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[TIF2]

Thought I would post up Black Diamond's (Jeff's) audio upgrade and install pics. He's been struggling with his audio project for a while now as he couldn't find a good local installer. He took it to a guy who's work wasn't the greatest so he had the same guy return the system to stock. He go ahold of me and ultimately asked me if I could do the install. Rode the bike down and left it with me for a week.

It was interesting to hear (or not hear is probably more accurate ) the stock SESG2 system again. It really is pretty poor in terms of musical impact. Jeff has the following components:

Arc 125.2mini amp
Hertz HSK-165 components in the fairing
Hertz HCX-165 coax in lowers

Following are the pics of his install - hope you guys find them useful for reference. Let's start with the shot of the road grime when the bike got here. I couldn't resist capturing this as a tribute - a real "badge of honor" as it was ~300 miles down to me.  

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Adding poly-fill to the lowers.
This really helps with improving bass out of the speaker boxes.

I pack it with enough material so that it slighty compresses on install of the speaker.

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New 10ga power for the amp. I put a quick disconnect in line so that the power wire can be disconnect without having to remove the ring terminal from the battery.
Just in case it is ever needed.

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I got with Jeff on some ideas I had for mounting the HT25 tweeters. Sent him some mock up pics. He saw this and decided that is what he wanted. These are the OEM housings modified for matching gauge trim rings.

Shot one ...

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Tweeters wired to factory connector.
Easy "unplug" for removal in the future if needed.

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Shot of the new HT25s mounted versus the factory tweeter

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Wiring in the x-overs.
I cut everything to exact length and solder all spade connectors.
Zero chance of a crimp loosening up.

Unfortunately ... has to be done on the bike.
Keep some tall boxes around! 

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Everything done.

Arc amp was mounted to Scott Ezelle bracket and iPod moved to below the factory head unit.

It's important to note here that not a single factory wire was cut, tapped, or modified in any way.
Completey restorable to OEM system without too much effort.

Shot one ... left side

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Shot two ... right side

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Shot three ... center

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All done and ready for "delivery" 

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One more .... I think the tweeters came out great.

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And Jeff picking her up!
Vanessa all polished for the trip home.

She was a very good girl while she was here ... told me she liked my touch (lol). Due to time constraints Jeff and I only got a chance to ride together for a short scenic trip back to the Interstate ... still a lot of fun!

I'll let Jeff take it from here on how his impressions of the upgrade.

[captdave221]

I was wondering if you ever put anything on the inside of the outer fairing? J&M supplies some 1/4 inch foam like material with their 7.25 Rokker speaker kit that I put on but it sure makes installing the outer fairing a pain. It seems to me Harley's mold must be changing either for the inner or outer fairing as the outer used to fit over the inner and nowadays the outer seems like it just butts up against the rubber seal. Remember how they used to fit between 1996-2002 model years.

I had a work order on Monday to put J&M Rokkers F & R on a 2011 SE Ultra Glide with their 500 watt amp. Called J&M and they told me the fader is built into the stock amp and do not remove it and forget the 500 watt amp install. Bike has cams. compression, etc. and a ThunderHeader and he wants to hear the music at 80+ mph. LOL I advised either drive a car or at least a different exhaust.
Nice install you did. I admire your work and knowledge.

Capt. Dave
Doc's HD Kirkwood

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I have 1" thick (at the peaks) true acoustic "egg-crate" foam on mine - the kind used in studio's.
No issues at all with mounting the outer faring.

It can be purchased at mcmaster-carr and it's pretty cheap, you just need to buy a LOT of it. Then just cut and glue in place.

I'll let Jeff confirm, but should be no problems at all hearing this at 80+, even with a Thunderheader.

[Skillet]

Great pictorial install. I'm getting closer and closer to putting something together. Getting tired of the Harley amps going bad. Thanks for sharing your skills.

[mrmagloo]

Hey Rich, is Jeff the fellow in Illinois you mentioned?  If so, I need to catch up with him and review his system side by side with mine. Seems the only real difference is the Rokker Speakers vs the Hertz.

Also, the polyfill is a great idea!  Is this the same polyester stuff you can get from Walmart they use to stuff pillows and such?

[Black Diamond]

1st - Thanks Rich!

Rode her home yesterday. The ride back was just over 300 miles. It's nice to be retired so I can make these trips to whomever for quality work on my scooters.

The 1st 70 - 75 miles were in a steady light rain. I experience near perfect riding weather for about the next 70 miles. Followed by approx. 150 miles of 25 mph wind w/gust over 40 mph and the temp dropping. Even with these less than ideal conditions, the music was so sharp and crisp I smiled the whole ride.

I no longer played "guess what song" at the beginning of a new song.  I could clearly hear all the different instruments. Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Lee Hooker, and the rest all sounded great! I could crank the volume all the way up with no distortion. However, just over half way was plenty for the majority of the songs. Now I understand why you'd want a fairing on a Harley!

Great job Rich.

