Twenty-five years ago, major motorcycle companies never dreamed riders would demand sound systems for their bikes.
But around 1980, motorcycle manufacturers began adding radios and speakers to their bikes.
Honda introduced its first Panasonic AM/FM tuner and speaker system as an option with the 1980 GL 1100 Interstate. Honda sound became standard with the 1982 Aspencade.
Harley-Davidson first offered the AM/FM as an option in 1980 with the Electra Glide. Harley sound became standard in 1986 with the Electra Glide Classic and was offered that year as an option on the Sport Glide.
“Honda originally envisioned the Gold Wing as a performance motorcycle. That’s what we intended, that Gold Wing would become our muscle bike, our King of the Road,” says Gary Christopher, spokesman for American Honda Motorcycles.
“But a curious thing happened. We started hearing from Gold Wing owners–not about performance but about comfort. They told us they could ride long distances on Gold Wings in great comfort. Those first Gold Wing riders added aftermarket fairings and saddlebags and travel trunks, and then they started bolting on automobile stereo systems. Music for motorcycles was never planned. The consumer asked for sound. Gold Wing riders wanted music. So Honda got with Panasonic and Clarion and Kenwood to develop sound systems that would actually work on motorcycles.”
BMW spokesman Frank Stevens credits Craig Vetter, inventor of the first Windjammer motorcycle fairings, with advancing motorcycle sound. “Craig Vetter was there with a fairing that would hold radios and tape players. Vetter gave us a logical place to house sound components.” This occurred in 1976.
That solved the problem of putting a sound system on a cycle. But it did nothing to address the issues of exposure to the elements and extreme temperature changes
As part of a solution, Harley-Davidson gives each radio a 24-hour water spray test to make sure it can weather the elements.
Motorcycle sound systems also needed to be compact enough to fit into small spaces.
“Think of how precious real estate is on a touring motorcycle,” says Honda’s Christopher. “You wouldn’t want to waste saddle bag or travel trunk space. If you look at Hondas with sound, we’ve developed a subterranean chamber where we house the components. And the [optional] CD player is hidden below the trunk floor.”
Honda’s Panasonic arrangement available on the Gold Wing GL1800 comes with enclosed 25-watt speakers, two in the fairing and two behind the passenger.
The system also features 12 FM and 6 AM presets, as well as a weather-band station and an intercom system and CB radio function for chatting with your two-up partner or others riding ahead.
Controls for the Gold Wing system are mounted above the gas tank and on the left hand grip. In theory, a rider never need take his eyes off the road. Oversized buttons on the tank allow adjustments by touch while wearing gloves. And multiple functions will run at the same time. You can speak through the intercom line while speakers play music.
Christopher said extensive research and development went into designing units to handle the negative air pressure created behind a typical motorcycle windscreen. Cones that resist moisture and more powerful magnets to run the speakers had to be created.
“These are luxury touring bikes, and our customers expect superior sound,” he said. “That means AM/FM, a weather channel and the option of having a CD changer. They also want the ability to switch back and forth, so people riding can talk to each other and listen to music.”
Ozzie Giglio, owner of Wild Fire Harley-Davidson on North Avenue in Villa Park, said he doesn’t understand why folks clutter the motorcycle experience with music systems. “I’m a purist,” said Giglio, who has ridden Harleys exclusively for 30 years.
“I’m still baffled when I hear people want windshields. I go back to the purity of the bike. It’s me, one-on-one with the road. I block everything else out . . . and ride. The sound of the bike. The road noise and passing traffic–that’s all part of the experience. To me, when you add external noise with a sound system, it takes away from the purity of a Harley-Davidson. But I also know a lot of guys love music on their motorcycles. They have to have their music, their CD’s, and we’re happy to oblige them.”
Harley-Davidson offers a stock 40-watt per channel music system by Louisville-based Radio Sound Inc. on the Road Glide, Electra Glide Classic and Ultra Classic Electra Glide.
