I teach you how to setup and utilize the Harley branded Boom! Audio Sena 20S EVO Bluetooth Headset with your Boom!™ Box Infotainment system in this completely free video! With the Harley branded Sena 20s EVO Headset, you get full Bluetooth wireless integration with the Boom Box system, which comes on 2014 & newer Harley touring models. That means you can hear everything going into your Boom Box and everything coming out. Music, radio, GPS turn by turn, voice commands, phone calls, intercom with a passenger, and CB are just some of the things that are integrated. You will also need an additional WHIM, Wireless Headset Interface Module, installed and attached to your Boom Box. See below on this page for the headset tutorial setup video.
So, if you're willing to pay the Harley-Davidson tax, they'll gladly accept your money. You can get into a single Harley branded Boom! Audio Sena 20S EVO Bluetooth Headset for $300 and a pair of them for $550. Of course, this headset is only sold by approved Harley-Davidson dealers.
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Let me explain further about the “Harley-Davidson Tax”. You see, Harley-Davidson & Harman Kardon, the maker of the Boom Box, really screwed up from the beginning back in 2014 by not building the system to pair “directly” with a wireless Bluetooth headset. Let's keep in mind that direct Bluetooth headset pairing was old technology in 2014 and they still didn't build it in.
So, after years of customer complaints and frustrations, Harley decided, as usual, to pass their huge 
mistake onto the customers, never admitting any fault. Harley created the WHIM, Wireless Headset Interface Module, as an add-on item customers could purchase for $300 and another harness for $50 that some models will need. Then they push for you to have the dealership put it on and charge you for the install. Really, I'm not making this up and it seems unreal. By installing the WHIM, you'll be able to pair the HD branded Sena 20s headset to the Boom Box. Interesting though, because the Sena Freewire has been out for years now and already does this without a WHIM, but we'll get to that a bit later.
And if that wasn't enough Harley taxes, they took it even a step further. To get full HD “stereo” sound you'll have to buy the Harley branded (stamped) Boom! Audio Sena 20S EVO Bluetooth Headset. You may get other Bluetooth headsets to pair, but you'll only get mono sound and it sounds terrible, trust me. Yes, Sena makes the HD branded 20s EVO headset and no, the regular non-HD branded Sena 20s will not get stereo sound. So, you're now forced to buy everything from Harley to fix their direct Bluetooth pairing problem.
Why did I purchase the WHIM & Harley branded Boom! Audio 20S EVO Bluetooth Headset?
Honestly, I would have never purchased any of these items from Harley, but only did so to test it for all you Bikaholics out there that requested I do so. There's no way I would have given that much money to Harley to fix their screw up. But, to help the community I did so.
My Review:
Once the WHIM is installed on your Harley and you have the Harley branded Boom! Audio 20S EVO Bluetooth Headset(s), all works very well. It all integrates nicely. The sound is that of what you'd expect from small speakers in a helmet headset. All worked well during my testing and I have no real complaints other than what I mentioned above.
So, if you've got some money to throw at Harley to fix their mistake, then go for it. You won't be disappointed with the performance of the WHIM or of the Harley branded Boom! Audio 20S EVO Bluetooth Headset. Pay the Harley taxes!
Better Alternative/Sena Freewire: (what we mostly use here at Law Abiding Biker Media instead of the WHIM)
We here at Law Abiding Biker Media still believe the Sena Freewire ($250) is a much better option, as it is cheaper and you'll get stereo sound even with regular non-HD stamped Sena headsets you may already own. And you'll get stereo sound with other brand wireless helmet headsets. With the Sena Freewire, you also get full Boom Box integration and rider/passenger communications just like the WHIM.
Important info for riding with a passenger: Freewire vs. Whim
With the single WHIM, you can run two Harley branded Boom! Audio 20S EVO Bluetooth Headsets. With the Sena Freewire, you'll need one module for the rider and one for the passenger. You'll need to install a 7-pin DIN coms port for the Freewire and we have a free video on how to easily do that. So, the cost analysis will be dependant on your needs and if you already own non-HD branded Sena 20s headsets you want to use. Everything must be taken into consideration.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Question: Will my regular non-Harley branded Sena headset work with the WHIM?
Anwer: Sort of. The only way you'll get “stereo” sound with the WHIM is if you pair a Harley branded 20's headset. With other regular Sena branded headsets (no HD logo) you'll only get mono sound. Also, you'll want to make sure your regular Sena headset software is up to date. You'll have to contact Sena to figure out if your regular Sena headset will pair with the WHIM, so you can get only mono sound. I can say that the regular Sena 20s and Sena 10u will pair with the WHIM in mono as we've tested them.
