Inexpensive (Cheap) XM Radio? Roady2 v. RoadyXT?

[in flagrante]

Hey...I'd like to hardwire an XM radio to my new-to-me RSV. (I already have an XM subscription for a factory-installed satellite radio in my car, so I'd be adding a unit to the sub). I also want to hardwire a Garmin GPS. By the way, splicing/slicing into any wiring scares the bejeebies outa me, but that is a whole 'nother issue and probably unavoidable if I don't want it to look like crap. I do want to be able to listen to the GPS/XMs over the headsets and through the speakers.

 

Anywho, setting aside my current (lack of) disposible income, I personally can't see paying a huge premium for an integrated GPS/XM unit at this time, especially since the Sirius/XM company itself doesn't know what it's doing to integrate the companies, birds and radio subscriptions. Sooooo, I think I ought get a cheapie XM radio off ebay or something. Which brings me to one of my many questions....

 

What sort of XM radio do folks recommend? Looking around the board, the Roady seems pretty popular, but that was some time ago - maybe there's a better option now. Also, what's the difference between the Roady2 and the RoadyXT? Are there differences in reception, durability, ease of use, sound quality (the DAC), mounting options...

 

As far as mounting options go, I sort of like the looks of the mounting brackets that go on the brake and clutch reservoirs (one for XM the other for the GPS?). Do they work okay on the sloping bars of RSVs? For anyone whose tried those, any comments/advice? Other mounting suggestions?

 

In the future I probably will be upgrading both the GPS and the satellite radio, maybe even to an integrated unit depending on prices, etc. So, between the mounting and wiring options, I'd probably want something that, if not completely reversable, won't completely screw anything up later and is universal enough to be used with other units later. In doing that, are there any pitfalls that I should avoid?

 

Sorry if I ask a lot of a questions. But like I said, electrical stuff (and wasting cash) scare the $%^& outa me.

 

Thanks!

[SilvrT]

I use a Sirius Stratus 5 and I used the car "vent" mount that came with it. I secured it with a couple small zap ties. Works great.

 

[ATTACH]43862[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]43863[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]43864[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]43865[/ATTACH]

[Brenda H]

Difference between Roady2 and the xt is size of the unit. The Roady2 is smaller. I have one. But most accesories for them will fit both. As for how to tie it into the sound system, you might try a cassette adapter. I'm not sure if that would work on a RSV [i don't own one YET!] but the adapter plugs into the audio out on the sat radio and the cassette part goes into the cassette player. No wire cutting needed. The hubby uses this for his Sirius radio in our F150 truck.

 

In fact we had to do it this way as Sirius/xm said either that or do a direct wire into the truck's radio. Seems the FCC took some of their broadcast strength away sometime back and any radio made before a certain date had to be modified. Any radio made after that sometimes has problems getting it's signal thru to the vehicle's antenna and into it's sound system without a direct connection. Since the install on the truck would have been more than the price of the parts needed and the radio, we went with the cassette adapter. The sat radio in my car uses the audio in/mp3 outlet that is built into the car's sound system.

 

There are motorcycle specific mounts for sat radios. You just have to find the one that fits your radio. I used to carry my Roady2 around in a fanny pack with the antenna stuck to my mirror stem while the radio was plugged into my old bike's 12v power point. The fanny pack was buckled around the base of the handlebars. In those days, I used earphones plugged into the radio to listen to it.

 

BTW the Roady2 has available a portable battery pack that you can stick the radio into. It has the antenna built into the headphones that come with it. I have 2 of those! Great for when you're outside and want to listen to something on the radio without being stuck near an electrical outlet. They don't get used much these days as our primary sat radios are all Sirius. We follow NASCAR and that is a $5 a month add on if you are on xm

[in flagrante]

I use a Sirius Stratus 5 and I used the car "vent" mount that came with it. I secured it with a couple small zap ties. Works great.

 

[ATTACH]43862[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]43863[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]43864[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]43865[/ATTACH]

 

thanks! the vent mounting looks pretty clean -- I like it, too.

