEM cord or my Sena for music.

With polk speakers and a 300 watt amp no one should have a problem hearing at cruising speed. If you still do you either used junk components or did it wrong. When I wear a helmet it is just a half helmet so helmet speakers wont work for me. My wife is usually telling me to turn the radio down when we are between 55- 70 mph.

[Jess from VA]

When I have good antenna reception, I can hear mine at speed.  Pure old stock too.

Not the greatest sound quality, but I can hear it (stock pipes too).

[Ceebass68]

Good tip on the mp3! Rode today and could hear that much better. Dont have an fm antenna yet as the bike didnt come with one. Bought one here, should be here early this week. Maybe that will make a difference...

Still gonna upgrade the sound system though. If the price is reasonable... Polk db501's the best pick?

[Gavin_Sons]

Good tip on the mp3! Rode today and could hear that much better. Dont have an fm antenna yet as the bike didnt come with one. Bought one here, should be here early this week. Maybe that will make a difference...

Still gonna upgrade the sound system though. If the price is reasonable... Polk db501's the best pick?

Yes without much fab work.

[Simmy74]

 In my expierience,  the radio is fantastic on long rides.  No, the radio quality will never be comparable to a closed vehicle,  especially at a reasonable level, because it always competes with wind noise.

BUT....I have found that if I stick to familiar music and radio stations, instead of trying to listen to NEW stuff,  you can easily pick up the tunes and "fill in" anything lost in transmission.  The familiar songs help the miles roll away and they run in the background of the ride, where I want them to be while I'm maintaining alertness.

Suplement,  not distraction

[cookiedough]

Good tip on the mp3! Rode today and could hear that much better. Dont have an fm antenna yet as the bike didnt come with one. Bought one here, should be here early this week. Maybe that will make a difference...

Still gonna upgrade the sound system though. If the price is reasonable... Polk db501's the best pick?

If NO FM antenna, no radio station will come in very well IMO so thus NO good FM reception.  MP3 player works well turned up volume on mp3 player all the way and volume level on 19-21 on I/S setting works well with stock speakers up to say 70 mph, much after that is sort of sucks.  My FM radio stations, some are more clear than others since live in rural WI areas and only able to pick up 3-4 good radio stations so do not use FM much, but mp3 player is definitely LOUDER at hwy speeds over any FM radio station.  Taller shield would help some as well  and lighter wind speeds much past say 20 mph wind speeds doing 60 mph on up and the FM stations suck as well all the time.  In town no issues with stock speakers up to say 50 mph, much past that,  most stations suck, thus the mp3 player is needed for louder and better sound quality.  I find POP or JAZZ setting on my mp3 player works better than ROCK and on the I/S, you can also fiddle with more BASS vs. less treble for a deeper booming sound (well as good as can get on stock OEM speakers anyways)

[falconbrother]

On my IS the stereo is not very useful at interstate speeds.  I can hear it but, at say 70 it's more aggravation than it's worth.  I have wired helmets with mics (for the CB) and it's great with that, of course.  But, sometimes I just wear a 1/2 helmet and let the stereo run through the speakers.  It's nice on the Blue Ridge Parkway -n- such.  I will say that these work better than my previous bike which was an older Harley Electraglide.  That stereo was utterly useless on the highway.  When I ride with the goldwing folks I like to have the CB so the wired helmet is nice.  I will say that squelch must be set high because it is painfully loud.   

[The emperor has no clothes]

On my IS the stereo is not very useful at interstate speeds.  I can hear it but, at say 70 it's more aggravation than it's worth.  I have wired helmets with mics (for the CB) and it's great with that, of course.  But, sometimes I just wear a 1/2 helmet and let the stereo run through the speakers.  It's nice on the Blue Ridge Parkway -n- such.  I will say that these work better than my previous bike which was an older Harley Electraglide.  That stereo was utterly useless on the highway.  When I ride with the goldwing folks I like to have the CB so the wired helmet is nice.  I will say that squelch must be set high because it is painfully loud.   

I think each of the 3, radio-cb-intercom have their own volume settings.

[bill-jr]

What size speakers are in the front and rear of the I/S

[Jess from VA]

What size speakers are in the front and rear of the I/S

I don't recall, but here is the nice write up and pics for the Polk upgrades.

REAR SPEAKERS

http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t220/wixthedog/Rear%20Speaker%20Upgrade/

FRONT SPEAKERS

http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t220/wixthedog/Front%20Speaker%20Upgrade/

Big Easy

[Ceebass68]

Resurrecting an old thread but have some additional input. I recently rode with foam earplugs in (full face) and Sena playing from my phone (bluetooth). Wow, that works great! It filters out alot of the highs which are the piercing sounds for me.

Wind noise is greatly reduced this way so the music is clearer. Kind of works like noise cancelling headphones!!! I mentioned my Tinnitus earlier in this thread... very little ringing after the ride...lovin it.

Was actually ready to upgrade i/s sound system but, think I'll forego for some other upgrades!!

[Steel cowboy]

On our interstate radios there are 4 settings on the function screen. The first one will raise your volume automatically according to the speed of your bike, first increase is at 45 mph and I believe the second is at 70 mph. The volume will drop down as you slow down too. I believe it's called AVC. There are 2 setting to AVC hi and low. Then there is another setting called AMB, this setting gives it a deeper sound to what ever your listening too. But if the station is too far away or coming and going it distorts the sound some. If your listening to recorded music it will play just fine. I keep both setting on because I only listen to recorded music, free pandora, free amazon music (if you have prime it's free) and SiriusXM (only if you have an account).
To get SiriusXM and amazon music you need to download the app on your phone if you know someone with an account you can piggy back off theirs. Amazon has free video app too, but I haven't tryied that on my volk yet.

[Harryc]

Just another option. I have a Bell Pit Boss half helmet with speaker pockets. In those pockets I've installed U-Clear V2 speakers and those are connected to a U-Clear Bluetooth HBC-100 (a newer unit is available). I pair that to my Android phone with over 3000 mp3's stored. The sound is phenomenal. Clear bass and highs. A fairing mounted system would never compare. I move the HBC-100 to my Arai full face helmet in colder weather with a second set of V2 speakers and the sound is even better due to the reduced wind noise in the Arai. I would never consider fairing or handlebar mounted speakers or radios. An added bonus is I can make and take phone calls with voice commands plus rider to passenger communications,  and since it's paired to the Android I can hear GPS directions from Maps.