While the audio system on H-D's latest radio equipped Touring models is adequate, there's definitely room for improvement. One problem we've experienced is at highway speeds (65 mph and faster) you have to turn the radio all the way up to hear it. But even with the stereo cranked it's still pretty inaudible, often leaving you wondering if you're listening to Jimi Hendrix or Jimmy Page.
Hogtunes latest product, the HF-1 Hog Pod ($189.95), is a speaker solution for '98 and newer H-D FLHT/FLHX models. High frequency sound travel in a narrower more directional path and anything that gets in their way disrupts the sound quality; due to the bend on the stock bars on these FLHT/FLHX models the hand controls, brake master cylinder (and hydraulic clutch master cylinder-if so equipped) sit right in front of the stock speakers, impeding the higher frequencies from reaching your ears. The Hog Pod is a tweeter setup that mounts to the top of the inner fairing and moves the higher frequencies above the bars and in a more direct path to your ears. Follow along as we install the Hog Pod on an '08 Street Glide.
1 The Hog Pod comes with the tweeter pod (A), two sets of speaker grilles metal (installed) and cloth (B), Y cables (C), a foam strip (D), a drilling template (E), and mounting screws (F). The pod features two 1 inch tweeters with built-in crossovers, 50 watts RMS power handling, 92dB efficiency, and comes with a 20-year warranty.
2 Here you can see how the stock bars and hand controls are right in front of the stock speakers on the SG.
3 Installation was simple. First we unscrewed the seven screws holding the outer fairing in place, unplugged the headlight and set the outer fairing aside. Then we used the plastic template to drill the pilot holes. The template has BRAKE on one side and CLUTCH on the other and it fits perfectly in the V shaped space on the inside of the inner fairing. First we drilled four 1/8-inch pilot holes (two on the brake and two on the clutch side).
4 The pilot holes were then opened up to 5/16 inches. Then we placed the Hog Pod on the front of the fairing and slid its speaker wires through the lower holes.
5 Next, we used the supplied bolts to secure the Hog Pod to the fairing.
6 The Hogtunes Y cables were marked TWEETER and WOOFER. So we unplugged the stock wires from the speakers, slipped the WOOFER leads (A) onto the stock speakers, installed the tweeter (B) leads onto the Hog Pod Tweeter speakers, and then plugged the two remaining stock leads into the remaining Y leads (C).
7 Installation took less than 45 minutes (with pictures) and the results were very impressive; great sound and great looks. The Hog Pod blends right in with the fairing and the chrome trim piece adds a nice decorative accent. If your fairing is painted you could easily take the Hog Pod apart and get it color matched. On the road the owner told us he could really hear a difference in quality and at highway speeds he only needed to turn the radio halfway up and he could easily hear the music.