Top 9 Best Motorcycle Radios For All Budgets In 2022 Review

We all know the thrill of riding a motorcycle. Blasting down the open road on a beautiful day, there’s just nothing like it. But from time to time, we start to get bored. Long stretches of uninspiring highway or the daily commute to work aren’t much fun. So how can we liven up the trip?

Why not try a motorcycle radio?

Listening to music or a podcast is a great way to relieve the boredom! Therefore, we decided to search for the best motorcycle radios around. So, let’s go through them and find the perfect radio for your motorcycle…

Top 9 Best Motorcycle Radios On The Market In 2022 Reviews

1 GoHawk TJ4-R Amplifier 4″ Full Range Waterproof Bluetooth Motorcycle Stereo Speakers – Best Motorcycle Stereo System

Listen up!

Our first motorcycle audio system is this GoHawk speaker set. In glistening chrome, they’ll add a touch of class to any handlebar. And weighing just 3.19 pounds, they won’t slow us down or get in the way.

At 100 watts, we get a decent output. It’s loud enough to be heard even at 80mph. Due to their diminutive size, we had concerns that they might be too quiet, but happily, this is not the case.

How about the sound quality?

That’s pretty good too! They have a great balance between bass and treble. And they’re not too tinny, which is a problem we often find with motorcycle radios.

The included two-channel amplifier can easily be fitted to the big, and conveniently plugs into the speakers. Simple, easy-to-read instructions ensure that installation is a doddle. Plus, the mounting clamp is sturdy enough that we won’t have issues with it falling off, even on big, vibrating Harley.

Be careful, though!

Though the speakers are, that amplifier is not waterproof. It needs to be hidden away in a dry spot on the bike. Of course, we can listen to FM radio.

But what else can this bad boy do?

Using Bluetooth 5.0, we can stream music directly from our phone or tablet. This radio smoothly pairs with any device, whether Android or Apple. Even better, it will work from up to 15 meters away, so it’s perfect for rest stops too.

And then, there’s an aux port. Maybe you’d rather plug your phone in! This radio gives us it all. Oh, and we couldn’t end this review without mentioning the price. It’s extremely cost-effective! This product offers major bang for our buck, making it one of the best value motorbike radios you can buy.

2 LEXIN LX-S3 Motorcycle Bluetooth Speakers with FM Radio Antenna, Waterproof Motorcycle Stereo Radio Systems  – Best Motorcycle Radio with Bluetooth

Listen to your heart

Our next item is ideal for those rainy days! Fully waterproof, this all-weather speaker gives us total peace of mind. Even in the harshest conditions, we can be sure it won’t succumb to water damage.

But how does it sound?

With 50 watt output and 125 Hrz clarity, this one offers us a pleasing sound quality. It’s well-balanced, without any underlying tone issues. The volume is plenty loud enough, even at higher speeds or on noisy bikes.

Thanks to an FM receiver, the speaker cleanly picks up radio broadcasts. And that receiver is not built-in, as it is on other radios. Instead, an external antenna gives us improved channel pick up when compared with other similar items.

And that’s not all…

We get a USB port, too. Load up a thumb drive with tunes, and plug it in. It will stay firmly wedged in place, allowing us to listen to our favorite songs.

Plus, the port doubles up as a phone charger. We’ve all experienced the perils of draining a battery while using GPS. Here, we can keep our device at 100% and in tip-top shape. After all, we’ll probably need our phone because this has a Bluetooth option too! Stream music straight from the device with the speaker’s quick-pairing feature.

All these incredible features come at a price, right?

Well, it is a little more expensive than one or two others we’ve looked at. But it doesn’t break the bank. We reckon that with this item, we get what we pay for.

3 GoHawk RD8 Waterproof Bluetooth Motorcycle Stereo Speakers Soundbar – Best Waterproof Motorcycle Radio

Stop, collaborate, and listen!

Next up, another option from GoHawk. This time we’re looking at a motorcycle soundbar. Can it compete with our previous stand-alone speakers? A stainless mounting kit allows this sound system to clamp around the handlebars. Using this, it will fit bars ranging from 7/8 inch to 1 ¼ inches. But what can we do if that doesn’t suit our bike?

