Tech | Wide Open Custom Fairing Install

Wide Open Custom Fairing Install 2004 Hd Road King

01. Our '04 Road King sporting the Wide Open Customs Detachable Fairing.

Weather Protection and Sound
In this installment of making over the our Road King, we wanted to add some sounds tucked inside a fairing and for some weather protection too. We came across Ben Coppock, owner of Wide Open Customs in Oswego, Kansas, who has been in the ABS plastic business for more than 25 years. Ben is now making a detachable fairing kit that is paint ready and holds a kick-ass stereo system. Well, we were all ears to get one installed and hear it.

Wide Open Custom Fairing Install New Fairing

02. Here is a look at the raw fairing, mounting brackets, cover plate, and all the goods to be installed, starting with the stereo. We also picked up a set of Freedom Wings for the fairing. The kit comes with a chrome windshield trim piece and a seal strip. We picked both a 5 1/2-inch black sport and a 10-inch clear windshield to be able to choose the one that fit us better.

02. Here is a look at the raw fairing, mounting brackets, cover plate, and all the goods

The fairing is made of high-impact ABS plastic with the inner and outer fairing epoxy welded together for durability. It comes in a natural color ready for your stereo and custom paint. Included in the kit is the ABS fairing, speaker-hole covers, wiring access panel, stainless-steel trim, windshield rubber, choice of one windshield, splash cover, wiring harness, antenna, bracket set, and all the hardware. Also included is a choice of either a 5 1/2- or 10-inch clear or charcoal, or a 5 1/2-inch black sport windshield along with a polished stainless steel windshield molding. The fairing is shipped directly to you with all accessories individually boxed and ready to install, and it comes with a one-year warranty on the ABS plastic. All this is included for just $750 (without a stereo system).

For $850, the Wide Open Custom Plastic Fairing includes a well-matched audio system that delivers clear and strong sound. The 160-watt Jensen MSR3007 stereo system features AM/FM/CD, is iPod-ready, Sirius Satellite-ready, and has an auxiliary input jack on the face of the unit. A set of Jensen marine speakers is also included. This is a good setup for $100, but if you want more, the company also has an upgraded Sony Stereo CDX-M60UI for $50 more. Upgraded 160-watt Kenwood speakers are also available for another $50. We went with the full Wide Open upgrade package.

We rode over to Freedom Cycles in Orange, California, where Kazoo and Devin helped us get the job done.

03. For this install, we went with the marine-grade Sony stereo (CDX-M60UI) and two pairs of 160-watt Kenwood speaker (KFC 1393PS).
03. For this install, we went with the marine-grade Sony stereo (CDX-M60UI) and two pairs
04. This was the Road King without the ear-blasting stereo-filled fairing. Once we got the bike inside the shop and on a lift, we got started by removing the front light bar to gain access to the mounting hardware for the detachable windshield.
04. This was the Road King without the ear-blasting stereo-filled fairing. Once we got th

05. Here is a shot of the inside and outside of the fairing. The two ABS pieces are bonded together as one so there are no mounting screws to come loose.
05. Here is a shot of the inside and outside of the fairing. The two ABS pieces are bonde
06. We gave the fairing a quick shot of black rattle-can paint to hold us over until we painted it to match the rest of the sheetmetal.
06. We gave the fairing a quick shot of black rattle-can paint to hold us over until we p

07. As soon as the paint was dry, we installed both of the mounting brackets to the fairing. Once in place, they would mount in the same place as the stock RK windshield.
07. As soon as the paint was dry, we installed both of the mounting brackets to the fairi
08. With the brackets in place, Kazoo placed the fairing on the bike to check clearance, fitment, and alignment before getting started on the stereo. We were running an aftermarket headlight with a longer trim ring so it took a little work to line it up, but once we had it in place, it looked as if the bike came with this fairing. Because the stock windshield mounts are utilized, you can easily and quickly swap between your Wide Open fairing and your stock RK windshield.
08. With the brackets in place, Kazoo placed the fairing on the bike to check clearance,
09. Next, we placed the Kenwood speakers in the fairing to mark where to drill the holes and mount the keeper clips for the speakers. We did this for all four speakers followed by mounting and wiring in all the speakers...
09. Next, we placed the Kenwood speakers in the fairing to mark where to drill the holes

10. ...followed by mounting ad wireing in all the speakers.
11. At the same time, Devin got started on the stereo install. He placed the head unit into the watertight marine housing. This helps keep water out of the unit if we get stuck in the rain or any time we need to wash the bike. We also mounted a support bracket to the unit to secure it inside the fairing.
11. At the same time, Devin got started on the stereo install. He placed the head unit in
12. Next, we routed the quick-disconnect wire and plug under the gas tank back to the battery, then connected the two wires, red to the positive and black to the ground. We also installed a 10-amp inline fuse to the positive side.
12. Next, we routed the quick-disconnect wire and plug under the gas tank back to the bat

13. Kazoo installed the power source wire to the accessory side of the ignition switch to ensure that we kill all power to the radio with the key off. All the speaker wires and power wires were then soldered to the stereo's power plug followed...
13. Kazoo installed the power source wire to the accessory side of the ignition switch to
14. ...by installing the plug into the back of the stereo. The head unit was then installed into the fairing.
14. ...by installing the plug into the back of the stereo. The head unit was then install
15. With the head unit in place, Kazoo installed the faceplate and outer mounting cover. The bottom access cover/storage plate was then installed.
15. With the head unit in place, Kazoo installed the faceplate and outer mounting cover.

16. Next, the fairing was placed back on the bike and bolted in place. After connecting the power-source plug, Kazoo turned the unit on and started to pre-set some radio stations. He then popped in a CD, laced up his dancing shoes, and started to rock out.
16. Next, the fairing was placed back on the bike and bolted in place. After connecting t
17. The windshield and trim was installed next. With a one-piece faring, there was a trick to getting the bolts installed behind it. A small piece of tape was used to hold the nut in place on the back as Kazoo installed the bolt from the front.
17. The windshield and trim was installed next. With a one-piece faring, there was a tric
18. With the windshield installed, the last thing was installing the seal strip that fills in the gap along the top of the fairing to help keep out any debris and help with wind vibration.
18. With the windshield installed, the last thing was installing the seal strip that fill

19. We then installed a set of Freedom Wings ($69.95) to help redirect the wind. They can be adjusted to help push the wind inside the fairing on hot days and help keep out the air on cold days.
19. We then installed a set of Freedom Wings ($69.95) to help redirect the wind. They can
20. There you have it, in just a few hours we had the radio and speakers installed into the fairing and mounted on the bike. We were ready to head out on the open road with all the tunes we could handle. Once we are ready to paint the bike and the fairing, it will be easy to remove and prep for paint. We still have a few things planned for the Road King before heading into the paintbooth, so stay tuned. Check out baggersmag.com to hear how it sounds.
20. There you have it, in just a few hours we had the radio and speakers installed into t