Fort Lee Client Comes To Extreme Audio for Suzuki Volusia Stereo

A regular client from Fort Lee, Virginia, brought this magnificent 2003 Suzuki Volusia cruiser to Extreme Audio for a stereo system and styling upgrade. The client wanted to transform the look of the bike and add an audio system that would sound great and be clearly audible at any reasonable speed. We talked to the client about his vision for the finished project and subsequently put together a proposal for a high-power system that would more than meet his needs. With his approval, we scheduled an appointment to start this Suzuki Volusia stereo project.

Fairing Work

Aquatic AV provided the full-featured radio for this installation.

A custom bracket was fabricated to mount the new amplifier above the radio.

Before (top) and After (bottom) shots of the radical transformation.

As part of the audio upgrade, the client supplied us with a Harley-Davidson Road Glide fairing and a set of Harley-Davidson saddlebags. Most Volusia owners opt for a Batwing style fairing, but our client had a decidedly different vision with the Harley parts. We started the installation by sourcing out appropriate brackets to mount the fairing to the bike. Once procured, we welded the brackets to the bike and bolted the fairing in place. Next, we removed the stylish, but anemic little storage bags that came with the bike and made some modifications to the mounting hardware. With the changes completed, we installed the new, larger Harley-Davidson saddlebags.

The client agreed with our suggestion to use an Aquatic AV AQ-MP-5UBT head unit on the bike. Aquatic AV makes several Harley specific radios, but as this Suzuki doesn’t have handle bar controls, the marine version of the radio looked better in the dash.

To power the audio system, we used an Arc Audio Moto 600.4 amplifier. This amp produces 150 watts per channel into two or four-ohm loads. We mounted the amp on top of the radio on a custom bracket.

With the new fairing and saddlebags on board, it was time to run wiring. We ran power and speaker wires the length of the bike. We also hooked up the dual LED headlights in the new fairing to the factory light control circuit. We protected the new wiring with braided nylon sleeve and heat shrink tubing. We wrapped much of the wiring in tesa cloth tape to conceal it and ensure it would not rub or buzz while riding.

Speaker Solutions

The Arc Audio Moto speakers feature robust crossovers.

The speaker trim rings were molded into the top of the lids.

The Arc Audio Moto speaker is a perfect match for this system.

The installed grille results in a flush-looking custom lid.

The piano black trim ring on the grille looks great on the lid!

The integration of the speakers into the lids was a success.

To give the system as much punch as possible, we installed a set of Arc Audio Moto 6.2 components in the factory locations in the fairing. We added a second set of tweeters to help improve high-frequency performance when on the road, and to fill holes in the fairing that area usually used for additional gauges. As this bike did not come with a fairing, all of the gauges are on top of the fuel tank.

Arc Audio includes a somewhat large passive crossover networks with the Moto 6.2 set. Their size ensures that they can handle the prodigious power from the amplifier. Tiny little crossovers tend to fail at high power levels. We mounted the crossovers in the fairing to ensure easy access for tuning.

For the rear speakers, we used a set of Arc Audio Moto 692 coaxial speakers. Our technicians cut an opening in the lid of each saddlebag and grafted the grill from the Moto 692 into it. We used automotive body filler to blend the grills into the lids, then painted them to match the bike perfectly. The chrome mesh grilles blend nicely with the chrome on the motorcycle. Once the modifications to the saddlebags lids were complete, you could barely tell that they didn’t come with the bike.

Power Delivery

A carpet cover was created to protect the battery.

Our technicians welded steel brackets to the metal battery box to make sure it stayed secure.

This bike originally came with very few electrical components; the factory battery was quite small. To support the additional electronics, we removed the stock battery and installed a Stinger SPP680 AGM Battery in the left saddlebag. We fabricated a steel mounting bracket for the battery and covered everything with black carpet to give it a durable finish.

Suzuki Volusia Stereo Upgrade

The client is still on deployment overseas, so he hasn’t had a chance to audition the system yet. We have sent him many pictures of our work, and we know he loves the way it looks. Being able to sit on the bike and experience the new system will have to wait a little while longer. If you are interested in an audio system upgrade for your motorcycle, ATV or side-by-side, then drop into one of our locations, or contact us HERE.