Wanting to replace my long stock whip antenna. Looking for the small, short I see on some bikes.

 

Most of the small ones you see are bought at regular auto parts stores in the Antenna section. When I first got my bike I threw one on but it didn't work very good..so I ordered a Tune-Trapper hidden antenna which is a better solution in my opinion. if you need info on tune-trapper go here...http://www.eglidegoodies.com/id10.html scroll down to the audio section and you'll see the "hidden antenna".

 

J&M sells one for bout $35.00 commonly sold on E Bay. I took mine off and cut it down to 18" and have been satisfied with the results.

 

Your local auto parts store will have something. I ran a $6 generic antenna for 6years without any issues.

Along the way I have tried a couple of nice billet antennas and they sucked.

I also tried a Tune Trapper hidden antenna and the first one was bad. The company was first rate with their customer service. I now have another Tune Trapper inside of my fairing and it works well. Not as good as the whip but tolerable. You can score them on Ebay for cheap (It's Tune Trappers auction so your buying direct).

 

I used them all...including the expensive ones from Freedom Cycle....the only ones that work well are from J&M...IMHO

 

I tried the cheap shorty from Auto Zone and lost too much reception on my 07 Road Glide (single antenna--no CB). Cut about 12" off the stock whip without any loss in reception but stilldidn't like the whip. Bought the J&M antenna ($40) and it works pretty well with about a 20% loss in stations (unscientific test).

 

there's also the shorty by JM which has many discussing on this board. I have two on my Ultra they work for me.
Then again I dont use local fm much as I have Sirius wired into my system
I do use for AM and its gives better reception on the stations than my car radio. you know its baseball season
I hear AM is harder for Antenna than FM. I am not a radio expert but thats what I have read

 

I tried the J&M antenna that Chris is talking about. I lost alot of AM & FM Stations. I also cut my stock antenna down 12" and I still get as good of reception. Follow your antenna down to where it attaches to the bike. There will be 2hex screws, 1 for the base of the antenna to be secured to the bike and 1 for the thin part of the antenna to screw into the base. Unscrew the hex screw that secures your think antenna and cut the bottom of the antenna (not top part with little ball) and secure it back in the base.

Mark

 

I guess it all depends on where you live and use it. I have the $6.00 Auto Zone one and it works great.

 

I've got the J&M short antenna on my Ultra.

http://www.jmcorp.com/SeeProducts.asp?PF=6

Very satisfied.