I went though 7 pages of forums under the touring section, and I find it hard to believe that nobody talked about antennas. I am sure I missed something, or looked in the wrong place.

I have a 2007 Ultra Classic and I am considering putting on a pair of short antennas from J&M, because they look nice. They say that with these, you get "a slight reception distance loss on AM or FM, compared to the stock antennas, may be experienced, because of the significant reduction in overall antenna length". I already get bad radio reception, and VERY crappy CB reception. I guess we are supossed to listen to the radio or talk to truckers on the highway? I know Harley probably meant for us to us the CB to talk to other bikers in our group, within close range.

So, with that said, I always listen to a CD, and use the intercom to talk to my wife on the back. That is the reason I considered putting the shorty antennas on, because I really don't use them. I might use them if there was a good short antenna, and maybe some sort of booster I could put on them.

 

Try the search button, this is a well talked about subject.
Oh, I kept my stock antenna until I find one better.

 

I have the HD fm shorty on my 2009 street glide and my buddy has both on his 2008 ultra. No loss of reception and looks much better.

 

I usually listen to mp3's on the bike. I very seldom use the am/fm radio. I put the J&M shorty on my sg because I liked the way it looked, and I liked the short antenna being out of my way when getting on and off the bike. I didn't think I lost any reception. I thought it worked just as well as the stock, but I hadn't used either enough to really know.

Then one day a bud and his woman were sitting right beside me and my wife in a parking lot. He has stock antenna. There was a song on KSHE 95 playing on his radio that my wife wanted to listen to. His was very clear, mine was not clear enough to listen to.

I still have the shorty on because I don't use the fm radio very much. If the radio was important to me, the stock antenna would go back on.

Dennis

 

I put the Harley shorties on my bike because the previous owner cut the stock radio antenna and took off the CB antenna. It looks much better now and I believe my reception will be better (when I get the chance to get on the road) due to the fact the previous stock antenna was not stock length when I got it.

spiz

 

Yeah, I'm new to the forums, and I found another thread on this subject. I think I might try one of those hidden antennas, they say they work good, and then put the shortys on just for the looks. I don't think the bike looks right with nothing back there.

 

These antennas seem to be popular and perform well. I have one for the CB, and a cheap auto parts store rubber ducky for the AM/FM.

http://www.jmcorp.com/ProductDetail....D=HFCA-09&PF=6

 

no CB but for 5.99 I uinstalled a Auto Zone rubber ant. for the radio.

 

I recently put the HD Shorty antenna's on my ultra. They look good. I did lose a little reception range on the radio though, but not much. The CB is still the same with about 1.5 mile range. Ususally just talk with my buddy.

Here are the part numbers:
HD Shorty AM/FM antenna #76388-08 $29.95
HD Shorty CB Antenna #76386-08 $29.95

 

I have the J&M shortys but I never use the cb and rarely listen to the radio. On the occasions that I do listen to the radio the J&M works fine for me.