VIDEO (below)-In this video I am on location in Missoula, MT on my trip to
Sturgis, SD. You may be experiencing several issues with the Harley Davidson Boom!™ Box Infotainment System GPS & maps and I am here to shed some light on the problems.
Related Video/Article:
As stated in past articles, I really do back Harley Davidson on many things and love their products. However, I call these Boom Box issues “The Harley Davidson/Harman Kardon debacle.” In a hurry to release and finish their Harley Rushmore Project bikes, my opinion is that they hurried on getting the Boom!™ Box system installed in these new models when it was not fully developed and tested.
Unfortunately, Harley Davidson has been silent about the large scale issues that are causing many very loyal customers to loose faith and cause anger towards company. In silence, developers for HD are working feverishly to release unannounced Boom Box software updates to try and fix all the bugs and issues. Further, several of the updates have fixed some things and broken others! That is why many around the world are coming to Law Abiding Biker™ Media to get the real scoop, for help, and to stay up to date. Harley Dealerships have actually purchased our Boom!™ Box Tutorial Video Series and have personally reached out to us for help. They too have been left in the dark on many of the issues by the mother ship.
If you want to stay up to date on all Harley Davidson Boom!™ Box updates and issues, subscribe to the free Law Abiding Biker Email list.
The Issue: Odd Map Spurs-Constant Recalculating by the Boom Box GPS:
In this particular free tutorial video, we created our complete Sturgis trip in Harley Ride Planner and then I uploaded it to my Boom Box before leaving.
Issue:
As I am riding along there are sudden unknown spurs or hairs off the main route of my ride. They often run for a few blocks and stop. These hairs can happen when riding on any roadway or highway, but they are more prevalent when inside city areas. I can still visually verify my main ride route and that there would be no reason to turn off on these unknown spurs.
Of course, the audio and visual navigation prompts tell me to turn on the spurs. After you pass one of these unknown spurs the audio and visual prompts will tell you that the unit is now recalculating, as you have not officially followed its course.
Work Around/Tip:
So, at this point the work around is to ignore the spurs and really visually pay attention when you are traveling not to make unnecessary turns to nowhere important.
Caution: Always pull over to verify directions and don't get fixated on your Boom Box screen. It is too easy to do and can be very dangerous. The audio cues are supposed to keep your eyes on the road, but in fact with this ongoing bug you need to visually stay on top of it, so you don't end up somewhere unknown.
Ride Planner, Boom Box, & Other Harley GPS Units:
Two of us here at Law Abiding Biker™ Media uploaded the same exact Sturgis Ride Planner file into our respective GPS systems. I uploaded mine into my Boom Box and LawDog uploaded his into his Road Tech Zumo from Harley.
Findings:
While I had the spurs showing with that Ride Plan upload, LawDog was not showing any of the odd unknown spurs. So, this is apparently a conflict that is isolated to Ride Planner working with the integrated Harley Boom!™ Box GPS system.
I have had this issue also but I could not just ignore it because if I did the GPS wanted me to re-route back to the spur. I tried once going about 5 miles thinking it would give up but it never would. I finally had to start using the skip segment option each time it happened. I also had another issue with the Sirius/XM and running a route with a route planner route. When the XM is playing the GPS silences it to make announcements this would be normal after the announcement the XM comes back on. After a few announcements (6 to 10) the it would stop going back to XM and all I would hear is popping from the speakers to get the sound back I had to change from the current XM channel to another and the sound came right back. I have had a lot of other strange issues like sitting still with XM on a full signal all the sudden the sound fades out and does not come back change channels and all is well again. With my iPhone 5 connected to the USP port the phone rings I let it ring out and go to voice mail the sound never comes back and nothing will bring the sound back I had to pull over turn the bike off then let everything reset then all was well again.
Thanks for weighing in David.
There are tons of issues with the Boom!™ Box system right now. It has many bugs and viruses. Unfortunately, if that is all your experiencing right now, feel lucky. There are an array of issues Harley Davidson and Harman Kardon are working feverishly to get rid of.
Hi Ryan
I have a 16 RGSE. Bought you video. Programmed ride planner input gpx file in bike and sends me in strange direction like around a block turning into a driveway. Have ckd all waypoints and preference on laptop and everything is in order. Eliminated waypoints to try to move forward. Try’s to send me back. Any advice. Listen all the time in my cage on the way to and from work. Thanks
just finished a 4000 mile trip down the east coast of the US. The problems described above I had everyday. The GPS refused to follow the downloaded route and was always trying to get me off onto side roads. This was especially bad in large cities. Once I found my self in a strange neighborhood and it took 30 minute to get back out. Several time the GPS tried to get me to run onto rivers and gravel roads that were just two tire tracks. Finally I realized that it was totally unreliable. HD has a big problem with this system and they have had plenty of time to fix it– it ain’t rocket science. Apparently by looking at the dates of posting they haven’t bothered. HD GPS is a POS and a hazard to driving.
Thanks for your insight and commenting on your recent experiences Wayne. Totally frustrating.
Exact same issues as Wayne.
2017 Limited
Own a ’14 FLHTK with the 6.5″ boom…….HD botched it in the early design stage when they didnt go with garmin as their GPS engine….Its the industry standard for motorcycling. Honda has in it the Goldwing Infotainment.
I have a 2017 Ultra Low. My problem is my GPS will not keep my waypoint, I put in an address start going if I stop for gas or anything and turn the bike off when I return I have to enter the address again. I will be riding along and the radio will go off , go to menu and turn radio back on , works for awhile and goes off again. I have done the recent updates I have cleared back to factory default 4 times any suggestions
There are lemon units out there. You should have it replaced under warranty.
Navigation on my 2015 ultra is never correct. It shows me in places I’ve never been. I am at whit’s end. I have checked connections. update after update, just damn.