We use the included brackets, of course! This comes with two extra reinforcements. They ensure the soundbar will fit, even on awkwardly-sized motorcycles.

What kind of features are included here?

There’s FM radio for a start. That’s backed up by MP3 capabilities. Using either a USB drive or Micro SD card, we can listen to our favorite playlist on the go. That USB port is input-only, though. It cannot be used as a charger. You’ll need to juice up a phone before you leave the house.

And naturally, we have our old friend, Bluetooth. Pairing with a phone is simple and straight forward. It’s an incredibly convenient way to listen to our favorite podcasts and tunes.

There’s a surprise bonus feature here, too…

On the display is a clock. Having to stop and check the time can be a real annoyance while riding, and this handy aspect removes the need to do so. Let’s get down to the important stuff.

How is the sound?

While the quality is excellent, unfortunately, the volume is not. On throaty bikes, or at high speeds, we can’t hear much. We wouldn’t advise using it with larger motorcycles.

But at a price like this, can we really expect it to be that loud? This is an extremely wallet-friendly item! Scooter riders, this could easily be one of the best motorcycle radios for you!

4 GoHawk TS3 Gen.3 Motorcycle Weatherproof Bluetooth Speakers – Best GoHawk Motorcycle Radio

Radio gaga

With its large, well-lit display, this motorcycle radio looks seriously high tech! Can looks be deceiving, or does it live up to its image?

Once again, this item has a built-in radio receiver. We can pick up our favorite stations at the push of a button. And not only that, it has an easily-accessible array of other buttons, for volume and mode control, too.

What else?

In addition to FM radio, riders can listen to music loaded onto a Micro SD card or thumb drive as well. But a word of warning; the USB doesn’t allow for phone charging. Musical input only, we’re afraid!

And obviously, it had a Bluetooth connection. It’s the 2022s, so we’d be surprised to find a radio that didn’t have this feature today! While pairing can be a little slow, when linked, it offers us a fantastic listening experience.

So far, so good. But what’s the catch?

Installation is absolutely infuriating! The instructions are not at all straightforward! We’d suggest clearing a good part of your schedule, as set up can be seriously time-consuming.

And while the sound quality is adequate, they do cut out from time to time. That wiring tends to come loose. Royal Enfield riders may want to look elsewhere, as they’re likely to run into issues caused by engine vibration.

What’s our final verdict?

So, there are ups and downs. But there are plenty more of the ups! This is a great looking motorcycle radio that offers oodles of different methods for listening to music.

5 Jensen JHD910 Heavy Duty Mini Waterproof AM/FM/WB Radio – Best Mid Range Motorcycle Radio

Play that funky music

Our next item is a motorcycle radio with handlebar controls. And speaking of those controls, there are plenty of them! We counted a whopping 20 different buttons on this one!

With a built-in 15 watt amp, it’s a little quieter than many other speakers around. But it’s hard to care about that with sound quality this good! This one has a really sweet tone, with absolutely amazing balance too.

But is it one of the best motorcycle radios?

Well, let’s take a closer look. Not only FM radio, but we also get AM this time as well. And remember those buttons we mentioned? One of those is for NOAA weather alerts. It can be pushed whenever we want to hear about the conditions ahead or set to warn us when a storm is approaching.

In addition to this, it has programmable options. 18 FM and 12 AM presets mean the device will remember the stations we listen to the most. Time for your favorite show? Listen to it at the push of a button.

The radio capabilities sound great! But are there any downsides?

Surprisingly, it doesn’t come with Bluetooth. If we want to listen to music from a smartphone, we have to use the AUX connection, which could easily come loose. It doesn’t have a USB port or SD slot, either.

The other downside? It is a little expensive. This is not an option for those who are watching the old purse strings! Though the radio options are great, we’d like a few other features for this kind of price.

6 Boss Audio Systems MC470B Motorcycle Bluetooth Speaker System – Loudest Motorcycle Radio

Please don’t stop the music!

Our next product comes from a familiar brand. There are few riders out there who haven’t heard of Boss Audio systems. Can this set of speakers live up to their reputation?

They sure can!

Let’s find out why…

This item is seriously loud! Four separate speakers see to that. Supported by a class D amp, this one is a force to be reckoned with. The sound is handled by an inline remote. Wired in, it can nestle in a convenient place on the handlebars. Turn the music up and down at the press of a button.

