How to Remove My Harley's Radio

by Chris Rutter September 10, 2020

If you want to install a great new radio system in your Harley-Davidson to really customize your sound, you’ll first have to remove the radio your Harley came with. It’s not as intimidating as it sounds, fortunately, and Fat Head Cycles can walk you through the process. After all, everyone deserves great tunes on the road!

The process of removing the radio on a Harley is a pretty simple one — just follow these eight steps:

1. Before you start, watch the Fat Head Cycles video on installing an Electra Glide radio, Road Glide radio or Street Glide radio. That way, you’ll see what it takes to uninstall and install a radio on your model. Seeing the process is useful and can help you get a sense of whether you want to take care of the process yourself or bring your Harley in for service instead.
2. Make sure your motorcycle is fully cooled down. This project should start once the ignition has been off for a while. Check to make sure you have the screwdrivers and hand tools you need and enough space to keep all the parts you remove orderly so that you can find them again when it’s time to reassemble.
3. Use a cross tip screwdriver to remove the rear fender fastener. Free the tongue under the seat by pushing your seat toward the back of the motorcycle. Once the tongue is free, remove the seat from the bike.
4. Use a 10 mm open-end wrench to disconnect the battery and the negative cable.
5. Next, you'll need to remove your radio Harley fairing. If you want to remove the radio, the outer fairing has to go first. Use a Torx drive head to remove the seven fasteners holding the outer fairing in place. You’ll find the connectors close to the handlebar clamp, by the speakers, under the inner fairing and on the outer windshield.
6. Move the fairing forward and disconnect the wire connector by squeezing it and disconnecting it from the headlight assembly. Once this process is complete, you’ll be able to remove the outer fairing.
7. There are four connectors attached from your Harley’s wiring system to the radio. You'll need to unplug them all: the CB antenna cable connector, the black radio connector, the grey radio connector and the antenna cable connector.
8. Use a hex key wrench to remove the four screws that hold the support bracket and radio together. Once that's done, you can pull the radio out and start installing your Electra Glide Standard Plug & Play Audio Bundle or another sound system.

Remember that there are differences between removing the Street Glide radio and the Road Glide radio, though the overall idea is the same. Watch the Fat Head Cycles videos on installing your radio to get more tips and walk-throughs specific to your model.

Need Better Music for Your Harley?

If you have a CD player or other radio that’s just not cutting it, remember that installing your own radio, speakers or sound system will let you customize your Harley and make the freedom of the open road even more appealing.

Shop Fat Head Cycles online for the best radios, audio bundles and more, and contact us if you want us to take care of installation or provide any other in-shop services.

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