Model Guide · Tri Glide Ultra
Upgrading the audio on a Tri Glide Ultra starts with identifying the exact year, the Boom! Box generation, the factory speaker zones and whether the bike has been modified. This guide covers the 2014-2025 Tri Glide Ultra, the two Boom! Box generations, fairing and Tour-Pak speaker fitment, amplifiers, DSP tuning and complete upgrade paths.
Important model note: The Tri Glide Ultra runs two different Boom! Box generations. 2014-2018 models use Boom! Box 6.5GT, and 2019-2025 models use Boom! Box GTS. Both are pre-Skyline systems and do not use the Skyline OS / A2B integration path. The 2025 Tri Glide Ultra is the last Boom! Box-generation touring trike: Harley's redesigned 2026 trike range moved to Skyline OS on different models (Road Glide 3, Street Glide 3 Limited and CVO Street Glide 3 Limited), which are covered in a separate guide.
Quick answer: A 2014-2025 Tri Glide Ultra runs a factory four-speaker system, with speakers in the Batwing fairing and the King Tour-Pak, commonly 5.25-inch. It uses Boom! Box 6.5GT (2014-2018) or Boom! Box GTS (2019-2025), integrates like other Boom! Box Touring bikes and does not need an A2B interface. Purpose-built 6.5-inch upgrade packages exist for some positions and years, but fitment must be confirmed per position.
Choose your trike: 2014-2025 Tri Glide Ultra (this guide) · 2023-2025 Road Glide 3 · 2026 Skyline trikes
2014-2018 vs 2019-2025 Tri Glide Ultra Audio Systems
Before choosing parts, identify which Boom! Box generation your bike has, because it affects the radio interface and the correct integration approach:
| Model and platform | Factory starting point | Integration approach |
|---|---|---|
| Tri Glide Ultra, 2014-2018 | Boom! Box 6.5GT; four factory speakers in the Batwing fairing and King Tour-Pak, commonly 5.25-inch | 6.5GT / Boom! Box integration; no A2B interface required |
| Tri Glide Ultra, 2019-2025 | Boom! Box GTS; four 5.25-inch speakers in the Batwing fairing and King Tour-Pak | GTS / Boom! Box integration; no A2B interface required |
Any EQ, filtering, clipping or volume-dependent behaviour in the factory system should be measured rather than assumed, because it varies with the radio and configuration.
What About 2009-2013 Tri Glide Models?
This guide covers 2014 onward. For 2009-2013 Tri Glide models using the earlier Harley audio platform, see our 1998-2013 Batwing Touring audio guide, which covers the older radios, speaker sizes and integration. Model-specific radios, harnesses, mounting kits, controls and complete audio systems are not interchangeable between the pre-2014 and 2014-and-later platforms, so match those to your exact year. Individual speakers, amplifiers or processors must still be checked for physical and electrical compatibility.
What Size Speakers Fit a Tri Glide Ultra?
Boom! Box-era Tri Glide Ultra models commonly use 5.25-inch speakers in the Batwing fairing and the King Tour-Pak. Purpose-built 6.5-inch upgrade packages are available for some Tri Glide fairing and Tour-Pak positions, but the required mounts, grilles, wiring, depth and impedance must be confirmed for the exact year and position. A generic 6.5-inch car speaker is not guaranteed to fit. For factory speaker sizes across every Harley Touring era, see: What Size Speakers Does My Harley Have? Factory Speaker Sizes by Year and Model.
The Two-Zone Challenge on a Tri Glide Ultra
The Tri Glide Ultra runs two speaker zones: the front Batwing fairing and the rear King Tour-Pak. The factory Boom! Box provides a basic front/rear fade, but the four speakers still operate as a linked factory system, without the independent per-zone EQ, crossover, channel routing and delay control available from a multi-channel DSP or DSP amplifier.
A trike can also produce a different rear noise environment because of the two rear tyres, drivetrain, larger rear bodywork and passenger position. The actual noise floor varies with tyres, road surface, exhaust, helmet and speed, and where it is higher, independent front and rear tuning becomes particularly useful for keeping the system balanced at speed.
Why Speaker Upgrades Alone Fall Short
A well-matched speaker upgrade can improve clarity, weather resistance and usable output, particularly where the factory speakers have deteriorated. However, speaker replacement alone does not add amplifier headroom, correct an unsuitable source configuration, or give you independent control of the fairing and Tour-Pak zones. Where more output is the goal, riders usually benefit from addressing the source integration, available power and per-zone control as part of the same build.
Learn when a Harley radio flash, line leveller or DSP input correction is the right solution.
How DSP and OEM Integration Help
The factory signal can be measured and then conditioned using a suitable DSP, DSP amplifier or integration device. Beyond the factory front/rear fade, a processor with enough channels lets the fairing and Tour-Pak zones be tuned separately, with independent level, equalisation, crossover control, channel routing and time alignment.
