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[rmw]

I have about 2,000 miles on my 2013 CVO Ultra Ann. Now. I have made some minor mods to it for more comfort but thought I would pass along the one modification I made but really should not have had to. Seems to me HD really missed it on this one.

Like others on this forum I was surprised, after purchase, to learn that while the NAV commands work perfectly and can be heard via the com. system, not all the capabilities of the HD Road Tech (Garmin 660) work with the HD electronics package.  Specifically, the telephone and SD card capabilities of the Road Tech were not programmed by HD to work with the Navigation Interface Module (NIM) on the bike so it does not go to the speakers or headset com. system.

I called Harley to see what’s up on a fix or upgrade.  I was told that they are well aware of this complaint but it will not be “enhanced” on current models.  There is a possibility it will be addressed in future models but it is unlikely current owners will be made aware of the “enhancement” on new models or be able to retrofit any such fix.
 
Based on what I read here and a conversation with Jim from HDbomm.com I installed his solution for the problem.  The solution works great and as near as I can tell is the best and only solution at this time. It does not have any impact on the NAV commands, they still work as before. The one minor issue is that it also does not enable incoming cell phone calls to interrupt whatever you may be listening to if you are not in the AUX mode. Basically the HDbomm allows you to have full functionality of the Road Tech cell phone and I assume SD card (haven’t tried that yet) as long as you are in AUX mode.  It even rings into your helmet headset if you are in AUX.

If you have the radio in any other mode it will not ring into the headset even though the call is picked up by the Road Tech connected via Bluetooth to your smart phone.  If you happen to see the call coming in on the Road Tech however you can just switch over to AUX and answer the call with a now fully functional OEM HD mic and headset.  If you don’t see the call pop up on the Road Tech Screen you can just check the Road Tech missed calls every now and again and dial back directly from the Road Tech screen.

I added the 2nd AUX input to the back of the radio per Jim’s instructions so I would not be looking at a wire coming from the bottom of the fairing to the front of the radio.  I botched that modification by accidentally knocking of an extra connector from the radio circuit board.  Jim directed me to a company that repaired the board and added the rear AUX plug for a reasonable fee. For those wanting the 2nd rear AUX plug who don’t have the correct tools and/or knowledge to be messing around with circuit boards I recommend having a competent company or person do that part. Everything else about the install was well covered and easy to follow in the instructions.
   
For those of us who would not be able to ride nearly as often without being available by phone this is a great solution. It works as advertised. Jim’s support is second to none; he called me back on a weekend while on a camping trip to help me out with the botched circuit board problem, Thanks Jim.

[Rio]

Remember the day when you left the house no one had any way to reach you?   We got by somehow, but now its hard to go 10 minutes without using a phone for something?  I refuse to tie my phone to my bike in any way other than to maybe play music.

[BaggerProud]

Remember the day when you left the house no one had any way to reach you?   We got by somehow, but now its hard to go 10 minutes without using a phone for something?  I refuse to tie my phone to my bike in any way other than to maybe play music.

x2

[Rio]

x2

getting on my bike is my only solitude.  The sound of the bike and my music.  No way will I uck that up with a cell phone!

[bissjim]

Everyone has their own needs. Tons of people need to stay in touch for 100's of reasons.

Doctors on call.
Emergency management.
Lawyers
Politicians
A person with an elderly parent.
A person with a sick loved one.

The list goes on and on.

People with the need to stay in contact have the right and perhaps the need to be able to ride without the feeling or guilt of being out of contact in case that one very important phone call will be missed while riding. Being able to take that one call while riding gives some people the ability to forget their problems by going for a ride, even if it is just for an hour.

My buddy lost his wife of 43 years last year from the big C. The only thing that allowed him to keep his sanity through out the 9 months it took from start to finish was his ability to take his second love out for a ride. I know riding his Harley was the only thing that allowed him to forget about his problems even if it was just for 30 minutes.

Staying in contact via a cell phone is not for everyone but it is necessary for some.

