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Cruiser
Posts: 60
Bradenton, FL | One thing the new scoot was lacking in, was the music department. I have my ipad mini for a source, but decided to add some upgraded sounds. I added in RF 2 channel amp for the mids/highs in custom bracket under the seat, a mono RF sub amp in the saddlebag. I fed everything with 8 ga wire and added in a power dist. block in the small cubby ahead of the right saddlebag.
I'll be posting more as the custom sub-woofer box and front speaker pods go in... still trying to get used to the thought of tearing down a brand new bike without even 100 miles on it yet for all this  
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Tourer
Posts: 466
Grand Cane, LA | Word of advice about the amp in the saddle bag. You will need some kind of air movement for that thing because it will get hot and quick. Trust me, been there, done that. You're likely going to have to rig up some kind of PC fan and some kind of filtered air inlet. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 60
Bradenton, FL | atvtinker - 2014-02-20 11:32 AM
Word of advice about the amp in the saddle bag. You will need some kind of air movement for that thing because it will get hot and quick. Trust me, been there, done that. You're likely going to have to rig up some kind of PC fan and some kind of filtered air inlet.
Yeah, I am anticipating some potential heat issues. I am porting the sub cabinet outside of the saddlebag which I am hoping will give adequate airflow, but if not I do have a small DC fan on standby to install if necessary. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 60
Bradenton, FL | BTW here is sneak peek at the sub cabinet, will hold 2 JL Audio 6W3's. I wanted good sound, but didn't want to sacrifice an entire saddlebag for it. Will leave about 50% of the saddlebag still usable, and can be removed if necessary for long haul runs where I need the whole bag. 
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| As long as your doing wiring you might want to make your rear break light more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-QPAMpVmhw |
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Cruiser
Posts: 60
Bradenton, FL | johnnyvision - 2014-02-20 7:15 PM
As long as your doing wiring you might want to make your rear break light more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-QPAMpVmhw
I saw that thread before and I liked that idea. I am really thinking about going with the LCD panels in the rear though, but probably will clip those wires at least until I do. Appreciate the reminder |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | not just heat issues from the amp making heat. but inside those bags they get really warm in the summer.. figure where they exhaust in , where they engine is located, ive had stuff get REALLY warm in there. so add a amp and its a sure thing for your own little oven.. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | Arkainzeye - 2014-02-20 8:56 PM
not just heat issues from the amp making heat. but inside those bags they get really warm in the summer.. figure where they exhaust in , where they engine is located, ive had stuff get REALLY warm in there. so add a amp and its a sure thing for your own little oven..
Yep. If you leave a cold six pack of beer in there from the store and have a long way home; it'll be tepid by the time you take a bottle out and crack the cap. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 60
Bradenton, FL |  Yeah, for heat I am going to try using a small 12vdc fan and see how that works. If its not sufficient I will probably use a liquid cooled PC setup with a cool plate mounted to the amp, just have to find somewhere to mount the radiator for it.
In the meantime, here is a sneak peek of my custom speaker pods for my 6'5 JL's under construction
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Fountain Inn, SC United States | Nice Work Bob. I enjoy seeing new ways of mounting speakers and amps. Noticed that you are running your +12 power line in the same loom as your input signal wires. You may run into a hum/buzz issue with that. Just an fyi.
Good Luck and take loads of photos! Consider writing a how-to article for this site.
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Cruiser
Posts: 142
| sweet sweet sweet! i got my eyes on you! great job man!
cheers! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 60
Bradenton, FL | And the grinding continues... there is however light at the end of the tunnel! 
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Cruiser
Posts: 60
Bradenton, FL | Here is a little comparison between the stock 5 1/4 speakers and the new 6'5 and sub. Just a wee bit o' difference as you can see  
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Tourer
Posts: 366
Albuquerque, NM | You've got some serious fabrication skills dude. That vision is going to rock! |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Your not putting speakers in where the mirrors are or am I head of you. Looks great
Before you put the seat on cover the shock hole with some duck tape it will help it to say clean around there.
I meet a guy this summer that had a small 4" fan down in front on the side aluminum trim that he would use to say cool when it got hot out. He said it was surprising how much breeze it put out |
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Cruiser
Posts: 60
Bradenton, FL | Ok, got the sub cabinet finished, system sounds great. Had to add some dynamat and port the saddlebag into the small compartment under the seat but the sound is very nice. Got all of the finish work done on the pods and everything test fit. Now its time for paint! 
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Fountain Inn, SC United States | Bob - I got lots of questions!!!!
What are your front speaker pods made of? MDF?
And how did you get the smooth contours?
Why did you go with 2 subs? Are they run from a single mono amp?
For porting the sub cabinet, did you just cut a hole in the inside of the saddlebag? Was there math involved in deciding how big a hole?
A fantastic job! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 60
Bradenton, FL | Jedi Jeff - 2014-02-28 3:26 PM
Bob - I got lots of questions!!!!