Time alignment can manage arrival-time differences between the fairing and Tour-Pak speaker locations for a chosen listening priority, usually the rider, or provide a compromise for two-up use. It cannot perfectly align every seating position simultaneously. A DSP cannot repair a source signal that is already clipping, restore dynamics removed by source-level compression, or change a speaker's physical direction. The source's maximum clean volume and usable response must be established during setup.
DSP Tuning for Harley Baggers (Explained Simply)
Upgrade Paths: Choose by Your Goal
Path 1: Front Fairing Improvement
Confirmed direct-fit fairing speakers with the existing radio and amplifier configuration checked. Suitable for a modest, clean front-stage improvement without a larger build.
Path 2: Amplified Front Stage
Fairing speakers with an external amplifier or DSP amplifier, correct source integration (radio flash or input correction) and a proper gain and crossover setup.
Path 3: Upgrade the Tour-Pak Rear Zone
Matched Tour-Pak speakers on their own amplifier channels, managed by a DSP or DSP amplifier with enough outputs to run the fairing and Tour-Pak zones independently (typically four channels or more). Matching the rear speakers to the fairing in sensitivity and tone matters for two-up riding and for balancing against road noise.
Path 4: Full Multi-Zone System
Fairing and Tour-Pak speakers, optional subwoofer, sufficient amplifier channels, a DSP for routing, level control, integration and tuning, and an optional aftermarket head unit where the platform supports it.
Stock Harley Radio vs Aftermarket Head Units
Tuning for Road Noise and Two-Up Riding
Where a trike produces more road noise, and where the rider and passenger sit in different positions, independent levels, crossovers and EQ help balance the fairing and Tour-Pak zones. Time alignment can then be configured for a chosen listening priority, typically the rider, or set as a compromise for two-up use. One fixed delay setting cannot perfectly align both seating positions at once, so a DSP that supports multiple presets is useful: one preset for solo riding and another for two-up touring.
Frequently Asked Questions
What radio is in my Tri Glide Ultra?
2014-2018 Tri Glide Ultra models use Boom! Box 6.5GT, and 2019-2025 models use Boom! Box GTS. Both have a 6.5-inch screen; the GTS has a flat glass face with no physical buttons, while the 6.5GT has a plastic bezel and buttons. Confirm your exact year before ordering integration parts.
Does a 2018 Tri Glide have the 6.5GT or GTS?
A 2018 Tri Glide Ultra has Boom! Box 6.5GT. Boom! Box GTS was introduced for the 2019 model year, so 2019 and later Tri Glide Ultra models use GTS.
What size speakers are in a Tri Glide Ultra?
Boom! Box-era Tri Glide Ultra models commonly use 5.25-inch speakers in the Batwing fairing and King Tour-Pak. Purpose-built 6.5-inch upgrade packages exist for some positions and years, but fitment (mounts, grilles, wiring, depth and impedance) must be confirmed for your exact bike.
Does a Tri Glide Ultra have rear speakers?
Yes. The Tri Glide Ultra has a factory rear zone in the King Tour-Pak in addition to the fairing speakers, so it runs a four-speaker system across two zones.
Does a Tri Glide Ultra need an A2B interface?
No. The 2014-2025 Tri Glide Ultra uses the Boom! Box integration platform (6.5GT or GTS) rather than Skyline OS / A2B, so it does not require an A2B interface. An A2B interface is only needed on the newer Skyline OS trikes, which are different 2026 models.
Will an aftermarket head unit retain the Tri Glide's intercom and passenger controls?
Not automatically. Retaining the handlebar audio controls does not guarantee retention of the rider/passenger intercom, wired headsets, passenger controls or CB functions. Confirm every factory communication feature you need before selecting a replacement head unit or integration package.
Do 2009-2013 Tri Glide audio parts fit 2014-and-later models?
The model-specific radios, harnesses, mounting kits, controls and complete audio systems are not interchangeable, because the pre-2014 platform uses different radios, controls and integration. Individual speakers, amplifiers or processors must still be checked for physical and electrical compatibility. See our 1998-2013 Batwing Touring audio guide for the earlier models.
Planning a Tri Glide Ultra Audio Build?
Tell us your exact year, whether the bike has Boom! Box 6.5GT or GTS, and whether you ride two-up, and we'll put together a fairing, Tour-Pak, amplifier and DSP combination that suits your Tri Glide.
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Upgrading a Tri Glide Ultra? Fitment depends on the exact year and Boom! Box generation, so confirm your bike first.
Not sure what fits your bike? Contact Motorcycle Audio Australia with your year, factory radio and current speaker locations, and we'll confirm the right parts →
Related Guides
- 2023-2025 Road Glide 3 Audio Upgrade Guide
- 2026 Harley Skyline Trike Audio Guide (Road Glide 3, Street Glide 3 Limited, CVO)
- Harley Radio Flash vs Line Leveller
- DSP Tuning for Harley Baggers
- Factory Speaker Sizes by Year and Model
Motorcycle Audio Australia. Sound That Rides.