JW

[Black Diamond]

Hey Rich, is Jeff the fellow in Illinois you mentioned?  If so, I need to catch up with him and review his system side by side with mine. Seems the only real difference is the Rokker Speakers vs the Hertz.

Also, the polyfill is a great idea!  Is this the same polyester stuff you can get from Walmart they use to stuff pillows and such?

Mrmagloo.....I'm south of you just past the corn fields. Peoria area. Hit me up sometime, I'm usually up for any excuse to ride.

JW

[mrmagloo]

Mrmagloo.....I'm south of you just past the corn fields. Peoria area. Hit me up sometime, I'm usually up for any excuse to ride.

JW

Hey Jeff!  Rich mentioned you were coming out, but I thought it was the end of April?  I must have got my wires crossed up, but I was thinking about taking the ride with you. Anyway, I'm glad you got this squared away. Rich was a great help in getting my system adjusted so that I can at least wring out the best it can do.

I would be very interested in catching up some time and hear these things side by side.  No one around here is running the Hertz and I'm dying to hear them, especially being run by the 125.2. That will present the definitive test between the Rokkers and the Hertz.

Congrats man!

[Fired00d]

.... Now I understand why you'd want a fairing on a Harley!

Great job Rich.

JW

I just had to quote that part of your post... glad to hear you are liking ALL the mods to your SESG.

At least these weren't "d00d's fault

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Harleypingman]

Also, the polyfill is a great idea!  Is this the same polyester stuff you can get from Walmart they use to stuff pillows and such?

That's exactly what it is; and, also works well in tour pak speaker pods.

I had polyfil in the CVO speaker boxes/housings in the vented lowers for over a year and the bike has been rained on many, many times in that time.  When I removed the Infinity Reference speakers in the boxes/housings to replace them recently with Hertz HCX speakers, I saw no evidence of water intrusion--no mold or anything--and the polyfil looked and felt just as it did when it was originally installed.  Apparently, the CVO speaker boxes are pretty well sealed from rain/water.

Carl

[Black Diamond]

I just had to quote that part of your post... glad to hear you are liking ALL the mods to your SESG.

At least these weren't "d00d's fault

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Oh contrary - It is your fault (Dood-Voodoo) that I own the SESG at all. Now put my likeness voodoo doll away and pick on Don for awhile.

[Black Diamond]

That's exactly what it is; and, also works well in tour pak speaker pods.

I had polyfil in the CVO speaker boxes/housings in the vented lowers for over a year and the bike has been rained on many, many times in that time.  When I removed the Infinity Reference speakers in the boxes/housings to replace them recently with Hertz HCX speakers, I saw no evidence of water intrusion--no mold or anything--and the polyfil looked and felt just as it did when it was originally installed.  Apparently, the CVO speaker boxes are pretty well sealed from rain/water.

Carl

I finally got to put that amp to good use Carl!  Thanks for the good deal!

JW

[mrmagloo]

That's exactly what it is; and, also works well in tour pak speaker pods.

I had polyfil in the CVO speaker boxes/housings in the vented lowers for over a year and the bike has been rained on many, many times in that time.  When I removed the Infinity Reference speakers in the boxes/housings to replace them recently with Hertz HCX speakers, I saw no evidence of water intrusion--no mold or anything--and the polyfil looked and felt just as it did when it was originally installed.  Apparently, the CVO speaker boxes are pretty well sealed from rain/water.

Carl

Thanks Carl - I ran out to Walmart during lunch and they had a big 12oz bag of their Supreme Polyfill for $4.00.  The bag was almost the size of a pillow and will probably handle 5 or 6 bikes.  Thanks again for the tip guys!

[Fired00d]

Oh contrary - It is your fault (Dood-Voodoo) that I own the SESG at all. Now put my likeness voodoo doll away and pick on Don for awhile.

Hehehehehe...

* Fired00d is

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Harleypingman]

I finally got to put that amp to good use Carl!  Thanks for the good deal!

JW

Jeff, congrats on the installation--glad to know the amp is now giving you some joy.

Carl

[Mano]

Very nice Rich.....how far is Toronto to were you are?

[Harleypingman]

Thanks Carl - I ran out to Walmart during lunch and they had a big 12oz bag of their Supreme Polyfill for $4.00.  The bag was almost the size of a pillow and will probably handle 5 or 6 bikes.  Thanks again for the tip guys!

Glad to help.  I bought a bag when I did the CVO speaker boxes/housings; it's probably a lifetime supply!LOL.

Carl

[TIF2]

Great job Rich.

JW

Just tryin' to do you proud, brother!
Although finding and fixing your oil cooler cover was probably enough for that !!

Many safe miles of smiles with tuneage galore.
We need to do an SE Indiana GTG sometime.

[mrmagloo]

...We need to do an SE Indiana GTG sometime.

BEAN BLOSSUM !   

[Black Diamond]

Just tryin' to do you proud, brother!
Although finding and fixing your oil cooler cover was probably enough for that !!

Many safe miles of smiles with tuneage galore.
We need to do an SE Indiana GTG sometime.

I'm in!