Motorcycles are one of the most popular forms of transportation on the planet. They are fuel efficient machines that can go places that larger four-wheeled vehicles can not, and they are easily customizable, which allows a bike’s owner to make their ride an expression of their own particular style. Riding a motorcycle not only provides transportation, but can also be a fun and relaxing experience, a lot like listening to your favorite song, so it’s no surprise that one of the most popular current modifications in the world of motorcycles are upgraded sound systems.
How Do I Choose Motorcycle Speakers?
Upgrading the speakers in cars and other automobiles has been popular for decades, and the audio equipment used in cars and trucks provides an excellent sound quality, but they can be delicate and sensitive because they are often housed inside a vehicle’s water and weatherproof interior. Many automotive speakers can be large because they can be strategically placed out of the way around a car’s interior or inside a spacious trunk. For these reasons, a car speaker usually isn’t a good choice for installation on a motorcycle. The good news for motorcycle enthusiasts around the world is that advances in audio technology have led to the design of speakers and other stereo equipment that are perfectly suited for use on a motorcycle.
One of the most appealing reasons to ride a motorcycle is the open-air experience and sense of freedom that you can only find by traveling on a bike, but this also means that a rider and everything on a motorcycle will face prolonged exposure to the elements. A speaker that is installed on a motorcycle will be subject to rainwater, wind, dust, and potentially harmful UV rays in the form of sunlight. So a good quality motorcycle speaker’s components, such as its housing and cone assembly, will need to be made from high-quality materials to stand up to these conditions. Size is also an important factor to consider since space on a motorcycle is at a premium. It is hard to find the room for a speaker that is larger than a 6x9, so those tend to be the most popular choice.
Speaker size can often play a role in sound quality, but the good news is that speaker size doesn’t necessarily determine the quality of sound a speaker produces. Traditionally sound systems have used speakers of different designs and sizes to cover different frequency ranges. Small speakers like tweeters are used to focus on high frequencies, midrange speakers are used for middle-range frequencies, and subwoofers are used to provide low-frequency sounds. High-quality tweeters and subwoofers are being produced in smaller and smaller sizes, and all of these can and are used on motorcycles, but if space is at an extreme premium, there are other options.
Luckily for music lovers, technology has progressed to the point that a single high-quality speaker can provide a great sound in a limited space. Full range speakers are a good option because they produce as much of the audible frequency range as possible by using components such as a whizzer cone to help save space. Three-way speakers contain three separate drivers which focus on high, mid, and low ranges, all contained in a single housing to help save space without sacrificing sound quality.
Many speakers that are suitable for use on a motorcycle are also popular for use in boats and ATVs and vice versa. The reason for this is simple, all of these products will have to withstand the same types of outdoor environments such as lots of sunlight and contact with water, and speaker size will also be a factor depending on the size of the boat or ATV. Many of the companies that produce high-quality marine audio equipment also make speakers that will work on a motorcycle.
What Are The Best Brands for Motorcycle Speakers?
A simple online search will turn up dozens, if not hundreds of brands around the world advertising speakers that might be suitable for use on a motorcycle. Some of these companies seem to pop up overnight and disappear just as quickly, and many of these speakers are made with poor-quality materials and suffer from a lack of overall quality control. Some of the oldest and most trusted brands for stereo equipment are still producing great products, but some of these companies don’t make speakers that are suited for motorcycle use, so what are the best brands out there for motorcycle speakers?
There are several good choices when it comes to manufacturers of marine grade and motorcycle speakers. Diamond Audio has been making quality sound system equipment since 1994 and produce a large range of marine and motorcycle audio equipment and speakers, DB audio has been around since 1999 and produces a full range of marine grade products, and Ground Zero has been making speakers and audio equipment designed in Germany since 1995. All of these companies have been around for decades and are well-known in the world of marine grade and motorcycle sound systems. A company like Wet Sounds, which was founded in 2005, focuses on boat speakers and equipment, but like the others on this list, they make products that are suitable for extended outdoor use.
Cicada Audio is one of the newest brands when it comes to quality speakers for motorcycle and marine applications, having been founded in 2020, but they have been able to use the best modern speaker technology to produce a great product. Rockford Fosgate is the oldest company on this list, with founder Jim Fosgate starting to make audio equipment in 1973, and they are one of the most trusted brands when it comes to all forms of audio and sound systems.
All of the above brands produce speakers and audio products that will help you accomplish your goal of listening to music in the highest quality possible while being subject to outside conditions. These different brands also offer speakers and other products that suit different budgets, so you are sure to find speakers that fall in your price range.
What Wattage Is Good for Motorcycle Speakers?
So now that you know what to look for in a motorcycle speaker, and what some of the top brands on the market are, what are some of the technical details to keep in mind when deciding on a speaker? One term that you will hear the most when it comes to speakers are watts, but what exactly is wattage?
A watt is a unit of measurement used to describe electrical power. A watt is equal to one ampere under the pressure of one volt. Some devices require a few watts to operate, while others require many watts. When it comes to speakers, watts are used to describe how much power a speaker can handle, and how much power an amplifier can put out, so the more watts a speaker has, the more powerful it is, and the more sound it can produce.
The higher the watts, the louder the speaker will be, and higher watts often result in clearer sound quality as well. These are important things to keep in mind when you are looking to purchase motorcycle speakers which will have to contend with wind noise and the sounds of the great outdoors while playing music. 150 watts is a reasonable minimum requirement for motorcycles speakers, but the higher the wattage, the better the speakers will sound at highway speeds, so some prefer speakers in the 300 watt range but what you choose will depend on your personal goals and budget.
What Kind Of Speakers Do Harley Davidsons Use?
Harley Davidson Motorcycles have been around for over a century, and are often described as the “Kings of the Road”, and while they started out as extremely basic machines with little creature comforts, they are now some of the most comfortable rides out there. It is possible today to purchase a Harley with a great sound system from the factory, and it’s no surprise that they use Rockford Fosgate products for their sound systems. Fosgate has been in the speaker game for decades and have some of the best products on the market.
Because so many riders decide to upgrade their bikes with larger saddle bags and fairings, speakers and audio equipment are often upgraded too. Rockford Fosgate makes many products that can be used for riders who want to use factory equipment, but they also make many aftermarket components for bikes that feature light upgrades all the way to fully custom bagger bikes with the best audio performance with better sound.
What Makes Garage Bagger Speakers the Best?
So now that you know what to look for in a motorcycle speaker and the best brands on the market, whether it be a 6x9, tweeter, or subwoofer, where is the best place to find these products? Look no further than Garage Bagger Stereo. You could spend hours wasting time on overseas websites that sell low-quality speakers, but Garage Baggers carries all the best brands and products when it comes to motorcycle and marine speakers. They offer many styles of speakers in a variety of price ranges to suit any budget, and can even help you build the custom motorcycle sound system of your dreams. For the best audio quality, whether you need a component speaker or a coaxial speaker, choose Garage Bagger for high performance audio.
The team at Garage Bagger has decades of combined experience when it comes to motorcycle and marine stereo systems and is just a call or an e-mail away if you have any questions. So head on over to https://garagebaggerstereo.com , order the best quality 6x9 size speakers or any other motorcycle audio equipment you need, install them, and hit the road while enjoying your favorite tunes on high volume for many miles to come!