Hidden antenna review
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 658
Likes: 52
From: Lakeshore Wis.
Hidden antenna review
For those who are considering removing your rear antennas from your Streetglide or Ultras, I have bought 3 different ones now. The first was a $19 dollar special off Ebay. It worked fairly decent. The 2nd one was from J&M. It is their (top of the line), antenna. I don't remember exactly what I paid, (in 2012), but I think it was like, $75. This is the one that requires it to be wired. I would say, it didn't work any better, or worse, than the $19 one. Now I have the latest one from J&M. It's supposed to be the "best hideaway antenna on the market today!" NOT It works fine! Just not any better than the one I bought for $19. So,.... all I'm saying is, they ALL work pretty good. NONE of them work as good as the STOCK antenna. I know this is MY oponion, but, it is still a fact!
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,581
Likes: 65
From: Tucson AZ
sbeamer ,,,,,,
well at least the J&Ms work right ? ,,, LOL ,,,,,
in all seriousness, I would say that you are correct as it pertains to the FM band signal, there might not be real significant differences between the brands you have tested on FM band only ,,,,,,,
what separates a really good in-fairing antenna from some of the others is how it works on AM and Weather Band, which is also an AM signal ,,,,,,,
and you are also correct, that NO in-fairing antenna works quite as well as the stock rear mounted antenna ,,,,,,
but based upon all of the testing that I have personally done in this area, the J&M Flexpower antennas for the 1998-2015 Harleys are THE BEST in-fairing antennas available for all three radio bands, AM/FM & WB ,,,,,,
well at least the J&Ms work right ? ,,, LOL ,,,,,
in all seriousness, I would say that you are correct as it pertains to the FM band signal, there might not be real significant differences between the brands you have tested on FM band only ,,,,,,,
what separates a really good in-fairing antenna from some of the others is how it works on AM and Weather Band, which is also an AM signal ,,,,,,,
and you are also correct, that NO in-fairing antenna works quite as well as the stock rear mounted antenna ,,,,,,
but based upon all of the testing that I have personally done in this area, the J&M Flexpower antennas for the 1998-2015 Harleys are THE BEST in-fairing antennas available for all three radio bands, AM/FM & WB ,,,,,,
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 658
Likes: 52
From: Lakeshore Wis.
In all fairness, that could be true about the other 2 bands. I only listen to FM. There are some AM stations I like, but, they are only good for about 10 miles on the bike. Maybe 20 in the car.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 485
Likes: 32
From: Phoenix, AZ
I've seen some people using the stock antenna and zip ties to put it inside the fairing. Would that work any better or worse? I know it's not the same aesthetic, but what about just going to a shorty rear mount?
Novice
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Frisco, TX
I've been completely unimpressed with hidden antennas, until I hid my stock antenna by remounting it so I could zip tie it to the inside of the frame rail. Works much much better.
On a completely unrelated note, I have a lightly use HD hidden antenna for sale. 😎
On a completely unrelated note, I have a lightly use HD hidden antenna for sale. 😎
Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,581
Likes: 65
From: Tucson AZ
and if I may blow our own horn just once more on this thread, I do not believe you will find ANY brand in-fairing antenna that contains only the best quality stranded copper wire and coax materials along with hand soldered connectors ,,,,,,, AND made-in-the-USA at our factory in Tucson ,,,,
take a look at the flimsy stuff many of the other brand antennas are made from and I think you will agree ,,,, if your ARE going to take the time to install an in-fairing antenna, it might as well be the best one available, not only from a performance standpoint, but from a long term durability standpoint as well ,,,,,,
you can purchase the cheap in-fairing antennas for $15-30 or so, or you can step up to the J&M FLEXPOWER for around $37-41 with normal discounts ,,,,,,,,
take a look at the flimsy stuff many of the other brand antennas are made from and I think you will agree ,,,, if your ARE going to take the time to install an in-fairing antenna, it might as well be the best one available, not only from a performance standpoint, but from a long term durability standpoint as well ,,,,,,
you can purchase the cheap in-fairing antennas for $15-30 or so, or you can step up to the J&M FLEXPOWER for around $37-41 with normal discounts ,,,,,,,,
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,670
Likes: 139
From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
I agree with John. I've had better luck with the J&M antenna than anything else aside from the whip obviously.
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