“Nobody ever heard of us. We have one motorcycle company client–Harley-Davidson,” said John Mayhugh, marketing director for Radio Sound.
“We’ve been supplying Harley with sound systems since 1985. I think we produce about 25,000 units a year for Harley.
“We perfected the automatic volume control, which increases volume as the bike goes faster. And we added controls for the rear passenger, so it’s possible to adjust volume and change bands around to individual taste.”
The 2002 Harley Ultra Classic Electra Glide comes with AM/FM/weather band/cassette capability.
As with Honda’s Gold Wing, a CD changer is available. “The CD is stored in the Tour Pak [trunk],” Mayhugh said. “One difference to note between Harley and Honda is that most of our audio system controls are mounted on the handlebars. Honda has a button console [located on the gas tank area] and some handlebar controls.
“And we give you an auxiliary input jack on the front of the radio, which allows you to plug in a portable MP3 or CD player and play it through the sound system. You can also buy a sound system upgrade to take you from 40 to 70 watts.”
But what about safety? Is music a distraction?
“You’re asking if we’ve seen more accidents involving motorcycles with music systems? No,” said Michelle Tufenkjian, spokeswoman for Chicago District motorcycle unit of the Illinois State Police. “Our main problem is still with `crotch rockets,’ the sport bikes that inexperienced young riders use, and ride too fast on. Crotch-rocket riders and riders with less than a year of experience are what we see most in terms of motorcycle fatalities.”
“I personally don’t think sound is a distraction,” said BMW’s Stevens. “The rider who uses a sound system on a Gold Wing or Harley-Davidson or on our K1200 LT is interested in the touring experience. BMW has made a point of creating safe control surfaces. We don’t want you fiddling with clumsy adjustments while you’re riding. We don’t want you taking your hands off the bike controls.
“Riders will always talk back and forth on motorcycles, one way or another. Do you want them waving at each other with hand signals? Asking if it’s time to stop for gas? Or are you hungry? Or do you need to go to the bathroom? Isn’t it a better idea to have integrated sound systems where touring motorcyclists can speak to each other via radio without taking their eyes off the road? If you ride, think of the times you’ve shouted over your shoulder to your passenger. You turn for a moment, and the car in front stops short? That’s exactly what we try to eliminate with our BMW ComSystem.”
BMW’s unit is supplied by German automotive sound producer Becker and operates on four levels. Level 1 is the AM/FM/weather band radio/cassette format with optional six-disc CD, plus an auxiliary audio input for personal MP3 or CD players. Level 2 includes the voice-activated passenger intercom and CB radio and “family channel” radio (as with the other bikes) for chatting between motorcycles. BMW adds cellphone service at Level 3. A global positioning system is part of Level 4, along with what BMW calls an “audio warning device,” or radar detector.
Aftermarket offers sound alternatives
BMW sound is fine and dandy, you’re thinking, but what about riders of Honda 250 Shadows and old Suzuki GN 450s?
Can’t we listen to George Strait’s Greatest Hits or The Best of Johnny Rivers, too?
Certainly you may. One place to look for aftermakert sound systems is Chicago-based J.C. Whitney, the auto-parts supplier. It features two bolt-on sound systems in its latest Accessories and Parts for Motorcycle catalog.
Bag of Tunes is a self-contained 60-watt Jensen system that mounts on the handlebars or gas tank of any motorcycle. For about $299, it includes AM/FM/cassette capability with an input for personal CD players. The system comes with two speakers and all the hardware you’ll need to complete installation.
For Harley riders, there’s the Road Radio Portable Stereo that fits most models from 1960 through 2002. Built by Kenwood, it tacks onto the windscreen, has 40 watts of power per channel and includes AM/FM/cassette options, as well as two 90-watt speakers. Road Radio retails for $499.99.
Reach J.C. Whitney at www.jcwhitney.com or 800-853-4227.
— Jim Mueller