[in flagrante]

Difference between Roady2 and the xt is size of the unit. The Roady2 is smaller. I have one. But most accesories for them will fit both. As for how to tie it into the sound system, you might try a cassette adapter. I'm not sure if that would work on a RSV [i don't own one YET!] but the adapter plugs into the audio out on the sat radio and the cassette part goes into the cassette player. No wire cutting needed. The hubby uses this for his Sirius radio in our F150 truck.

 

In fact we had to do it this way as Sirius/xm said either that or do a direct wire into the truck's radio. Seems the FCC took some of their broadcast strength away sometime back and any radio made before a certain date had to be modified. Any radio made after that sometimes has problems getting it's signal thru to the vehicle's antenna and into it's sound system without a direct connection. Since the install on the truck would have been more than the price of the parts needed and the radio, we went with the cassette adapter. The sat radio in my car uses the audio in/mp3 outlet that is built into the car's sound system.

 

There are motorcycle specific mounts for sat radios. You just have to find the one that fits your radio. I used to carry my Roady2 around in a fanny pack with the antenna stuck to my mirror stem while the radio was plugged into my old bike's 12v power point. The fanny pack was buckled around the base of the handlebars. In those days, I used earphones plugged into the radio to listen to it.

 

BTW the Roady2 has available a portable battery pack that you can stick the radio into. It has the antenna built into the headphones that come with it. I have 2 of those! Great for when you're outside and want to listen to something on the radio without being stuck near an electrical outlet. They don't get used much these days as our primary sat radios are all Sirius. We follow NASCAR and that is a $5 a month add on if you are on xm

 

 

Thanks, Brenda - lots of good info. Ignorant Question Warning: If you use the cassette adapter to play it through the bike/car radio, do you still need to plug into a power source, or is it able to draw the power through the cassette player somehow? I suspect you still need to plug into the AC, but not sure.

[CMIKE]

I use the Roady 2. I use a RAM mount to hold it to the handle bars.

I use a FM injector to get the audio into the audio system of the bike. The Injector can be purchased as just about any car audio store.

 

http://www.myradiostore.com/fmmodulators/audiovox-fm-direct-adapter-xmfm1.html

 

Several companies make them. You set the FM transmitter on your Roady2 to play on any channel you want...say 88.3 and tune your FM radio to a preset of 88.3. No interference from any other station since it injects it directly into the FM radio. The FM antenna connects to this box as does your existing Sat radio antenna. Some of them may shut down all other FM stations on you FM radio...so you may have to turn off the XM completely to hear the FM radio. I have these units in all my cars/trucks to work with my one XM roady 2

I use a Ipod on the aux connections to get it into the audio system.

I have a Zumo 660 and elected not to have the voice into the system. I never use the voice when I am using the GPS in the car. I hate it when I make a wrong turn according to it...and listen to all that chatter till I get back on route. I simply glance at the GPS once in a while to determine if I am on the right route or how far till the next turn.

[mike_kelly_68]

Here is a link to install a splitter into system and you will not need to slice or dice.

 

All you will need is a cord to go from the unit to the splitter.

 

 

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3905

 

 

Easy to split the fairing just be careful when you remove the chrome strip as you will break the tabs if you do not pull it straight up.

[in flagrante]

due to my uncertainty, I am shifting the thread topic a little bit, but here goes...

 

the way I envision the set-up is two semi-permanant (but ultimately removable) mounting brackets -- one for the XM and the other for a GPS, on each side of the bike's handlebars/speaker vents. as for the wiring, the XM one needs (1) power (bike to mount/unit -- I might have to splice this in), (2) link to stereo (options: cassette? fm band? splice?) and (3) an antenna (xm to antenna mount -- no splicing!). the GPS one needs (4) power (maybe splicing again with a splitter for #1 and #4 and to avoid having to run the cords from out of the cigarrette lighter, which would prolly come loose anyway) and (5) a BuddyRich cable (to link the GPS sound to the stereo/intercom -- more splicing). obviously, I am going to have to get into the fairing for some of this stuff. hmm, dunno if I need inline fuses, etc?

