CB Radios & HD touring bikes
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 1,466
From: Charleston, SC
What COAX and ANTENNA did you buy and install? I added on my CB to my 2015 Ultra Classic, so the shop just put on the regular Harley CB antenna. If I can get better range with your set up, $40 is a pretty cheap fix.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,264
Likes: 690
From: WESTERN CHICAGO AREA
The H-D CB isn't the problem. It's the cobbled POS coax/antenna system. Install a decent antenna w/good coax & that H-D CB will work just fine with full legal limit power output.
Best Part? Once set up properly, it's there when I need it & doesn't require me to disconnect a damn thing when I don't need it.
Best Part? Once set up properly, it's there when I need it & doesn't require me to disconnect a damn thing when I don't need it.
Typical of H-D to put the cheapest crap on the bikes and then take them off. I didn't see a $800 reduction on price after removing the CB.
Look at the POS GPS/Infotainmentunit system they put on it = garbage. They can't even get their own dealer locations correct. Not even an AUX connection = POS. Hope Harley has improved it since 2014, but knowing Harley they haven't.
To late for me now, but that new Yamaha Venture is looking pretty good to me.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,469
Likes: 3,572
From: Idaho
Oh, gotcha. Wouldn't disagree. I've also heard that the Harley CB unit has no ability to tune the SWR for different antennas. Correct?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,820
Likes: 588
From: Michigan
I don't know of any CB unit that includes an antenna tuner. Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) is implicitly an antenna & feedline issue.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,820
Likes: 588
From: Michigan
I ordered a custom coax from Field Components Inc. The radio end needs a male TNC connector. The other end will depend upon where/how you decide to mount the antenna.
A good choice for a good antenna wound be a 3 or 4 foot 5/8 wavelength tunable Firestik "FL" model antenna. They're about $15 each, have a 3/8 x 24 male thread & a tunable threaded tip for easy SWR adjustment.
Make your own mounting bracket & use a Firestik K-4A mount (about $5 each) & the coax will just need a PL259 on one end & the TNC connector on the other end. Or you can use an adapter to go from the M6 stud to a 3/8-24 thread & use the tour pack oem mount (still need new coax).
A good choice for a good antenna wound be a 3 or 4 foot 5/8 wavelength tunable Firestik "FL" model antenna. They're about $15 each, have a 3/8 x 24 male thread & a tunable threaded tip for easy SWR adjustment.
Make your own mounting bracket & use a Firestik K-4A mount (about $5 each) & the coax will just need a PL259 on one end & the TNC connector on the other end. Or you can use an adapter to go from the M6 stud to a 3/8-24 thread & use the tour pack oem mount (still need new coax).
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 157
Good luck with the Yamaha. They already have a major problem since production has been delayed at least 3 months.
Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,581
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From: Tucson AZ
it is my experience that 2014-2018 CB antenna issues on the Harleys can be solved by our grounding and replacement coax kit, http://www.jmcorp.com/ProductDetail....ctID=CBAU-HU14 along with our fully tunable shorty-style J&M antennas http://www.jmcorp.com/ProductDetail....ctID=HBSA-1416 ,,,,,
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,820
Likes: 588
From: Michigan
it is my experience that 2014-2018 CB antenna issues on the Harleys can be solved by our grounding and replacement coax kit, http://www.jmcorp.com/ProductDetail....ctID=CBAU-HU14 along with our fully tunable shorty-style J&M antennas http://www.jmcorp.com/ProductDetail....ctID=HBSA-1416 ,,,,,
I have no experience with your antenna but a single purpose antenna tuned for a single band use will outperform a multi-band antenna and a tune-able antenna is generally preferable to a pre-tuned antenna.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,264
Likes: 690
From: WESTERN CHICAGO AREA
Never buy a first year model of anything. Learned that from the 2014 Rushmore.
I always wonder if a mfg. will ever come out with a first year trouble free model. LOL