CB Radios & HD touring bikes
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 7,709
Likes: 7,850
From: New York
This was mostly what I had in mind. I've done quite a bit of touring, and its surprising the number of interstate sections where I've had little or zero bars on my cell phone. If anything went sideways out there, my cell phone wouldn't be of much use. I'm looking for a secondary comm option, and the CB offers that - understanding that transmission range isn't optimal. Possibly a different antenna may improve that. (?)
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 228
Likes: 29
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Here are the advantages I see to a CB over other options:
Compatibility - If someone else has a CB, it just works. You don't have to ask them what brand they have and you don't have to pair with them.
Reliability - Within eyesight, it's dead reliable. Outside of that range, quality degrades gradually. Cell phones get dropped signals. Bluetooth devices go quickly from perfect reception to unintelligible.
Broadcasting - No other communication option works with large groups. This is particularly important in large group rides where someone in the front can alert everyone behind him simultaneously about a hazard.
Where CB's fail:
Privacy - Someone can always be listening
Simplicity of use - PTT is a PITA
Full Duplex - Cellphones and most bluetooth devices allow both parties to talk at the same time.
Compatibility - If someone else has a CB, it just works. You don't have to ask them what brand they have and you don't have to pair with them.
Reliability - Within eyesight, it's dead reliable. Outside of that range, quality degrades gradually. Cell phones get dropped signals. Bluetooth devices go quickly from perfect reception to unintelligible.
Broadcasting - No other communication option works with large groups. This is particularly important in large group rides where someone in the front can alert everyone behind him simultaneously about a hazard.
Where CB's fail:
Privacy - Someone can always be listening
Simplicity of use - PTT is a PITA
Full Duplex - Cellphones and most bluetooth devices allow both parties to talk at the same time.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,011
Likes: 143
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
yes they are.
CB is still the best option for group rides when communicating with more than a handful of bikes at a time. For HOG Chapter Rides with our group, you don't lead or sweep without a CB, many different situations where group communication is not only critical, but also entertaining.
CB is still the best option for group rides when communicating with more than a handful of bikes at a time. For HOG Chapter Rides with our group, you don't lead or sweep without a CB, many different situations where group communication is not only critical, but also entertaining.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 504
From: Lake County, IL
My layman's understanding of the problem is primarily with the "grounding". The CB and/or the antennae are grounded to a small metal/plastic surface. The short antennae doesn't help. I believe there are fixes for the relocation of the ground. I've seen several threads offering advice.
One source from google: https://www.wearecb.com/cb-antenna-ground-plane.html
Last edited by cficole; Sep 11, 2017 at 02:51 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 157
My last bike as well as my current bike had a CB radio.
I used the CB on my last bike much more than I have on my current bike, especially on my trip to AK and I think it had more range with the big "whip" antennas that the little "shorties" that I have on my current bike.
I had a CB back when we had to have a FCC license (I still remember my call letters) and not much has changed.
There are still many idiots out there who like to use the mic to start trouble and use foul language but on the other hand there are more nice folks than bad.
True, a cell phone is clearer and also has unlimited range but as someone else noted, how do you get someone's number that you want to talk with?
I doubt that I'll get it on my next bike/trike as I'm not willing to pay that much for the CB but they can come in handy sometimes.
I used the CB on my last bike much more than I have on my current bike, especially on my trip to AK and I think it had more range with the big "whip" antennas that the little "shorties" that I have on my current bike.
I had a CB back when we had to have a FCC license (I still remember my call letters) and not much has changed.
There are still many idiots out there who like to use the mic to start trouble and use foul language but on the other hand there are more nice folks than bad.
True, a cell phone is clearer and also has unlimited range but as someone else noted, how do you get someone's number that you want to talk with?
I doubt that I'll get it on my next bike/trike as I'm not willing to pay that much for the CB but they can come in handy sometimes.
Novice
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From:
The radio works fairly well, you have about a 1/4 to 1/2 mile range and transmission and reception is very good. Useful for bike to bike and can be used for talking to trucks as long as you are in range. Easy interface as well.
Last edited by Ahhnuld; Sep 12, 2017 at 06:42 AM.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 492
From: Heart of Georgia
Here is one option:
https://www.sierra-mc.com/proddetail...-COBRA-IMC-KIT
I bought one of these when I put aftermarket audio in my Road Glide. It had the factory CB but I only ever used it on HOG rides so I decided to upgrade the audio and use this instead. The Cobra unit actually works better than the stock Midland unit did and, since I only use it on HOG rides it's a simple matter to uninstall it for the rest of the time. Yes, the truckers still talk on 19 but they rarely say anything worth listening to and, frankly, all that noise gets on my nerves.
https://www.sierra-mc.com/proddetail...-COBRA-IMC-KIT
I bought one of these when I put aftermarket audio in my Road Glide. It had the factory CB but I only ever used it on HOG rides so I decided to upgrade the audio and use this instead. The Cobra unit actually works better than the stock Midland unit did and, since I only use it on HOG rides it's a simple matter to uninstall it for the rest of the time. Yes, the truckers still talk on 19 but they rarely say anything worth listening to and, frankly, all that noise gets on my nerves.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,264
Likes: 690
From: WESTERN CHICAGO AREA
Here is one option:
https://www.sierra-mc.com/proddetail...-COBRA-IMC-KIT
I bought one of these when I put aftermarket audio in my Road Glide. It had the factory CB but I only ever used it on HOG rides so I decided to upgrade the audio and use this instead. The Cobra unit actually works better than the stock Midland unit did and, since I only use it on HOG rides it's a simple matter to uninstall it for the rest of the time. Yes, the truckers still talk on 19 but they rarely say anything worth listening to and, frankly, all that noise gets on my nerves.
https://www.sierra-mc.com/proddetail...-COBRA-IMC-KIT
I bought one of these when I put aftermarket audio in my Road Glide. It had the factory CB but I only ever used it on HOG rides so I decided to upgrade the audio and use this instead. The Cobra unit actually works better than the stock Midland unit did and, since I only use it on HOG rides it's a simple matter to uninstall it for the rest of the time. Yes, the truckers still talk on 19 but they rarely say anything worth listening to and, frankly, all that noise gets on my nerves.