Well, if anyone took a look at my trailer build, they'll know that if I can't find it, I'll make it. That brings me now to the stereo on the motorcycle.
I hate crappy sound systems. One of the first things I do to a new vehicle, besides making sure it's mechanically sound and safe (always first up), is 'fix' the stereo. Not bass pumping ghetto machines...just quality sound at any volume up to and including bleeding ear drums. Don't really care to let the neighbors know what I'm playing, but if I did I'm sure they'd like the quality of the sound even if they didn't like the artists.

I'm also a 'keep it hidden' kinda stereo guy. Anyone looking into the vehicle might notice the head unit, but little else. Hidden, tucked stock looking. With what's out there parts wise, and what can be manufactured, there's no need for the thing to be visible to the naked eye (unless you're looking through the stock speaker grills). At least in my book and my installs. I also don't remove it when I sell the vehicle, so any modifications don't need to be 'fixed' before the new owner gets his music.
Stereos on a motorcycle are already at a sound disadvantage because of the ambient noise levels. Competing with that much 'natural' noise is a challenge. Again....I'll take that challenge. Lets see what we can do about it. Over the next 2 weeks or so, we'll be installing an amplifier (one of those new compact amps that are all the rage), an equalizer (either parametric or 'old school) possibly a new head unit (possibly...a few items may just get added instead of removing it...can't mess with what's integrated that much). Well...you can...and that may be next years project.
So far...what I'd tried so far: 3.5" Blaupunkt GTx352's in the back. They'll benefit a lot from the upcoming amplifier, but they do pretty well right now. Definitely a smaller speaker, but space is limited back there without doing a lot of work. The little 'cubbies' will hold something a lot bigger than a 3.5" speaker though...and it's just a matter of replacing the existing doors with a plate. Looking at them right now, a 4x6 plate speaker like the Polk dB641 would be simple. That might happen later....just checking right now.
5.25" speakers in the front...too big. Tried that (Blaupunkt GTx542's). You might get them in the fairing with some selective whacking of the plastics, but you won't get the dash over them. Heck of a lot of quality sound...too bad they didn't fit.
5" Polk dB501's...(and I'm heartbroken to say it cause I'm a Polk kinda guy!)...didn't have enough output to blow out wet match. Maybe some serious amplification, but their '5" might have been the outside measurement on the box they came in...NOT a 5" cone, and not 5" worth of sound coming out of it. Ohms aside, the 'stock' J&M's that came with my bike had a better sound quality. Nope, the Polk's were sadly lacking in my opinion. Maybe amplified they'll work out, but they'll never fit in the dash after I'm done with it.
Set of 4x6 Pioneer's showed up today off the clearance rack at Amazon. Poly coned, marine capable, with at least 2 ways of mounting them. We're gonna give those a try in the dash, behind the existing speaker grills. The hole will still be the stock diameter, but a tiny bit bigger speaker under them. The 'stock' J&M's being 'about' 4" to 4.5" cone and a surface area of under 16"sq. A true 5.25" speaker will run you shade over 21"sq. The set of Pioneer that just showed up will give me almost 19"sq. Driven correctly, that should be substantially more 'noise' output.
Picture is one of the 'spacer's to install them in bigger holes, or for different mounting arrangements. It 'looks' like it'll fit, and with the metal grill over the speaker hole, the possibility even exists of opening the speaker hole enough to catch some more of the eclipse outline of the speaker. We'll see. Worst case, I buy a new dash cover or a bunch of ABS and do a lot of plastic welding a 4.5" speaker back into it. But, if I'm gonna weld plastic back in, I'll inset the plate into it enough to get a set of 6.5"s in there! Hey...I'm up for it if you are! This is gonna be fun!!! (and likely expensive...but isn't that the definition of a FARKLE? Fun Accessory, Really Kool, Likely Expensive!)
And off we go!
More to come!
(yeah, the Concours in the background is VERY unhappy the wing is getting all the attention)