 

sigh. I am probably over-thinking this.

 

if I am off-track, I'd appreciate if someone would chime in to set me straight. best,

 

-in flagrante

[SilvrT]

Not sure about other Sirius/XM radio's but mine came with a 5 volt adapter that plugs into a cig socket aka aux power. I bought another one (coz I didn't want to use the one in the fairing) and wired it up inside the fairing, where it is out of sight. The Sirius radio sends it's audio to a "Y" splitter off the audio input that is connected to the cassette. It then uses the "AUX" setting on the bikes stereo. I routed the antenna wiring inside the fairing and placed the sensor mid-point on the dash (you can see this in my pic).

 

Hope some of this helps.

[Skid]

Her are a couople pics of mine. The XM Roady 2 come new off ebay for around $17.00. I like the Ram Mounts and went with both. The complete mount for the GPS was around $38.00. Myradiostore.com or Ram Mount web site should everytthing you need ....

Edited April 12, 2010 by Skid

[bj66]

I used a roady in my pickup and had it set up for my bike as well. I cancelled my yearly subscription. The sound quality was terrible. I didnt hardly listen to it. The volume control was turned up as loud as it would go and it wasnt half of what my vehicle's stereo would do. It was really bad. It sounded muddy and hollow. Hopefully it was just my outfit. I had a mifi for about 3 or 4 years and loved it. It finally broke, so i went cheap and inexpensive. I guess i got what i paid for. Hope not everyone has same experience as I did. I no longer have XM or Sirius, and I wont go back either.

[in flagrante]

I used a roady in my pickup and had it set up for my bike as well. I cancelled my yearly subscription. The sound quality was terrible. I didnt hardly listen to it. The volume control was turned up as loud as it would go and it wasnt half of what my vehicle's stereo would do. It was really bad. It sounded muddy and hollow. Hopefully it was just my outfit. I had a mifi for about 3 or 4 years and loved it. It finally broke, so i went cheap and inexpensive. I guess i got what i paid for. Hope not everyone has same experience as I did. I no longer have XM or Sirius, and I wont go back either.

 

I like the wide variety of music on XM -- their library is much bigger than anything I could download or tune in to locally. lots of different genres -- classic rock, spectrum, alternative, blues, a little C&W, coffee house acoustic, 60s, 70s, etc. I really dig the music, but perhaps even more important to me is their SEC football coverage. man, I love Saturdays in the Fall. with XM I can combine two passions -- biking and football. fidelity isn't quite as important for football and, honestly, scoot speakers at their best aren't all that clear to me. but I like 'em loud anyway!

[in flagrante]

Her are a couople pics of mine. The XM Roady 2 come new off ebay for around $17.00. I like the Ram Mounts and went with both. The complete mount for the GPS was around $38.00. Myradiostore.com or Ram Mount web site should everytthing you need ....

 

 

nice set up with good visibility. awesome woodgrain dash and drinkholder too! kind of amazed there's room for it all.

[Freebird]

I've got a Sirius Stratus that I'm going to give away at maintenance day. You gotta be present to win though so saddle up boys. Coffee will be on.

[Skid]

nice set up with good visibility.....

 

I wanted to try to keep all lights and gauges visible.....

The cup holder is a Krozzie Cup Holder.

[Proud Dad]

www.hoonhardware.com/RoadyHolder you will find good things and instructions.

[in flagrante]

www.hoonhardware.com/RoadyHolder you will find good things and instructions.

 

having trouble accessing that site...

[WP50]

having trouble accessing that site...

 

I`m search around for info on adding a Roady XT. I Googled Roady Holder and got there. One Hoonharware site I saw said out of stock. This Roady holder looks to be a nice bracket and the site does have some good info Best Of Luck WP

Edited May 1, 2011 by WP50
Spelling Again

[OB-1]

having trouble accessing that site...

 

Try this link: http://www.hoonhardware.com/RoadyHolder/roadyholder.htm