I am looking to upgrade my head unit on my 99 ultra classic. I think that i would like to keep the CB and intercom function. I know harley offers an upgraded head unit but it states that that it is for 2006 and later. Does anyone know if it is compatible with older bikes. I have not asked my local dealer yet. Thought that I would ask around here first.

 

There have been people that have successfully put a Harmon Kardon 06-later radio into an older bike that used a Radio Sound radio. I would bet money that when you ask your dealer, they will tell you that it can't be done.

 

If you're asking if the HK radio and the CB module for it can be installed in your bike, the answer is yes. You'll need to swap out the 23-wire "Ultra" connector your Radio Sound radio uses for the 35-wire "Ultra" connector used on the HK radio. The swap isn't difficult--the wires in the 23-wire connector are removed from the connector and inserted into the 35-wire connector in the correct chambers, of course.

If you're asking if you can use your current CB receiver that is separate from the RS radio with the newer, HK radio, I don't know. (EDIT: This assumes that the CB receiver is separate from the radio; but see the reply below that the CB receiver is integrated into the RS radio.)

Suggestion: Get yourself the wiring diagrams for your bike and compare them to those for the '06 and newer models if you want to retain your CB receiver rather than go with the HK and CB module HD now uses. In my case, I wanted a clean, integrated CB installation so I retrofitted the HK to my '04 EG with HD's CB module and it's worked flawlessly for 2+ years.

Personally, I don't see the HK providing you with greater functionality than your current RS radio at a reasonable cost if all you want to do is hook-up XM or ipod as additional audio sources. You can do both by using the Aux plug on the front of your RS radio.

Carl

 

The CB and intercom are built into the head unit on the 1998-2005 Ultras, even though there are external switches on the tank panel to control them. If you remove the head unit you lose the CB and intercom. The 2006 and newer bikes with the HK radio just have external modules added for the CB and intercom, but they are controlled by the switches built into the head unit rather than having external switches like the older radios.