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[FAST380]

Do Saddlebag speakers help the passenger hear the radio? Everybody says they cannot hear the saddlebag speakers on the road, but how about the passenger?

[gadgetz]

Wife had no problem hearing the saddlebag speakers when we rode our 13 SERK.

[Copyless]

Do Saddlebag speakers help the passenger hear the radio? Everybody says they cannot hear the saddlebag speakers on the road, but how about the passenger?

I would also wager that almost everyone who has said that, would realize that they actually do hear the saddlebag speakers on the road, if they did not move their head at all and removed all sound from the saddlebag speakers while going down the road, I almost guarantee that they would hear a drop in volume, which could only happen if they were hearing the saddlebag speakers also. It's just that while moving at speed the sounds are behind and without things to bounce the sound around (like in a car or home) it's harder to tell that you are getting sound from that area. One can also look to the left or right at speed and tell how much sound is be projected by that area, most of the time if you do this, the speaker that you are looking at (when you turn your head) will seem as though it is not working, because each ear will mostly hear the speaker they are directed at, and the one your eyes are facing will seem as though you don't hear it, but you do.

The passenger should hear them excellent, since they are still slightly ahead of them and directly on the side, and sound does still move faster than your bike, so they should hear them about as well as you do the speakers in the fairing.

[TIF2]

^^

Well said and X2

[Twolanerider]

 Everybody says they cannot hear the saddlebag speakers on the road, but how about the passenger?

As riders we should tend towards just enjoying the ride as best to each of our particular tastes and not get all science-ey.  But, just for a moment, think about it this way:

Sounds needs a medium through which to move.  In our case it's the air around us.  Other sound waves can bounce each other around a bit.  But, basically, sound moves through air at, wait for it, the speed of sound. 

The speed of sound varies depending on a few factors but, basically, at sea level through approximately 60 Fahrenheit air it hauls ass at a rate of about 340 meters per second.  That's well on the high side of 700 miles an hour.  The speed of sound is a really bad ass rider (with speed being the sole factor for bad-assed-ness in this example).

So even if one allowed for a one-to-one refraction by the oncoming speed of the medium (air) at our riding speed we would have to be riding at over 350 miles an hour for us to outpace the sounds from the saddlebag speakers.  Since it's not a full one-to-one refraction we'd actually have to go faster .  So we are not nearly bad assed enough riders (using the sole measure of bad-assedness cited above) to not hear the sounds from saddlebag speakers.

Of course there are other factors.  Engine noise, wind "noise" (as separate from speed) and all the other ambients will mitigate how well we hear the sound from the saddlebag speakers.  But the speaker noise will be there. 

Haven't you ever had a rider in front of you mention they could hear your radio?  That's because they heard the same sounds you did just moments after they passed you.

And then there's the few of us that hardly ever play the radio going down the road anyway.  It just interferes with the far more preferential sound and thrum of passing down the highway....   

[krypto2011]

I used to think my bag speakers were a waste of money. Then i lost all sound  in the fairing and lowers while riding down the road at 50 and could still hear music loud and clear over my shoulders. That was when I realized, the rear speakers do make a difference.

[SDCVO]

I absolutely can hear my rear speakers on the freeway and no question my BS rider can hear the stereo much better than before I added the speakers. When I ride with my daughter which is my only BS rider I adjust the fader more rear. She says she hears it clearly and believe me, my 20 yr old would let me know if she couldn't hear her music!