What are your front speaker pods made of? MDF?
And how did you get the smooth contours?
Why did you go with 2 subs? Are they run from a single mono amp?
For porting the sub cabinet, did you just cut a hole in the inside of the saddlebag? Was there math involved in deciding how big a hole?
A fantastic job!
#1. Speaker pods are 3/4 MDF, fiberglass resin and bondo on top of the factory plastic panels.
#2. Lots of sanding!
#3. Because 2 are always better than one! And yes, they are both ran parallel to a single mono amp
#4. The sub cabinet is actually sealed and has about .6 CF of airspace which just happens to be perfect for a pair of the JL 6W3 subs.
#5. The port I made was from the saddlebag into the small unsealed compartment in front of it. It does create a bit of a bandpass effect, but more importantly allows the subs to breath and lets air move in and out of the saddlebag which in turn makes the subs sound better and helps to cool the amp located in the same compartment. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 810
| Great install. Best speaker pods I have seen for the Vision. Besides the grill cover, did you have to cut the dash to make room for the backs of the 6.5's? Are you still using the rear speaker enclosures, or are you running the fronts as open/infinite baffles? Did you use any additional fasteners to attach the speaker pods to the bike? What Rockford Fosgate amps did you use (and does the charging system stay up)? What crossovers are you using for the fronts and sub? Any reason why you chose JL Audio fronts versus aftermarket motorcycle speakers? I think your speaker pods and sub-box would make for great aftermarket accessories for the Vision. Time to productize your pods or go in business with someone like Biketronics to fabricate your pods for you. Biketronics has 6.5" and 7.1" speakers that I am sure they would love to sell for Visions. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 60
Bradenton, FL | TimS - 2014-03-02 12:23 AM
Great install.? Best speaker pods I have seen for the Vision. Besides the grill cover, did you have to cut the dash to make room for the backs of the 6.5's? Are you still using the rear speaker enclosures, or are you running the fronts as open/infinite baffles? Did you use any additional fasteners to attach the speaker pods to the bike? What Rockford Fosgate amps did you use (and does the charging system stay up)? What crossovers are you using for the fronts and sub? Any reason why you chose JL Audio fronts versus aftermarket motorcycle speakers? I think your speaker pods and sub-box would make for great aftermarket accessories for the Vision.? Time to productize your pods or go in business with someone like Biketronics to fabricate your pods for you.? Biketronics has 6.5" and 7.1" speakers that I am sure they would love to sell for Visions.
#1. Yes, I did have to cut away a bit of material from the fairing for the JL's to fit, but thats mostly because they are MASSIVE. Most normal 6'5's should fit no problem, but either way it was no big deal, just a bit of dremel work. The JL's are infinite baffle (free-air) woofers, so keeping the small factory front enclosures really killed the midbass. I basically threw the factory enclosures away and added some dynamat to some of the exposed metal and plastic inside the fairing and the sound quality is great.
#2. I still am using the factory 5 1/4 enclosures on the tour pack, but I plan on custom molding some 6'5's in there also for a future project.
#3. No other fasteners were needed, the speakers screw into the custom panels and the custom panels use the factory mounting snaps and screws. Very easy to install or remove.
#4. Amps have built in crossovers, I am using a PBR300x2 for the front stage, a PBR 500x1 for the subs, and am driving the rear speakers off the factory radio simply for rear fill.
#5. The factory charging system wasn't as robust as I would of hoped. I ran all 8GA power wire, but did have some dimming lights when the system was cranked. I also noticed that running the system for not even 5 minutes with the bike off killed the battery dead. I added a second battery (gell cell, standard motorcycle chassis size) in the left hand saddlebag (one will easily also fit in the trunk mount, but I want my trunk to stay removable so thats why I went with the saddlebag) and now I get no light dimming at all, and thus far can crank the system up with the bike off and have no fear of killing it anywhere near as quickly.
#6. I chose the JL's because I have had great luck with them in the past, they have excellent power handling and are one of the few companies that make a true 6'5 coaxial marine speaker. That plus they truly sound awesome, the PBR300x2 is a great match for them power-wise. At $299 a pair they arent cheap, but you get what you pay for in the end.
Edited by Cadillac Bob 2014-03-02 6:38 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 810
| CB, Thanks for the answers. It looks like those amps are pretty efficient. I know JL Audio makes great subs (auto and home), but haven't checked out their other speakers. "... The factory charging system wasn't as robust as I would of hoped. ...", ditto that !!! I hope that is something they fix, SOON. Sincerely, Tim
Edited by TimS 2014-03-02 10:51 PM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 27
| Bob u good man.(Big Six) |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 27
| bob u the Man. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 27
| How much. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 167
, OH | So bob, how does ONE order the molds for the rears only hmmm? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 108
Conneaut, OH | looks good |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 33
Watauga, TX United States | Dude, Simply outstanding i have book marked this for reference. great job |
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My new Vision Mod #2 - Amplifier installation