In late August 2018 Harley-Davidson released a new version of their Infotainment System they're calling the Harley Boom Box GTS. This system was preceded by the old Boom Box 4.3 and 6.5 systems, which have been around since their release in 2014 on project Rushmore models. (see my very popular review video at the bottom of this article)
I tested the new Harley Boom Box GTS Infotainment System thoroughly so that I could relate to you what it can and can’t do. The new Boom Box GTS has Apple Car Play, but not Android Auto. The only way to get Apple Car Play to appear on the system is to purchase and install a Harley Wireless Headset Interface Module (WHIM), which will allow you to pair a Harley branded Sena 20s EVO wireless Bluetooth headset with the Boom Box GTS. You’ll need to purchase and pair the Harley branded 20s headset and then make sure your iPhone is plugged into the Boom Box and then Apple CarPlay will appear and function.
The entire screen on the new Harley Boom Box GTS is now touchscreen and all physical buttons are gone. Everything on the new Harley Boom Box operates like you’d expect on a smartphone, such as pinch to zoom and scrolling with your fingers. And yes, this includes the GPS maps and navigation.
Harley says that the touchscreen is just as responsive even while using it with motorcycle riding gloves. It also has a more detailed screen and better contrast for viewing on those bright days.
Although the new 2019 Harley Boom Box GTS has many improvements over its predecessor, it still has many nuances and has a definite learning curve. There are some things that are a bit hidden and not obvious to a standard user. There were also bugs when we were trying to pair a Harley Sena 20s headset to the Boom Box GTS and it kept failing, but after four tries it finally worked. Bugs and issues are the legacies of the older Boom Box 4.3 and 6.5 versions, so I really hope this is not a clue on what’s to come.
Mentioned in Video:
- 2019 HARLEY LINE-UP AND OVERVIEW VIDEO
- 2014-2018 BOOM BOX TUTORIAL VIDEOS
- CHECK OUT IMC WIRED HEADSETS FOR HARLEY
- INSTALL A WHIM ON A HARLEY VIDEO
- INSTALL A 7 PIN DIN COMS PORT ON HARLEY VIDEO
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HARLEY BOOM BOX GTS
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OVERALL
Summary
I love the new look and feel of the Boom Box GTS. It is definitely an upgrade to the older clunky 6.5 Boom Box that is on 14-18 Harley's. I love that it is all touchscreen and all the physical buttons are now gone. I love that it operates like a smartphone or tablet with touch to scroll and pinch to zoom. It is very responsive and doesn't lag much. The menus are much easier to use and understand, but it still has a learning curve and there are hidden and ambiguous things that won't be obvious to many regular users.
Yes, it has Apple Car Play. However, it won't appear or function unless you purchase and install a Harley Wireless Headset Interface Module (WHIM). You must also purchase a Harley branded Sena 20s EVO Wireless Bluetooth Headset and pair it with the Harley Boom Box GTS before Apple Car Play will appear. You can, of course, use a wired headset solution and Apple Car Play will work. You'll need to install a 7-pin DIN communications port if you don't have one. There is no Android Auto available.
I am very disappointed that you cannot retrofit and replace your old Boom Box 6.5 version with the new Harley Boom Box GTS as it's not compatible with older bikes. Also, the new Harley Boom Box GTS had some bugs when we were trying to pair a Harley branded Sena 20s EVO headset with the system. It took us 4 tries to pair while at the dealership with a 2019 CVO on the showroom floor. All software was up to date in the headset and Harley Boom Box GTS.
Ryan, the GM truck lines are compatable with Apple and Android Car Play. As far as HD radio and Nav, I think overall you cannot rely on it. I did a 3 day 2 lane highway to Sturgis and for back up, I wrote down all the directions and turns on 3*5 card and stuck them on my old phone tank pouch. Yea, you gessed it the Boom Box on my 17 RGSpecial did not make the right turns. I spent hours programming the trip into Ride Planner with lot of waypoints. It kept trying to steer us to the interstates.
I called HD, they were no real help. I suggested on the next upgrade they add Follow Programmed Route in the , Fastest, Scenic and Twisties settings. All they said was add more waypoints. One customer service person even said that the Ride Planner software was not 100% compatible with the Boom Box 6.5. LOLOLOL
Thanks for the comments.
Ryan. Been a follower for about 2years. Some of your videosite are very informative but would like to say all the videos are for 2013 and newer models, not everyone can up date to a newer bike but have to keep with what they can afford, you may want to curve your format a little and gear some videos on some upgrades on older bikes , like products on how to replace handle bars and internal wiring or wheel removel and things like the best oIL to use or difference between synthetic or conventional oil. Although you are doing a great job on informative videos, but just like to see videos on older Harleys. They are out their and they do need some help.
Thanks Scott ( 2011 street glide, 2006 dyna lowrider.
Glad you like our content. We work very hard to deliver it.
Our handlebar videos will work for 2000 and above and even older. What we teach you is universal for all years. ==> https://www.lawabidingbiker.com/harleyhandlebars
Also, dig deeper in this website as it has a ton of info brother. You need to listen to the weekly podcast. We’ve talked about oils over and over to include synthetic. There are articles on this website too. Use the search bar in the upper right-hand corner. Check out Episode 26. https://www.lawabidingbiker.com/26/.
