The team at Rockford Fosgate continues to lead the industry in Harley-Davidson motorcycle audio system upgrades. Their latest offering is the HD14-SBSUB dual 10-inch saddlebag subwoofer kit. That’s right! The kit adds a pair of 10-inch subwoofers to the saddlebags of most 2014 or newer Road Glide, Street Glide or Electra Glide bikes. With 800 watts of power on tap, you bet you can hear these beauties as you drive down the road, even at freeway speeds.
Amazing Bass with No Fabrication
Few shops around the country can modify a saddlebag or motorcycle trunk to house a subwoofer. Rockford Fosgate wanted to offer a bass solution that any reputable shop could integrate into a client’s Harley in one day. They designed this subwoofer system to include a pair of rotomolded high-density polyethylene enclosures that drop into the factory hardshell bags.
The kit also includes an 800-watt M5-800X4 four-channel amplifier, a set of grilles with cutting templates and all the wiring required to upgrade this to their HD14-TKIT, HD14U-STAGE2, HD14U-STAGE3, HD14RGSG-STAGE2 or the HD14RGSG-STAGE3 kits. The kit isn’t designed to be used with bikes using the factory amplifier or with the factory-equipped stretched saddlebags.
The enclosures are designed so that they can slide in and out of the saddlebags quickly and easily. If you need to remove one (or both) to carry clothes or supplies for a long ride, each has a Deutsch connector to make removal efficient and painless.
The enclosures are loaded with Rockford Fosgate Element-Ready M1D2-10B 10-inch subwoofers with their dual 2-ohm voice coils configured in series to present a 4-ohm load. These subwoofers feature 2-inch-diameter voice coils, synthetic fiber spiders, Santoprene rubber surrounds and mineral-filled polypropylene woofer cones. Each subwoofer is rated to handle 300 watts of continuous power, and they have a peak power rating of 1,200 watts. Best of all, their Element Ready design means they can get dusty, wet or dirty without fear of damage. So, hose them off and you’re ready to rock again.
The amp is wired in a bridged configuration and can provide a healthy 200 watts of continuous power to each subwoofer with up to 400 watts on tap for dynamic bursts. Having previously tested the M5-1000X1 monoblock subwoofer amp, those continuous numbers are likely under-rated, even with the specifications being CTA-2006 compliant. The brake-side enclosure has clearance at the back that allows the amplifier to be installed in the saddlebag.
Just like the TMS69BL14 saddlebag speaker kits from Rockford Fosgate, the HD14-SBSUB includes two-piece grilles and a cutting template for the inside of the bags. Your installer can mask off the bags, position the template in the shock-well on the inside of the bags, then cut an opening for the grille and drill the required wire access holes. The two-piece grille clamps around the ABS plastic body of the bags to provide a clean and tidy finish. Two-sided 3M tape seals the outer edge of the grille, and a foam gasket on the inside support ring means there’s no rattling when the volume is cranked. Rockford includes a set of inserts for the grilles if you have cargo that needs to stay clean and dry. The subwoofers, enclosures and even the amplifier are water-resistant, so you don’t need to panic if you get caught in the rain.
Speaking of the saddlebag 6×9 speaker kits, the top of the subwoofer enclosures are recessed so that those speakers still fit perfectly. The subwoofer kit even includes new wire mounts for the 6×9 lid kit wiring. Can you imagine a bike with TMS65 speakers in the fairing, a second set of TMS65 speakers in lower pods, the TMS69 speakers and an HD14-SBSUB system in the bags? That’s 1,200 watts of power and more speakers and subs than many cars or trucks!
Reliable System Installation and Configuration
As mentioned, the kit includes all the wiring required for your installer to complete the installation. Eight AWG cables that connect directly to the battery under the seat handle power delivery to the amp. A water-resistant fuse holder is molded into the positive power wire to keep things safe. For signal, a T-harness that works with any of the speaker and upgrade kits we mentioned earlier is included. Your installer can run the wiring up to the fairing and make the connections.
All the harnesses are protected with braided loom to protect everything from damage, even on a bike with lumpy cams. The harness system allows the bags to be removed for servicing by unplugging the connectors.
Rockford Fosgate hasn’t just simplified the installation and wiring of the kit. They’ve included an easy-to-follow setup guide for the amplifier. Your installer can copy the settings to the four-channel amp for the subwoofers, then set a high-pass filter on the amp in the fairing for the high-frequency speakers. Once set, you’re ready to rock. This upgrade kit requires the factory radio to be flashed. This radio recalibration process will be completed during the installation of one of the supporting amplifier and speaker kits.
Upgrade Your Harley-Davidson with the new Saddlebag Subwoofer System
Upgrading a motorcycle audio system to deliver great bass has always been a challenge. However, Rockford Fosgate just made this a whole lot easier with their HD14-SBSUB system. Drop by your local authorized Rockford Fosgate dealer to audition this fantastic upgrade and get a price on having it installed on your motorcycle. You can find a dealer using their dealer locator. For more information on Rockford Fosgate motorcycle, powersports, marine and car audio products, visit their website, Facebook page, YouTube channel or their Instagram.
