Fairing Radios

[Joab]

Here is a question I have been idly wondering for awhile. Has anyone who runs a newer radio(or older for that matter) in their fairing, had issues with water or from rain? I haven't put speakers or a radio in my fairing yet, I ride to work as often as possible, and sometimes the bike gets caught out in the rain. I dont want to buy a radio for it and have it spark out the first time it sprinkles. Plus, I work third shift, and usually by the time I get off work, my bike is sopping wet from the night's condensation.

Just curious!

[crazy steve]

They make 'marine' versions for that sort of application, but I'm not so sure even those are all that good if they get really wet....

[dpotter58]

i keep a gallon zip lock bag in the fairing and pull it over the front of the radio when it rains or if i leave it out overnight. Kind of ghetto but it works for me

[CatatonicBug]

I have a newer HD radio with CD player with a removable face in my cyclesounds. I don't have the Vetter radio cover for it though (maybe some day). I have ridden in everything but a monsoon and never had a problem. The only issue I ever had was this last weekend when I washed the bike. I took the face off, and accidentally sprayed water directly at the radio. The speakers made a few pops, but stopped after about 15 seconds. I re-installed the face, and the radio played fine, except for the fact that it would not turn off or change stations/volume. I then discovered a reset button under the face of the radio, and after pressing that, all is back to normal.

The speakers I am running are cheap, $12 ones from Autozone. They are plastic cones and have never shown the slightest effects from water, even sprayed directly at them when I rinse the soap off.

Originally, I had a classic, AM/FM/tape-player in there, and it never had an issue with water at all. I never protected it from wash water and I DID ride in a monsoon with it. I lost the knobs off of it when rode to MOTM, so that was the only reason I replaced it. That, and the fact that I got the new radio from a friend for free.

[motoman]

Need to have something to cover the unit. I came across a cover that covers the whole unit including the speakers and snaps each corner covering speakers onto fairing. There USED to be a flip-up cover that was made to protect stereo unit, but I remember the first pothole bike hit it flipped up, broke the plastic pins and flew back over my head hitting the pavement shattering. I keep the present cover on it as it is a fancy Alpine deck. The speakers are all-weather Polk audio and the set-up DOES put out some serious sound. I more often use the MP3 player mounted on bike, but leave stereo unit on bike, as it IS a structual support for the fairing. With age, these fairings get brittle and I have seen a few with a split, broken bout center point on backside of windshield.

[rpgoerlich]

Picked up a Cycle Sounds enclosure with the waterproof speakers, Laminar antenna and radio enclosure for $48. Then found a cheapo($29) Pyle Radio with AM/FM/SD/USB.

Works Great. Just rode from work an hour and a half in a downpour and listened to it all the way home.

[graybird78]

having owned my sg for12yrs. never any problems wit radio and down pours. radios always crap out.

[ddragon63]

$80 JVC deck with MP3 hookup. $40 JVC 4" 2 ways

I live in a very wet area. and have been rained on. For the most part the fairing covers the stereo when parked and its raining. If your worried I'd buy a marine flip cover off flea-bay. I've got same stereo in my 22 Foot Jet boat with a marine cover over it and crash thru the waves in the Columbia River and have no issues. YMMV.

Another good investment is a "travel" cover, they are elastic on the bottom and just cover the upper part of the bike. They roll up really small into a bag you can stuff into your luggage or box in the fairing. When parked and worried about wet you pull it out of the bag and cover. I have one I take with me when we go to the coast to keep the sea mist off the controls over night. it was well worth the $30. the first time I used it we woke up that morning with the wonderful Pacific Coast mist rolling around. Pulled off cover, shook off wet bike was nice and dry.

[Joab]

Picked up a Cycle Sounds enclosure with the waterproof speakers, Laminar antenna and radio enclosure for $48. Then found a cheapo($29) Pyle Radio with AM/FM/SD/USB.

Works Great. Just rode from work an hour and a half in a downpour and listened to it all the way home.

I went to the Cycle Sounds website, I couldn't find that set up?

[dpotter58]

I went to the Cycle Sounds website, I couldn't find that set up?

this is all old school my friend. hit ebay

[Joab]

The bane of my life and wallet...Ebay...sigh. I don't know, maybe this will just start a new fashion trend instead...you know, the minimalist look?

[CatatonicBug]

The bane of my life and wallet...Ebay...sigh. I don't know, maybe this will just start a new fashion trend instead...you know, the minimalist look?

Is that the fairing you have? If so, you don't need the Cyclesounds unit. The Pacifico has the radio and speaker spots built in. Cyclesounds is only for the Vetter fairing.

[wa407mpp]

radio covers

most boat shops sell water proof covers for radios and you can water proof the speakers by gluing a thin sheet of plastic over the speaker face or wrap them in Sarand wrap. before installing them, but with all the new ipods out now why go to the extra expence

[Joab]

Ah, the radio cover and antennae is what got my attention My antennae was rusted away when I got the fairing.