Romans5.8 10+ year member
Junior Member
Hello there!
My name is John, I'm new around here and not all that knowledgeable about car stereo systems, but I do know that I like nice sound! I have a decent setup in my car, and I just have to have some tunes on my bike.
Right now, I'm rocking two 3-1/2" speakers mounted to the handlebars with bass blockers and a 25 watt RMS x2 amp. It's decent, but, well, obviously not good.
I'm planning on ordering a fairing for my bike, and I have some questions for you folks. I know many of them are covered in the realm of car audio, but, in this case I'm dealing with something that is much different acoustically than a car. For example, bass just isn't happening. Guys have spent tremendous amounts of money putting huge subs all over their bikes, and once you get on the open road, the bass is gone. Way too much deafening wind noise (and wind in general) for that. So the concerns are clear, loud music that can be heard on a motorcycle on the interstate!
It's a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 cruiser, setup as a touring bike, if anyone is curious!
1) The manufacturer of the fairing makes two styles. One has two 6x9 speakers, the other has 4 5 or 5-1/4" speaker holes (they say either will work). An amp isn't an option due to the limited power output of a motorcycle alternator, so whatever I do will be driven purely off of a head unit. Again, bass is no concern here, because I won't hear it anyway. Which setup; 4 5.25" speakers, or 2 6x9 speakers is going to be clearer and louder at speed. The speakers will be facing me directly and be in front of me.
That's also the type of bike this is going on. In the case of 4 5.25" speakers, they will be in place of the two 6x9's, head unit in the middle.
2) Any brand recommendations for marine grade speakers in either size range you recommend? I was considering going with the polk db series, which are marine certified. These will get rained on, deal with direct sunlight, and be generally abused. For that matter I'd take head unit recommendations as well (single din). Was pretty set on the sony DSX series with the 'tune tray' that allows you to stick an iPhone INSIDE the head unit and play music from it, which will be nice. Otherwise I have to figure out a place to mount or store the iPhone, run wires, and still somehow make it look nice!
3) I am considering (not a deal breaker, not even sure if I want to do it or not) adding 5.25" speaker pods to the back. I also have a touring trunk on the bike, and a few companies make 'pods' that mount to it and allow the mounting of 5.25" speakers. If I did the 4 5.25" route, is there a way without an amp to run 6 speakers on one head unit?
Again, the MAIN concern here, is which is going to be loudest and clearest, 2 6x9's, or 4 5.25" speakers. Acoustically awful environment.
My name is John, I'm new around here and not all that knowledgeable about car stereo systems, but I do know that I like nice sound! I have a decent setup in my car, and I just have to have some tunes on my bike.
Right now, I'm rocking two 3-1/2" speakers mounted to the handlebars with bass blockers and a 25 watt RMS x2 amp. It's decent, but, well, obviously not good.
I'm planning on ordering a fairing for my bike, and I have some questions for you folks. I know many of them are covered in the realm of car audio, but, in this case I'm dealing with something that is much different acoustically than a car. For example, bass just isn't happening. Guys have spent tremendous amounts of money putting huge subs all over their bikes, and once you get on the open road, the bass is gone. Way too much deafening wind noise (and wind in general) for that. So the concerns are clear, loud music that can be heard on a motorcycle on the interstate!
It's a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 cruiser, setup as a touring bike, if anyone is curious!
1) The manufacturer of the fairing makes two styles. One has two 6x9 speakers, the other has 4 5 or 5-1/4" speaker holes (they say either will work). An amp isn't an option due to the limited power output of a motorcycle alternator, so whatever I do will be driven purely off of a head unit. Again, bass is no concern here, because I won't hear it anyway. Which setup; 4 5.25" speakers, or 2 6x9 speakers is going to be clearer and louder at speed. The speakers will be facing me directly and be in front of me.
That's also the type of bike this is going on. In the case of 4 5.25" speakers, they will be in place of the two 6x9's, head unit in the middle.
2) Any brand recommendations for marine grade speakers in either size range you recommend? I was considering going with the polk db series, which are marine certified. These will get rained on, deal with direct sunlight, and be generally abused. For that matter I'd take head unit recommendations as well (single din). Was pretty set on the sony DSX series with the 'tune tray' that allows you to stick an iPhone INSIDE the head unit and play music from it, which will be nice. Otherwise I have to figure out a place to mount or store the iPhone, run wires, and still somehow make it look nice!
3) I am considering (not a deal breaker, not even sure if I want to do it or not) adding 5.25" speaker pods to the back. I also have a touring trunk on the bike, and a few companies make 'pods' that mount to it and allow the mounting of 5.25" speakers. If I did the 4 5.25" route, is there a way without an amp to run 6 speakers on one head unit?
Again, the MAIN concern here, is which is going to be loudest and clearest, 2 6x9's, or 4 5.25" speakers. Acoustically awful environment.