There is a search bar on the YouTube channel too ==> http://www.youtube.com/scrappy587
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I was hoping that the new 2019 boombox had android car play. I do not have an IPhone and have no intention of getting one in the future or ever. I use android carplay in my GMC vehicle and I love the maps I can use over the GPS that comes with the vehicle along with tons of audio sources. I was thinking of trading in my 2018 for a new 2019 Trike but not now. I do not see enough of a difference in the old boombox to make me buy a new bike at this time. Also do not see a need to get the bike just for the increase in power. If they put android car play in I will reconsider at that time.
Thanks for your thoughts.
I’ve listened to your podcasts and I want to thank you for your honest telling both the good and bad about a product. I’m, like many in the community, very disappointed that the BOOM BOX GTS can not be retrofitted in to pre-19 model bike. So it can’t be retrofit; but no one ever says, WHY? If this was explained then more people might understand. In that vein I have noticed the Sony XAV-AX5000 radio that looks and functions similar to the Harley GTS. You might want to consider test this Sony radio in comparison to the GTS to see if it is a viable alternative for pre-19 model Harley’s… Thanks…
I can’t believe Harley didn’t offer Android Auto in the new Boom GTS. Apple has 42% of the market and Android has 54% of the phone market. The demographic most likely to purchase heavy cruisers are male and over 50, consequently the same demographic most likely to use Android. I recently purchased a new Ultra Limited and had all the performance mods done. (I would have bought the CVO but I like chrome, not black out.) This is my 4th Harley in the last 6 years, 3 of which I still own. I could not be more disappointed with the Boom GTS. My Chevy has both android and apple why not Harley. I’m more likely to buy a Honda than a I Phone, That being said HARLEY IS REALLY MISSING THE BOAT ON THIS ONE. PLEASE DEVELOP A FLASH TO PROVIDE ANDROID AUTO ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the bikes but lets put the icing on the cake folks and complete this upgrade.
I just recently brought a 2020 Ultra Limited and don’t believe it has the whim. If it does it does not appear to be working with that said, I got the bike back in September of 2020 and it came with Android Auto. It will show up on my phone when boom box gts is on. But you do have to have it plugged in to use all the apps. I just ordered the 20s harley brand head set and check for whim module. But just in case I have ordered one of those as well. Will give updates after I get things working.
I had a 2014 Street Glide Special which I traded in for a 2020 Street Glide. I didn’t think there could be a worse GPS than the one on my 14, but they sure proved me wring.
First, the route selection is terrible. On my 14 I was traveling to Gettysburg and the GPS was set to fastest route, avoid highways. It said I would get there at 7:15. I looked at the route and didn’t like the way it brought me considerably to the east near Philadelphia, so I changed it to shortest route, I’d rather get there a little later. When it recalculated my ETA was now 5:45. Just to check I switched back to fastest – 7:15, back to shortest – 5:45. Considered maybe it meant 5:45 AM, but I made it there about 5:45 PM so that wasn’t it. This wasn’t a singular incident, just the most egregious. Many times I have ignored turns suggested by the GPS and seen my ETA improve, sometimes by more than 10 minutes. Haven’t done any long trips on the 20 yet but the route selection seems like it is similar.
On the new version the first complaint is that you can’t see the distance to your next turn until you are within one mile of the turn. This is a great safety feature as it keeps you looking down to check if you are within a mile of the turn rather than waste your time looking at the road.
Another problem is their complete lack of understanding of maximizing screen space. They have some great fields you can display such as current time, arrival time, speed limit, temperature and more. But they only have a very limited number of fields on the screen you can set. Why not have a whole row across the bottom? I have been a software developer for over 30 years and this isn’t rocket science, it is something they could easily do.
Another screen space issue is when values have long names, such as the current location at the top (great feature, BTW), why not change the font size and display more of it rather than just truncate the name? Same with song names when viewing the audio. If there is a concern abvout making the text too small allow setting a minimum font in the settings.
And this one may just be a pet peeve, but why the GIGANTIC overlay on the screen when I change the volume? I can adjust the volume by sound, I don’t need my whole map view blocked to see what the volume is set at.
I do have one tip, although I am hoping to get Car Play working instead. When travelling somewhere that I truly need guidance, I set the GPS, but I also set Google Maps on my phone and start the route with voice prompts from Google Maps. As long as you are listening to audio from your phone you can hear the voice prompts from Google Maps (I never use the voice prompts from HD GPS) and just use the map for reference. I could be wrong but I don’t believe you will hear the voice prompts if listening to the radio, even if the phone is paired.
Just my opinions, thought I would share.
Ryan
HD now offers a GTS system retrofittable onto a 2018 Road Glide Ultra, I did that about a year ago and it does not need a special adaptor. You have to be careful to order the right unit because it is different between the Road Glide Ultra and the Electra Glide. The newest software version does include Android auto as well as Apple Car play.
We did a in deptch free video on that back on May 4, 2020.
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