Sound system options for motorcycles

Between wind noise and the wide-open environment, it's hard to take music with you on your rides. But you do have some options.

On-bike audio options

Thankfully, audio options for motorcyclists have come a long way in recent years. The three most common categories are helmet-mounted Bluetooth systems, aftermarket add-ons for bikes without any existing audio systems, and high-performance upgrades for Harley-Davidson touring machines that replace or add to the stock stereo system already fitted to the bike from the factory.

Helmet-mounted Bluetooth audio systems

Helmet-mounted Bluetooth systems are relatively easy to install and offer a ton of features once paired with your mobile phone. If you're the kind of rider who's not interested in sharing your choice of music with the world, these systems are a great choice because the speakers are directly over the rider’s ears, inside your helmet, instead of mounted to the bike, out in the open. That also means you don't have to have a powerful amplifier and big speakers trying to overcome wind noise on the open road. Plus, if you ride more than one motorcycle, the Bluetooth system goes with you when you switch rides.

If you're just using a Bluetooth system to talk to other riders or listen to navigation directions, speaker quality isn't that important. But if music is an important consideration, then so is speaker quality. The Cardo PackTalk Bold JBL Headset has what most folks feel are the best speakers on the market in the Bluetooth communicator world. In addition to listening to your tunes, you will also be able to communicate with up to 14 other riders and hear your GPS navigation.

If you tend to ride in smaller groups and want to save a few bucks, check out the Cardo Freecom 4 Plus. It can handle communicating with up to four riders and features the same impressive JBL speakers as the PackTalk Bold JBL. Riders who tend to ride in large groups may want to consider the Sena 30K. It gives you the ability to communicate with an impressive 16-rider mesh network, allowing riders to drop out and automatically reconnect when they are back in range.

The only nitpicks I have about helmet-mounted systems in general versus on-bike systems is that you do need to be sure to recharge the units, since they are not hard-wired to the bike’s battery, and some helmets do not readily accept the units’ speakers. 

For bikes without any existing audio systems

For riders who want to rock out while riding, but don’t want to fool around with a helmet-mounted unit, an aftermarket bike-mounted Bluetooth system may be the best option. These units have the added benefits of being hard-wired to the bike’s battery and feature much more powerful speakers than a small set of in-helmet speakers. Typically, these units connect to your device via Bluetooth or an aux cable. They are also weather-resistant and available in black or silver finishes to match your bike.

The popular Kuryakyn Road Thunder Bluetooth Sound Bar Plus by MTX mounts to handlebars ranging in diameter from 7/8 inches through 1 1/4 inches and is a great way to add a sound system to nearly any motorcycle. If you prefer separate speaker pods over one long unit in the center of your handlebar, check out the Kuryakyn Road Thunder Speaker Pods And Bluetooth Audio Controller by MTX. The separate controller is a nice additional feature. If you are looking for maximum power output, the Boss Audio Rebel 1000 Watt 4 Speaker Bluetooth Sound System is the way to go. It features a powerful amplifier and four speakers you can place in various locations on your bike, as long as the mounting points are 0.75 inches to 1.25 inches in diameter, like a handlebar or a crash bar, for example.

My only gripe about this style of audio system is that sometimes it can be difficult to mount them in a clean-looking way. A lot of that depends on the style of bike you have and the mounting location options it allows.

For Harley-Davidson touring models with existing audio systems

There are so many Harley-Davidson Touring models on the road with sound systems that options for these motorcycles are a category of their own. Owners have plenty of choices for replacing or enhancing the factory audio system. High-powered amplifiers and better quality speakers than the OEM ones will give you a louder and clearer listening experience overall.

The Wild Boar By Hogtunes Front Speakers, Lids & 600 Watt Amp Kit adds a huge amount of sound with its powerful amps and large six-inch-by-nine-inch side case lid speakers. For H-D riders only wanting front speaker upgrades, the Hogtunes G4 Front Speakers And 225 Watt Amp Kit is a big improvement over the stock setup. Lastly, for you Harley Ultra riders, check out the Wild Boar By Hogtunes Liquid Cooled Lower Speakers & 300 Watt Amp Kit, which gets you a set of speakers in the lower fairings on your bike, a great location for some additional sound output.

My only beef with systems like these is that installation can sometimes be tricky, so if you're not comfortable working on your bike, you may want to hire your local Harley shop or auto-audio specialist to handle the job for you. 

How to hear your tunes more clearly while riding

A lot of riders get set up with one of these systems and still find it tough to hear while cruising at highway speeds. Let's be realistic about how sound works. If you're riding down the highway at 75 mph, you're entering category-one hurricane wind speeds. On top of that, plenty of aftermarket exhausts can easily exceed 100dB. Now consider that both of these things are going on at the same time while you’re trying to listen to Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd for the hundredth time. That’s a tough situation to overcome for any sound system on a bike, but if you can limit the wind and exhaust noise a bit, you’ll have a much better chance of actually hearing your tunes. 

Here are a few things that will help:

• Keep your stock exhaust. Not only will you save yourself a pile of cash, you will keep your neighbors happy and, most importantly, give your stereo system a fighting chance of getting your music into your ears.
• Wear a decent helmet. I have had my fair share of three-quarter and janky vintage-style helmets and can honestly say they are nowhere near as quiet as my Shoei full-face helmets. A high quality full-face helmet will help protect your ears from damaging wind and exhaust noise, allowing you to hear your music more clearly.
• Wear ear plugs. Sounds counterintuitive, but it works. Our ears aren't designed to work at constant noise levels above 100dB, which is common at highway speeds on a motorcycle, so using ear plugs reduces the overall volume and enables you to hear the music much clearer. Sound system or not, ear plugs also protect you from permanent hearing damage from prolonged exposure to wind and exhaust noise, so you'll be able to enjoy your music in your old age, too.

Hopefully now some of you riders will have a little easier time figuring out how to go about listening to music on your next big motorcycle trip!