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Rated 4 out of 5 stars
I took the risk, so you don’t have to.
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’m going to try to be completely honest here. I actually bought this for myself, so no one is paying me for this review.
Aesthetics 3/5
The soundbar itself looks and feels good. It doesn’t feel cheap, it looks pretty clean on the bike. The satellite speakers on the other hand feel and look cheaper. They’re also relative large. They were definitely not developed together as their lines don’t flow very well.
It was hard to find enough space on my handlebars to install everything. So I installed the satellites on my forward crash bars, because I needed my phone mount and cup holder on the bars. I may reposition these later if I find a better spot, I would assume it would sound louder if the satellites were up higher.
Installation 4/5
So, I’m not averse to using tools, my experience is mostly construction, but I have basic auto mechanic skills.
I wanted a clean install on my Harley Road King so I had to disassemble the headlight assembly, remove the tank, and access the wiring channel. This was not difficult if you know what you are doing. There are YouTube videos out there as well to get to these. There are currently no installation videos for this system on YouTube that goes into detail, so I wouldn’t recommend self installation if you are not confident. Get a professional.
However, if you do have some skills, this was a piece of cake. As a first timer, took me 3 hours, but I believe if you know what you are doing, this might take an hour. I will say the most challenging thing for me was getting a good fit for the handlebar mounts using the rubber inserts they included. Screw threads were not deburred very well and I felt like all of the screws were very hard to turn. Make sure you use longer Allen wrenches as the included ones are too small and hard to turn in the right places around your bike.
Important note: make sure everything is plugged in well. I didn’t plug the wired remote in all the way (it clicks) and I didn’t function check and ended up having to open it all up again.
Performance 3.5/5
Now full transparency. I usually use my Cardo and helmet speakers. I merely wanted this as an option to listen to music without a helmet or when my bike is on the driveway.
It is pretty loud. Especially with all 8 speakers firing. It sounds clear. However, I do feel it wasn’t as bass-y as I like. My JBL Charge 5 has more LFE. But set your expectations, there’s no subwoofer.
Now my RKC has some loud pipes. I will say that it gets difficult to hear over the pipes. So if you are someone who has a very loud bike, this may drown out at highway speeds. But I will say, when I had an Electra glide, the factory radio could also drown out.
At the end of the day, it’s physics. Sound in an outdoor space with wind noise, traffic, etc. Parked on my driveway it is very very loud, it can make my ears ring while sitting on the bike.
Value 4/5:
It was $142 after shipping. The best soundbar on the market is the Kuryakyn Road Thunder, which I have not tried, is $500. They have the same output on paper. I feel for the price it’s worth it. If it was $300 I might feel disappointed.