Question: Will another non-Sena headset work with the WHIM?
Answer: Yes, maybe. Some other brand Bluetooth headsets will pair with the WHIM, but you'll only get mono sound. You'll have to just test it and see if your particular Bluetooth headset will pair with the WHIM. We don't have a list.
Question: Can't I just get the Sena/Harley headset software from the Harley website and then upload it into my regular non-Harley branded headset, so it will get stereo sound.
Answer: No. You can certainly upload that software on the Harley website into the regular Sena 20s headset and it will accept it and work fine, but you still won't get stereo sound. Again, the only way you'll get stereo sound is to buy the Harley branded Boom! Audio Sena 20S EVO Bluetooth Headset.
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Harley Models Coming Equipped with the WHIM:
Owners of 2014 & newer Harley models with the Boom Box must purchase the WHIM on their own and install it as an “add-on”. 2018 & newer Harley CVO models with the Boom Box are coming already equipped with the WHIM out of the factory.
What are we going to do here at Law Abiding Biker Media? FREEWIRE OR WHIM?
We here at Law Abiding Biker Media will stick with the Sena Freewire. It gives all the functionality of the WHIM at a fraction of the cost. And best of all, it works in stereo with all the great Sena brand headsets we already own!
Sena Freewire Videos of Interest:
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I bought the Freewire for my 2017 Road Glide Ultra to use with my non HD stamped headset. It obviously worked, but had a very annoying echo on phone calls that I couldn’t stand. I called Sena Tech support and there advise was to use the WHIM.
I purchased the WHIM (HD Tax),watched your Road Glide fairing removal and WHIM install and it was quite easy. I put my data port next to the HD USB in the glove box by drilling the existing hole a little larger for a nice clean look.
I managed to purchase a second HD 20s for the passenger off eBay for just $200. System works great, but like you said from the beginning, it was HD’s mistake from the beginning.
Thanks,
Glen Ret LEO motor for 15 years of my 29 years.
Have you had the opportunity to test the new Sena SRL with the WHIM? Does it match the capability of the H-D 20s EVO?
Tim,
We have not yet. To our knowledge to Harley Branded 20s Evo is the only model that gives you full integration with the WHIM. We will reach out to Sena and see what they have to say.
Ride Safe & Ride Often!
~Lurch
I have a 2018 CVO Limited. It came with the new Bluetooth headsets. Can I pair more than 1 Sena 20s EVO to the “Rider Headset” One as the primary, the second as a backup in case I run out of battery on a long day. I rarely have a passenger so I would like to utilise the second headset as a backup.,
I use the stock Sena 20s to communicate with my wife on her bike. If I buy the Harley Branded Boom! Audio Sena 20S EVO, will it work with the stock Sena or i need to have only HD Sena’s ?
The regular Sena and the HD stamped Sena headsets will pair rider to rider. However, if you try and run the non HD stamped Sena through the Boom Box system, you’ll only get mono sound from the stereo etc. Hope this helps.
Dumb question, have the firewire. Found harley 20s headsets on Craigslist for whatever reason at a good price. Can I pair Harley 20s headsets with the Freewire and get full functionality and stereo sound? Would I be able to share infotainment music/etc with the passenger? If I recieved a call would the passenger have to listen to the call too?
Dwyane,
Do you have a freewire? If not, I’d go with the WHIM. It will work best with the HD branded 20s EVO.
~Lurch
When I plug my iPod into the USB port I cannot hear it on my head set. Only comes through the bike speakers.
Jim,
Have you switched the audio output setting over to you headset from the speaker?
~ Matt Couchman
Law Abiding Biker™ Team
Helping as many bikers as we can worldwide!
I have a 2 year old Harley WIMH, I bought a battery for it, now I understand the battery is not replaceable. It has a two year warranty, so when The battery goes, I’m out of luck. I plan on calling Harley on Monday.
Thanks for all you do for our community
The WHIM does not have a battery. Only the Sena headset has a battery.
I have a 2020 Ultra Limited. I bought the whim and the Harley 20s evo headset and with both the bike volume and headset volume full blast I can can barely hear it going down the road with my full face helmet. Any idea?
Make sure your device (smartphone) volume is all the way up. Just my initial thought.
Do you have a new video to set up the Harley 2019 Boom GTS with the Harley Branded 20S EVO Bluetooth Headsets? There are many changes on the 2019 GTS screen which are confusing when watching the video for the previous boom box. Please advise or provide link.
We have all our Boom Box tutorials here to include the GTS unit ==> https://www.lawabidingbiker.com/harleyboombox