Neil's 2010 Ultra Upgrade

Custom Build · Neil's 2010 Ultra Classic

A 2010 Ultra Classic with reliable, clear touring audio again, after the factory Harman Kardon system had physically worn out. Neil's pre-Rushmore Electra Glide came in with a head unit that worked only when it felt like it and speakers that were falling apart, and left with a clean SoundStream and Precision Power system set up properly from the source.

Some upgrades are about chasing more. This one was not. It was about getting an ageing touring bike back to what should have been there all along: audio that just works, every ride, at the speeds this bike was built for.

The State of Things

Neil's Ultra had covered serious kilometres. It is a pre-Rushmore touring bike, built for long-distance comfort, big roads, and the kind of riding where the audio system is working for hours at a time, and the factory Harman Kardon system had been doing that job for years. By the time it came to us, it had run out of runway. The head unit worked intermittently, sometimes fine and sometimes not. The CD player had stopped entirely. And when we pulled the speakers, some of the cones had physically started to disintegrate. This was not gradual decline that could be patched; it was a complete audio reset, stripped back and rebuilt properly from the source.

The Brief

Neil's requirements were practical and touring-focused: modern connectivity with wireless CarPlay and maps on the dash so there is no phone mount cluttering the cockpit, clear and reliable sound at cruising speed, a system configured correctly from day one rather than simply installed with default settings, and everything looking factory-clean when it is done. No chasing maximum volume, no competition ambitions, just a properly functioning, properly installed system on a bike that deserves one.

The Head Unit: SoundStream WHD.SG

The failing factory Harman Kardon unit was replaced with the SoundStream WHD.SG, a purpose-built plug-and-play head unit for compatible 1998 to 2013 Harley batwing Touring models, including the Electra Glide and Ultra range. Wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a bright touchscreen, and built-in integration for the factory handlebar controls. For a touring bike, the maps-on-the-dash benefit alone changes how the bike works day-to-day: cleaner bars, no phone mount, and navigation there when you need it without fumbling for a device. Neil's WHD.SG was updated to the latest available firmware and configured for the bike before handover.

Amplification: Precision Power MAA4.400

To properly drive the upgraded speakers we installed the Precision Power MAA4.400 with the matching HD13.AWK bracket and plug-and-play wiring kit for 1998 to 2013 Touring. It is a compact four-channel Class-D amplifier rated 100W RMS × 4 into the four 4Ω speakers used here, giving the system up to 400W RMS in this configuration, with each speaker on its own channel. Compact enough to install cleanly without structural compromise, this single-amplifier system runs from the bike's standard electrical system without a separate auxiliary battery, provided the battery and charging system are in good condition, and it keeps the sound composed at cruising volume, which is exactly what a long-distance touring setup needs.

Front Fairing Speakers: 5.25 to 6.5-inch Upgrade

The factory 5.25-inch front speakers were replaced with Precision Power MAS.654 6.5-inch speakers (75W RMS, 4Ω) using 5.25-inch to 6.5-inch adapter plates. The larger 6.5-inch cone has more radiating area than the original 5.25-inch speaker, supporting stronger output and mid-bass presence when paired with the MAA4.400, a meaningful difference at highway speed where you need the most from your front stage. The fairing was finished with Precision Power HD13.SGG upper-fairing steel mesh grilles, replacing the factory plastic grilles with a cleaner, more durable finish that gives the fairing a sharper, more modern look.

Tour-Pak Speakers: MAS.654 6.5-inch Upgrade

On Neil's existing Tour-Pak pods, the same MAS.654 6.5-inch speakers fit straight in with no adapters. To let each speaker sit lower in the pod for a cleaner finish, we trimmed a small section of the pod's covering vinyl, then fitted matching Precision Power grilles to keep the look consistent front to rear. Tour-Pak pod sizes vary across 1998 to 2013 models, so this is not universal direct fitment. Using the same speaker model helps maintain consistent tonal character from front to rear.

System Setup

Because the MAS.654's Harley tuning modules are designed for the sealed fairing pods on 2014 and later bikes, they were removed for this pre-Rushmore application. Input sensitivity and high-pass crossovers were then configured before delivery, matching the amplifier to the speakers and protecting them from frequencies they were not intended to reproduce. That setup step is a large part of what makes the finished installation perform as one system rather than simply a collection of upgraded parts.

System at a Glance

The Result

Neil's reaction was immediate: "Oh yeah." The 2010 Ultra Classic now has a head unit that works reliably every time, a front and rear stage that stay clear at highway speed, and a cockpit that is cleaner and more functional than it has ever been. It sounds the way a long-distance touring Harley should sound, and did not, until now.

Frequently Asked Questions

More reading: our guide to Stage 1 to 3 upgrades, and more completed customer systems in Custom Builds.

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