Diamond Audio Stage 3 Installation Guide | 2015-2023 Road Glide

Diamond Audio Stage 3 Bundle Installation Guide

2015-2023 Harley-Davidson Road Glide

Please follow these installation tips when you are ready to install your new Diamond Audio Stage 3 Bundle in your 2015-2023 Harley-Davidson Road Glide.

Important: Before proceeding with the installation, please watch the video linked here. It covers important modifications required for your Road Glide.

Tools Needed

• Plastic panel removal tool
• T25 Torx bit
• T27 Torx bit
• 3/16" hex bit
• 1/8" hex bit
• Ratchet wrench
• Fender cover or soft towel
• Heat gun
• Small flathead screwdriver
• Zip ties

Step 1: Remove the Outer Fairing

1. Use a plastic panel removal tool to carefully remove the speaker grilles from the inner fairing. Start closest to the handlebars.
2. Remove the T27 Torx bolt located toward the outside of each speaker.
3. Remove the T27 Torx bolt located at the lower outside edge of the fairing.
4. Use a 3/16" hex bit to remove the screw securing each turn signal.
5. Place a fender cover or soft towel over the front fender to protect the paint.
6. Remove the four 1/8" bolts that secure the windshield.
7. Remove the windshield.
8. Remove the fairing vent by pulling straight up to release the retaining clips.
9. Disconnect any wiring harnesses connected to the outer fairing.
10. Carefully remove the outer fairing and set it aside.

Step 2: Remove the Factory Speakers

1. Use a T25 Torx bit to remove the four screws holding each factory speaker in place.
2. Disconnect the 1/8" and 1/4" speaker wire connections.
3. Using a heat gun, gently warm the inside of the speaker pod until the interior fins can be removed.

Tip: Keep the heat gun moving so you do not overheat one area of the plastic.

Step 3: Install the Diamond Audio 6.5" Horn Speakers

1. Using the supplied crossover, connect the 1/4" and 1/8" spade connectors to the matching 1/4" and 1/8" terminals on the 6.5" speaker.
2. Using the bare wire side of the crossover and the supplied speaker wire pigtail, twist the red wires together.
3. Twist the black wires together.
4. Insert the red wires into the red push terminal.
5. Insert the black wires into the black push terminal.
6. Connect the spade connector on the supplied pigtail to the factory wiring from the speaker pod.
7. Place the speaker assembly into the speaker pod and line up the mounting holes.
8. Mount the speaker with the Diamond Audio logo upside down.
9. Use the heat gun to warm the outside of the speaker pod. This softens the plastic enough to help the speaker sit properly in place.
10. Secure the speaker using the supplied black Phillips-head screws.

Tip: Start all four screws by hand first, then carefully tighten them with a screwdriver.

Step 4: Remove the Factory Radio

1. Remove the two T25 Torx bolts that secure the metal support bracket on top of the radio.
2. Disconnect all wiring from the back of the factory radio.
3. Press the release tabs on the connectors before unplugging them.
4. Using a 3/16" hex bit, remove the four bolts that secure the factory radio.
5. Set these bolts aside. They will be reused.
6. Lift the radio up and toward the front of the motorcycle to remove it.

Step 5: Mount the Amplifier

The kit includes a few different amplifier mounting options. Choose the method that works best for your installation.

• Use the included Velcro squares to mount the amplifier to the amplifier bracket.
• Use the included Velcro sheets.
• Drill into the mounting plate and secure the amplifier with screws.

Step 6: Install the Amplifier Mounting Plate

1. Remove the four T25 screws from the fairing support plate.
2. Place the supplied amplifier mounting plate under the top support plate.
3. Line up the four mounting holes.
4. Make sure the lip of the amplifier bracket slides over the rear crossbar in the support plate.
5. Secure the bracket using the four supplied nuts and bolts.

Tip: Start all four bolts by hand before fully tightening them.