Keep an open mind and the universe will be full of wonders.

[Robmay]

Well said bissjim.

[RoadRunnr]

Personally I would love to be able to take a call while on a ride, having said that 99% of call would still go to VM, but when I saw my wife or Mother calling I would like to be able to take their calls.
Just my $.02

 

[BaggerProud]

Ya'll have good points for carrying a phone with ya when you ride. As for mine, it stays buried in the saddle bag so far deep I can't hear it ring. IMO there comes a time when a man (or woman) needs solitude to put things into perspective and ringing phones that scream "Answer me" doesn't fit for me. However the purr of my 103 beats Xanax every single time. 

[VaEagle]

I'm sure the debate over cell phones while riding/driving could be argued for a long time. I see a problem with the decision on what is an emergency call and what isn't, who decides? We all complain about stupid distracted car/truck drivers almost hitting us, do we want bike riders to join that distracted group of motorists too? It doesn't matter if hands free or not it's a matter of keeping the brain focused on the task of driving.
May be safer if phone conversations were handled by a passenger or at designated rest stops? Is getting the news worth your possible injury or death? In many cases what harm would there be in getting a message 30 minutes or an hour later. Would you be close enough to do any good?
We all have to decide what is right for us and hopefully the decision won't come back to bite us, a loved one or an innocent stranger........

[Rio]

I'm sure the debate over cell phones while riding/driving could be argued for a long time. I see a problem with the decision on what is an emergency call and what isn't, who decides? We all complain about stupid distracted car/truck drivers almost hitting us, do we want bike riders to join that distracted group of motorists too? It doesn't matter if hands free or not it's a matter of keeping the brain focused on the task of driving.
May be safer if phone conversations were handled by a passenger or at designated rest stops? Is getting the news worth your possible injury or death? In many cases what harm would there be in getting a message 30 minutes or an hour later. Would you be close enough to do any good?
We all have to decide what is right for us and hopefully the decision won't come back to bite us, a loved one or an innocent stranger........

Well stated!  As I said earlier in the thread, there is not right or wrong, but I remember the day when the only time someone could reach you is by dialing, yes dialing your home phone and if they couldn't reach you...Oh well?  Now a days we have no peace or privacy and we have fooled ourselves into believing this is our only existence.  Think I'm wrong, look at a 10 year old with a smart phone.  They can't put the thing down or turn it off in fear they will miss something.  I'm as guilty as the next guy...except for when I'm on my bike.  My eyes are on the road and I am on the lookout for that idiot texting or holding a cell phone while they are driving!  As far as emergencies, they existed long before cell phones, they will continue to exist long after the next new technology.

[charles05663]

I guess that I am different.  I work out of my house and my clients have my cell phone number.  If they call my cell phone before they call my office I won't answer it.  I often forget my cell phone in the house and check it until I need to go somewhere.  It is sometime days before I check it.

Too many people are tethered to their cell phones.  It is plan rude to have lunch with someone who plays with their phone the whole time you are eating.  There is more to life the the cell phone and email.

[rmw]

I have friends who would never consider using much less spending money on anything that takes away from the purity of the ride.  I completely respect that perspective and embrace it in my riding more often than not.
Much of my riding time every gadget is off and I enjoy riding the same way I did when I threw a leg over my first bike.   Sometimes music enhances the ride sometimes not, on those occasions where it does not I choose to keep everything turned off.  

Sometimes I want to ride but could not if I was unavailable by phone. Like many other men of a “certain age” I have more responsibilities to others than I did back in the day.  Thankfully now, technology affords me the choice to be able to ride on those occasions.  I can see who is calling from the GPS screen and ignore anyone I don’t need to talk to or I can choose to take that call about a new grandchild on the way.  How I choose to manage my technology, safely & courteously or not, is something I control. I sure do like having the tech available that we do today and I like the option of calling from the bike, when I want to.  Having choices is a beautiful thing, the right to make them, more so.