Removing 1150RT Speakers-Any Issues?

[Argon]

Does anyone know if there is any problem with removing the speakers from a 1150RT? I don't have a radio and so have no reason to have the speakers on the bike. It looks like they are not involved in any structural aspect of the fairing, but does removing them cause any weird vibration or problems with water/grime getting into the connectors that are more exposed without the speaker housing being there.

[squints]

No problems at all, in fact my 04 didn't even have them when I bought it.

[4wheeldog]

They haven't bothered the box in my garage at all for the last three years!

[Mike O]

Andy,

 

I had to replace my fog lamps and one way to do this was from under the fairing itself. I had to remove the speakers anyway and voila! it opened up the entire underside of the fairing and made for a VERY clean install.

 

Removing the speakers is quite simple, removes un-needed weight (in this particular case the end result will be about 5-7MPG better fuel economy and net +15bhp at rear wheel )

 

Here's what I did:

 

1. Remove tupperware

2. Peer under the fairing and you will see there are only 3 small screws attaching the speaker housing (you'll be AMAZED at the elaborate speaker structure - they're custom design is unique for left and right side of the fairing)

3. There is a small connector which is used to tie into the radio harness. Simply disconnect.

 

That's it! For even more benefit (an addition 1-2MPG ) while you've got the tupperware off, you might as well finish emptying your glove box. This is also quite simple. One bolt (next to the gas tank) holds the upper part of the glove box and once removed you have complete access to the DIN chassis for the radio. Disconnect the harness leading from the front of the glove box and (IIRC) there are 4 small screws to remove the chassis itself. You will have effectively DOUBLED the size of your glove box and added +5bhp at the rear wheel BTW, for 2004 RT's the speakers and chassis are OPTIONALLY installed by the factory (in other words, you'd be undo-ing what the factory did for that year anyway).

 

Regards,

 

Mike O

 

P.S. Honest, since I removed my speakers, I can actually keep up with the KRS

[BFish]

my $.02...save the speaker harness. may come in handy for future add-ons. mine came w/o speakers but the blue harness is attached under glove box. other end from speakers would make connecting item requiring current handy.

[VladtheImpaler]

No problems after removing mine. I used the extra space to mount my autocom and aux. relays for driving lights. The speaker wiring harness's came in handy when wiring on/off switches for the driving lights.

[Yeeha! Stephen]

Does the elaborate shape of the "boxes" have any other function besides speaker sound?

 

Like, helping with Oil Cooler air flow or something to that effect?

 

After removing the Spkrs and boxes, will you get hot air through the grills? Any need to block off the backs of the grills to cut flow up to your "Pits"?

 

I've gotta replace a bulb and while I'm in there, I think I too, will perform the Speaker-ectomy.

[Kenny2]

I removed mine. Felt a difference in the handling. Those speakers are abit of weight to have above/equal to the handlebars. There are no issues of heat coming through the grills.

[Mike O]

Stephen,

 

As for heat from the oil cooler. I noticed absolutely NO difference. I get more heat coming up from the triple-tree than any where NEAR the speaker grills.

 

Regards,

 

Mike O

 

P.S. Remember when replacing bulbs to use rubber/surgical gloves so as to not get any oil from your fingers on the bulbs (this can shorten their life span) - And it makes you look like a bike-surgeon

[Yeeha! Stephen]

Stephen,

 

 

P.S. Remember when replacing bulbs to use rubber/surgical gloves so as to not get any oil from your fingers on the bulbs (this can shorten their life span) - And it makes you look like a bike-surgeon

 

I wear white, cloth gloves...

I guess I look like the freakin' Maid.

(The Shirley Booth kind, not the male fantasy kind)

[Argon]

Thanks for all the input. I took the speakers out as part of some re-wiring of aux lights, and having the extra room for wires is handy. I used a Blue Sea systems fuse block mounted in the glovebox (via Velcro) and then rewired my PIAA 1100, Motolights and GPS power cord to it. The installation is alot nicer than the rat's nest of wires I had earlier. I also used the plastic strip on the left side of the dashboard as a mount for a control for my Gerbings heated jacket and as a place to mount the indicator LED for the Autoswitch that controls the Motolights. If I ever get a good digital camera, I will post some pictures.