Step 7: Reinstall the Radio

1. Place the radio back into the factory location.
2. Loosely install the four original 3/16" bolts.
3. Connect the factory USB cable to the back of the head unit.
4. Connect the factory AM/FM antenna to the back of the radio.

Step 8: Install the MSTLINK Harness

Factory Head Unit Installation

1. Insert the male factory connector from the MSTLINK harness into the rear of the radio.
2. Connect the female main connector from the MSTLINK harness to the factory main connector from the motorcycle.
3. Connect the 4-pin Molex connector with RCA cables labeled Front Left and Front Right to the amplifier's Front Input.
4. Connect the 4-pin Molex connector with RCA cables labeled Rear Left and Rear Right to the amplifier's Rear Input.
5. Connect the 4-pin Molex connector with White and Gray wires to the amplifier's Front Output.
6. Connect the 4-pin Molex connector with Purple and Green wires to the amplifier's Rear Output.

VOX Turn-On Option: The amplifier can be set to signal-sensing mode. The amplifier may remain on for 30–60 seconds after the motorcycle is turned off.

Remote Turn-On Wire

1. Connect the provided blue remote turn-on wire to the amplifier.
2. Connect the remote wire with the white connector to the matching factory plug located on the clutch side near the upper speaker pod.
3. Connect the larger black connector with the yellow, blue, and black wires to the matching connector on the wiring harness.
4. Place the other end with the wire ferrule into the REM port on the amplifier.
5. Tighten the REM connection using a 2mm Allen wrench.

Note: The front RCA connections are used for the fairing speakers, and the rear RCA connections are used for the bag lid speakers.

Aftermarket Head Unit Installation

1. Insert the male factory connector into the rear of the radio.
2. Connect the female main connector to the factory main connector from the motorcycle.
3. Use the supplied 2-channel RCA cables to connect the head unit to the input side of the amplifier.
4. One end of the RCA cables is tagged To Source. Connect this end to the RCA outputs on the back of the head unit.
5. Connect Red to Red.
6. Connect Clear to White.
7. Connect the other end of the RCA cables to the RCA-to-Molex adapter.
8. Connect Red to Red.
9. Connect Clear to Clear.
10. Repeat this process for both the Front and Rear RCA connections.
11. Connect the 4-pin Molex connector with White and Gray wires to the amplifier's Front Output.
12. Connect the 4-pin Molex connector with Purple and Green wires to the amplifier's Rear Output.
13. Connect the supplied blue remote turn-on wire.
14. Connect the male bullet connector to the female bullet connector coming from the Diamond Audio head unit.
15. Place the other end with the wire ferrule into the REM port on the amplifier.
16. Tighten the REM connection using a 2mm Allen wrench.

Step 9: Run the Power, Ground, and Rear Speaker Wires

Remove the Seat and Gas Tank

1. Remove the seat.
2. Remove the T40 bolts that secure the ECU plate on top of the battery.
3. Disconnect the two connectors on the ECU plate.
4. Remove the two T40 bolts that secure the front of the gas tank near the forks.
5. Remove the two T40 bolts that secure the bottom of the gas tank near the battery.
6. Remove the fuel line by sliding the collar up, then pulling straight down.
7. Remove the vent lines.
8. Carefully lift the gas tank up and off the motorcycle.

Tip: Keep a towel nearby. A small amount of fuel may drip when the fuel line is removed.

Route the Power and Ground Wires

1. Once the wire chase is exposed, remove the cover by lifting the tabs around the edges.
2. Remove the 60-amp fuse from the inline fuse holder on the supplied power wire.
3. Route the power and ground wires through the wire chase.
4. The end with the wire ferrules connects to the amplifier.
5. The end with the ring terminals connects to the battery.
6. Route the wires through the fairing on the left side, also known as the clutch side, toward the amplifier.
7. Insert the ferrule on the red power wire into the 12V input on the amplifier.
8. Tighten the connection using a 2mm Allen wrench.
9. Insert the ferrule on the black ground wire into the Ground port on the amplifier.
10. Tighten the connection using a 2mm Allen wrench.

