What type of antenna do you use for FM and CB

[engprosinc]

I have an 05 Ultra, and the long stock antennas bend over and rub along the overhead garage door as I enter or leave the garage. I have already pinched an antenna between garage door panels, resulting an an "L" shaped whip antenna. I have seen many "L" shaped whips on other bikes, so the problem is not limited to my ride.

Which brand/type antenna do you use? What would you recommend? How does the CB antenna's range compare to that of the standard HD whip?

Thanks in advance

 

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

Harley now makes shorter antennas for the newer models. They will fit your stem that the antennas are mounted to.

 

[wimoonshiner]

I have the stock whips and I really like them. Personally, I think I get better reception with the whips as apposed to the shorter antenna. Some people that I know have the smaller antenna don't get all the stations that I do with the stock ones. That's just my opinion though...

 

[Bikerbozo]

The antenna can be bent across and clipped in tour pack latch sometimes. Or just shoved through luggage rack. I've done both.

 

[Bigbill]

No garage door, no bent antenna. Lol

 

[geezerglide11441]

I have the J&M Audio short antennas and they seem to work just fine. Don't really like the "whip" ones that come with the H-D Trikes. My ride is the 2013 Tri-Glide with a 120r crate motor and it really scoots!!

 

[trikermutha]

Just cut down the whip antennas shorter..the CB and radio will still work as I have done it myself because of the same issues

 

[screwball]

Like you, I broke one in the garage door so I replaced both with the 'shorties'. The only time I use the CB is in a group ride so the squelch it turned up pretty high and I rarely use the radio. Got a pot of CD's in the tourpack.

 

[rwhgme]

Hey Screwball, does the cd player skip much due to vibration?

 

[TexasRN]

I had the J&M Internal antennas put in my fairing and love them J&M is the only company that has a power booster that I could find. I did a 868 mile 2 weeks ago and the radio and CB both worked great the whole trip.

 

[screwball]

Hey Screwball, does the cd player skip much due to vibration?

Not at all, even on very bad roads. I record my own CD's. MP3 format and record them as data rather than music. Can get around 200 songs on a disc. I don't use the speakers, don't want to bother everyone around me with my taste in music. Have a set of Sony Professional headsets built into the ear wells of my 3/4 helmet. I can listen to Exuma (Zombie music) loud enough to make my eyes bleed and not bother anyone.

 

[engprosinc]

The antenna can be bent across and clipped in tour pack latch sometimes. Or just shoved through luggage rack. I've done both.

Good idea. I think I will try.
I already changed the FM antenna to a shorter one I had from a different bike. Reception is good.
Theory says the FM whip will actually interfere with the CB whip's reception and transmission. Go figure!
Thanks,
engprosinc

 

[engprosinc]

Just cut down the whip antennas shorter..the CB and radio will still work as I have done it myself because of the same issues

.
Thanks, I will try if all other recommendations fail. Hate to do it, but I don't want a bent antenna, either.
engprosinc

 

[engprosinc]

I have the J&M Audio short antennas and they seem to work just fine. Don't really like the "whip" ones that come with the H-D Trikes. My ride is the 2013 Tri-Glide with a 120r crate motor and it really scoots!!

Did you notice any loss of range on the CB? Did you leave the HD loading coil in the tour pack, or have to remove it?
Thanks,
engprosinc

 

[GARYD]

I'm with Screwball on this. I prefer to record/burn my own CD's. I do it normally not mp3 wise. I only burn songs I really really really like - none of the filler crap that they put on albums to fill up the record.
I have hundreds of old 45's (oldies) from the 50's and 60's. That's pretty much all I listen to. Anything from the 90's and up is just noise to me.

One thing I don't like is the player will skip like crazy if the disk has a home made label pressed on it. Even my cars player won't play them. And I have hundreds of CD's like that. Wish I could remove them without damaging the disk. Now I have to re-record all my songs.
I do have a built in mp3 player in my Garmin 660 and I use it as a back up while on the highway when my CD ends - in about an hour.