About a week ago I ordered a J&M CB radio from Dr Mudspringer. I ordered the dual unit with the headset and lower cord for a half helmet at 6:30 in the morning. I then left for a joint ride with the West Texas Hogs and the Christian MC club for the Sweetwater WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) museum homcoming parade for Memorial Day. While we were at the museum I got a call from Les Narum. He wanted to thank me for my order and give me the "Good news bad news". Bad news was that he was out of the dual units, good news, he had a single unit and a harness to make it a dual unit so I would have intercomm capability. He also let me know that I had ordered the wrong headset, and got me straitened out on everything I needed. With the long holiday the radio got to my house at about 5:30 PM Friday and I had it installed and the antenna tuned my 8:30 PM. Went on a ride with the Patriot Guard Saturday to Mineral Wells Tx. I love this thing.
The only problem I had was my iPod kept locking up (It has been doing that often lately and I think I need a new one).

 

I put the same radio on my wife's bike but the solo version. I was not satisfied with the distance I was receiving from bike to bike. I just ordered a firefly antenna from firestick. It is a little bigger around and you can turn it with a thumb screw. I hope it works better. FireStick make the standard antenna for J&M but it is rather slim.
How far can you get apart and still receive decent transmission?

 

I was about mid way in a pack of about 20 or so. I could hear the lead and the sweep just fine. In fact we had a guy on a gold wing that just could not resist talking smack about us Harley riders. So I asked him if the dealer gave him a 50 pound bag of Uncle Ben's to get his bike going in the morning. Got quite a laugh.
Let me know how the firefly turns out. I may have to get one for myself.

 

Should be in this week. I will let you know.

 

One more quick question, Is it a direct replacement for the J&M unit, or do you need an adapter to mount it?

 

The way the extra antenae wire is coiled has a big effect on the reception. Changed the config of mine and pratically lost all reception. Also, the antenae's are tuned for the average bike. May need to be tweaked with a swr meter.

 

Been there, done that. Radio works awsome.

 

I have the J&M Integrtr IV http://www.jmcorp.com/SeeProducts.asp?PF=29 with a Midland CB mounted in a tank bag that makes it portable. I get lots of compliments on how clear the CB is and I get incredible distance. You can hook up a radar detector, phone, ipod, and a gps. I think J&M make great products.