Route the Rear Speaker Harness

1. Using the rear speaker harness from the bag lid kit, route the rear speaker harness from the amplifier toward the battery area.
2. Connect the 4-pin Molex connector with the Green and Purple wires to the amplifier's Rear Output.
3. Route the harness along the spine of the motorcycle inside the wire chase toward the battery.
4. This harness will connect to the saddlebags in a later step.

Connect to the Battery

1. Organize the wiring in the wire chase.
2. Use zip ties to hold the wiring neatly in place.
3. Connect the red power wire to the positive battery terminal.
4. Connect the black ground wire to the negative battery terminal.
5. Reinstall the 60-amp fuse into the inline fuse holder.
6. Secure any extra power and ground wire.

Bag Lid Speaker Installation

Additional Tools Needed

• Cutting tool, such as a jigsaw, air saw, or Dremel
• 1/8" drill bit
• 5/16" drill bit
• 5/64" drill bit
• 3/8" drill bit
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Painter's tape
• T25 Torx driver

Bag Lid Step 1: Check the Parts

Before cutting or drilling, lay out all components and make sure you have everything needed for the bag lid speaker installation.

• 6x9 horn speakers
• Speaker grilles
• Speaker mounting baskets
• Speaker mounting rings
• Wiring for the left and right speakers
• Wiring to connect the amplifier to the left and right speaker wiring
• Wire keeper covers and hardware

Bag Lid Step 2: Prepare the Bag Lids for Cutting

1. Cover the front two-thirds of the top of each bag lid with painter's tape.
2. Make sure the top and sides of the bag lid are covered.
3. Place the cut template from the box onto the top of the bag lid.
4. The templates are side-specific, so make sure you are using the correct template for each side.
5. The template should fit tightly along the front of the bag and sit fully down to the lip of the bag lid.
6. Once the template is positioned correctly, use more tape to hold it in place.
7. Secure the template to the bag lid using screws through the two holes in the center of the template.
8. Repeat this process for the other bag lid.

Bag Lid Step 3: Cut the Bag Lids

1. Use a 1/8" drill bit to make pilot holes in the rounded holes of the template.
2. We recommend drilling toward the inside of the template.
3. Use a 5/16" drill bit to enlarge the pilot holes.
4. Use your preferred cutting tool to cut from hole to hole along the template.
5. Do not cut through the template material yet.
6. Cut tight to the inside of the template. This leaves extra material in case you need to make small adjustments later.
7. Once the main cuts are complete, cut the template material between the openings to finish the cut.
8. Remove only the tape holding the template down.
9. Leave the painter's tape on the top of the bag lid for now to protect the surface.
10. Clean all plastic trimmings from inside the bag.
11. Repeat this process for the other bag lid.

Bag Lid Step 4: Test Fit the Speaker Grille

1. Place the speaker grille on the outside of the bag lid.
2. Check that the grille sits flush against the bag lid.
3. If it does not sit flush, check for areas that need to be trimmed or sanded.
4. Make small adjustments until the grille fits properly.
5. Once you are happy with the fitment, remove the remaining painter's tape.
6. Repeat this process for the other bag lid.

Bag Lid Step 5: Mount the Speaker Grille and Brace

1. Use four of the supplied machine screws to mount the grille to the brace.
2. Place the grille on the outside of the bag lid.
3. Place the brace on the inside of the bag lid.
4. Use the machine screws to attach the inner brace to the speaker grille.
5. Start all four screws by hand before tightening them.
6. Install the speaker mounting ring to the inner speaker brace using the four supplied 3mm Allen-head screws.
7. Repeat this process for the other bag lid.

Bag Lid Step 6: Install the 6x9 Horn Speakers

1. Place the 6x9 speaker onto the inner brace.
2. Line up the four mounting holes.
3. Secure the speaker using the supplied Phillips-head screws.
4. You can complete this step without removing the bag lid hold-down. However, you may remove it if you need more room to access the rear screws.
5. Repeat this process for the other bag lid.