And it doesn’t sacrifice volume for tone. It all sounds pretty great. The treble and bass are entirely proportional with a pleasing, rich tone.

Back to that amplifier, we mentioned…

It’s Bluetooth compatible. Not only that, but unlike many others, it is waterproof, so it can be mounted anywhere we like. Having four speakers gives the rider a totally new experience. We’ve never ridden in surround sound before! It really does make a huge difference when compared with single speaker kits.

Now, this one is limited as to how many ways it can play music. Sure, we have Bluetooth. But the only other option is an aux input. There’s no USB. This means when we saw the price, we were astonished! This is one of the most expensive sets we’ve seen. We’d expect more options for this kind of money.

Goes the distance…

But, thanks to a 3-year warranty, they’ll be with us for a long time to come. And we can’t deny, we sure do love that sound.

7 Motorcycle Bluetooth Audio Sound System MP3 FM Radio Stereo Speakers Waterproof – Best Value for the Money Motorcycle Radio

Thank you for the music

Now for another motorcycle soundbar. Easily installed with dual brackets, it stretches along the length of the handlebars. And with just three wires, it’s pretty simple to hook up, too.

A tri-band radio with 18 presets gives us plenty of alternatives when choosing a station. It also has TF card and USB input points. And of course, we get that trusty old Bluetooth option and an aux port too.

Having said that…

There is a slight issue with those preset buttons. Thanks to a confusing instruction manual, they’re extremely difficult to program. This means the rider has to pull over and manually find the correct station, which can be laborious and time-consuming.

Voltage protection ensures we get a feeling of security against faults. There’s short circuit protection, too. These aspects, combined with waterproofing capabilities, give the user awesome peace of mind. This is definitely a budget-friendly product.

But does that bargain price mean it lacks quality?

Slightly. Its output is extremely low. It will be fine on smaller bikes in quieter areas, but when flying down the highway, it can’t be heard. There is a small issue when it comes to tone, too. This doesn’t offer much bass. But then again, for this price, can we really demand a perfectly balanced sound?

Aside from that, there’s a lot to like here! Those safety measures are fantastic, and we enjoy the range of input. Plus, we have to say, in sparkling black and silver, it looks great too!

8 Sena 20S-01 Motorcycle Bluetooth 4.1 Communication System with HD Audio and Advanced Noise Control (Single) – Best Premium Motorcycle Radio

Radiohead

We get a totally different design with our penultimate item! No handlebar speakers here, this time we’re checking out a motorcycle helmet radio.

What’s so great about that?

Well, thanks to an in-helmet speaker, we can listen to music at any speed and on any bike. It feels like it’s wired directly to our brain! Plus, the radio itself sits snugly against the helmet, entirely unobtrusive and subtle. With Bluetooth 4.1, the rider can stream music or listen to the GPS. Alternatively, an FM radio allows them to stay up to date with the news and weather.

Fed up with hearing the roar of the bike? No problem. Noise-cancelling technology means it can be blocked out. In fact, technology is the name of the game, when it comes to this headset! Motion sensors allow easy phone-to-speaker pairing with the wave of a hand. Plus, hands-free voice control lets us change the volume and mode of use.

The best part?

It’s also an intercom! And it works with a range of up to 1.2 miles. A group of up to eight friends can ride together and remain in constant communication throughout.

And we can listen to tunes or the GPS at the same time as speaking with them! There’s no need to switch from intercom to music listening mode. The two can overlap for incredible convenience. It does mean you’ll have to persuade your buddies to buy one too, though!

Is it expensive?

Oh, yes! We pay for this kind of tech. But for riders with a bulging bank balance, this could definitely be the best motorbike radio around.

9 Rockford Fosgate PMX-HD9813 Replacement Radio with Smartphone Connection for 1998-2013 Harley-Davidson – Best Rated Motorcycle Radio

Rock ‘n’ roll radio
And finally, an item specially designed with Harley Davidson motorcycles in mind. This Rockford Fosgate product sure has a lot in common with the most famous motorcycle brand in the world; it’s big, it’s flashy, and it sounds great!

