Hi, saw the new HD hard bag speakers at Bike Week last Friday and wondered if anyone has tried them out on their bikes. Look really good but quite expensive. Any comments would be appreciated. Looks like it would be about a grand to get new lids, speaker kits, and install.

 

"Expensive" is relative--if you already have vented fairing lowers, adding CVO speaker boxes/housings to the lowers is a better alternative IMO--boxes/housings are ~$65. But adding vented lowers is a $500+ proposition for adding two speakers changes the cost dynamic; so, paying $600 (list) for color-matched saddlebag lid speakers becomes a slightly more cost-effective option for adding two speakers.

It's unlikely that adding either CVO speaker boxes/housings or saddlebag lid speakers w/o an amp would be worthwhile IMO.

As for paying for labor to install either, the cost is significantly increased.

In another month or so, there will be a high quality "drop in" speaker for the HD saddlebag speaker lids as an alternative to the HD choices from Hybrid Audio Technologies.

I'm finishing up my installation of the HD saddlebag lid speakers; just got the color-matched lids back from the painter--custom HOK candy apple red sunglo--as well as the color-matched CVO speaker boxes/housings.

You're right; audio upgrades, especially adding speakers, is an expensive proposition.

Carl