Bag Lid Step 7: Route the Speaker Wiring into the Saddlebags

1. If you have not already done so, remove the saddlebags from the motorcycle.
2. Locate the two speaker wire protectors, which are the silver plates and hardware included in the kit.
3. Choose a suitable mounting location for the wire protector.
4. Mark the three hole locations with a marker.
5. Drill the three marked holes using a 5/64" drill bit or smaller.
6. Drill a 3/8" hole in the middle of the three smaller holes. This larger hole is for the speaker wire.
7. Feed the bare wire end of the speaker wire through the 3/8" hole into the inside of the saddlebag.
8. Leave enough wire inside the bag to reach the speaker and to allow the wire to be secured out of the way.
9. Place the wire protector over the speaker wire.
10. Secure the wire protector using the three small Phillips-head screws.
11. Do not overtighten these screws. Hand tight is enough.
12. Repeat this process for the other saddlebag.

Bag Lid Step 8: Connect the Speaker Wires and Crossovers

1. Using the supplied crossover, connect the 1/4" and 1/8" spade connectors to the matching 1/4" and 1/8" terminals on the 6x9 speaker.
2. Using the bare wire side of the crossover and the rear speaker wires, twist the red wires together.
3. Twist the black wires together.
4. Insert the red wires into the red push terminal.
5. Insert the black wires into the black push terminal.
6. Mount the crossover to the speaker using the supplied Velcro.
7. Repeat this process for the other saddlebag.

Bag Lid Step 9: Reinstall the Saddlebags

1. Choose a clean path to route the speaker wires from the bag lids toward the area under the seat.
2. The best routing path may vary depending on your motorcycle and personal preference.
3. Reinstall the saddlebags onto the motorcycle.
4. Secure the saddlebags with the locking pins.
5. Connect the left side, also known as the clutch side, to the harness with Green and White wires.
6. Connect the right side, also known as the brake side, to the harness with Red and Black wires.
7. Secure any extra or loose wiring with zip ties.
8. Tuck away any extra wire so it does not interfere with reinstalling the gas tank or seat.

Step 10: Test the Stage 3 Bundle

1. Turn the ignition on so the radio powers up.
2. Play a song that will continue playing for several minutes.
3. Turn the head unit volume up to about 75% of its maximum volume.
4. Using a small flathead screwdriver, adjust the Front Gain for the fairing speakers until your desired volume level is reached.
5. Repeat the process for the Rear Gain for the bag lid speakers.
6. Make any additional EQ adjustments through the head unit if needed.

Important: Do not set the gain too high. If the speakers sound distorted, lower the gain.

Step 11: Reinstall the Outer Fairing

1. Reinstall the two T25 Torx bolts that secure the black support bracket on top of the radio.
2. Make sure the curved side of the bracket faces upward toward the top of the fairing.
3. Place the outer fairing back onto the motorcycle.
4. We recommend temporarily using one windshield bolt to hold the outer fairing in place while reconnecting the wiring.
5. Reconnect any wiring harnesses.
6. Reinstall the two 3/16" hex bolts that secure the turn signals.
7. Remove the temporary windshield bolt.
8. Install the fairing vent by pushing it into place.
9. Reinstall the windshield, the four 1/8" bolts, and the windshield trim.
10. Reinstall the two T27 Torx bolts that secure the lower fairing.
11. Reinstall the two T27 Torx bolts located near the speakers.
12. Reinstall the speaker grilles on each side.

Final Inspection

• Make sure all amplifier connections are secure.
• Make sure the front and rear speaker wires are connected correctly.
• Confirm the power and ground connections are tight at the battery.
• Confirm the 60-amp fuse has been reinstalled.
• Check that all wiring is zip-tied and tucked away safely.
• Confirm the gas tank and seat can be reinstalled without pinching any wires.
• Confirm both front speakers and both rear bag lid speakers are working.
• Make sure all fairing, windshield, saddlebag, and speaker hardware is fully secured.

Congratulations! Your Diamond Audio Stage 3 Bundle installation is complete.