The plug and play system means that installation is straightforward. Clear instructions tell us exactly what to do. And though it is a little time-consuming, it really is incredibly easy to do.

What do we get?

So much! First off, there’s AM and FM radio. It is effortless to program with an array of presets, plus multi-range frequencies mean it can pick up radio in any region.

The USB port lets the rider carry MP3 tunes, as well as charge a phone or tablet. As we’d expect, there’s Bluetooth streaming. Plus, it’s ideal for use with Pandora, as it contains the appropriate internet controls.

What else?

The display is awesome! The TFT screen shows which song we’re listening to, the time, and much more besides. Not to mention, different night and daytime settings mean it can be viewed clearly, in any kind of light.

That display has seriously big buttons as well. We love this aspect! It makes them incredibly easy to control, without having to remove motorcycle gloves. Earlier in this review, we compared it to a Harley Davidson. But there was one similarity we didn’t mention…

The price.

This isn’t just a big-ticket item. It’s right at the top end of the price scale! We were pretty sure we heard our bank account weep when was saw the cost. So, it’s not for everyone. But for Harley riders with money to burn, it’s absolutely ideal.

Best Motorcycle Radios Buying Guide

There is a huge range of radios with different designs and features on the market these days. Choosing one can be a real challenge. What should we consider when looking for the best radio for motorcycles?

Radio Pick Up

It may sound obvious, but a decent radio pick up is imperative! We often find that this can take a back seat to other features. An external antenna is usually best for this, as it has the best range for finding the frequency.

But, antennas can look messy and ruin the sleek, beautiful lines of a bike. They can sometimes come loose, too. To avoid this, it might be an idea to check out radios with built-in receivers as well.

Sound Quality

We, of course, have to think about sound quality. These small motorcycle speakers can often have a tinny sound. Look for a radio with a high level of clarity and a good balance of tone.

Volume

Then, there’s volume. An amp with a low watt output can’t be heard over a liter bike. It’s important to consider the size of your bike engine, as well as how loud the speakers are.

How is the radio installed?

Most will affix to the handlebars. But we also saw a helmet option in this review. Whichever way you choose, the clamps or bracket must be sturdy enough to keep it firmly attached.

How is the Weather?

Remember, many of the radios here have separate amps. While the speakers may be waterproof, the amp is often not. When riding through inclement weather, it will need to be well-hidden away, or covered up entirely, for protection.

And we really need to talk about the other features the device has. Radio is classic and time-honored. But we want more!

Style

Call us shallow, but it has to look good! We don’t want something too obtrusive. The radio should complement the style of the motorcycle without drawing too much attention.

Display

If there’s a display, it should be clear. A rider can’t spend a lot of time with their eyes off the road, so they should be able to read the screen at a glance. Any buttons or controls need to be accessible and simple to use even when wearing gloves.

Other Features

At the very least, we expect to be able to use Bluetooth. A Micro SD or USB slot would be nice, too. And we’d really like that port to be compatible with phone charging, especially if we’re planning to stream our music.

Wow! There’s so much to think about. Hopefully, we’ve given you a better idea of what to look for when picking the perfect radio for your machine.

Looking for more superb motorcycle accessories?

If so, check out our reviews of the Best Motorcycle Handlebar Speakers, the Best Motorcycle Storage Shed, the Best Motorcycle Shocks, the Best Motorcycle Racing Helmets, and the Best Motorcycle Helmet Locks currently on the market.

Or how about our reviews of the Quietest Motorcycle Helmets, the Best Motorcycle Battery Chargers, and the Best Motorcycle Seat Pads you can buy in 2022.

So, what are the Best Motorcycle Radios?

We saw some truly incredible products in this review. It was difficult to pick a winner, but ultimately we’ve gone for the…

LEXIN LX-S3 Motorcycle Bluetooth Speakers with FM Radio Antenna, Waterproof Motorcycle Stereo Radio Systems 

While it is not the cheapest, it doesn’t exactly hurt the pocketbook. And it has some amazing features for that price. Not only does is there a wide range of input choices, but the USB port also doubles up as a charger.

Plus, the volume and sound quality are amazing. It can be clearly heard over almost any engine, even at high speeds.

So, happy riding, folks!