I use the handheld mike and fairing speakers. Me and most of the guys I ride with use them all the time. Great to call up a trucker when traffic comes to a halt and find out what the hold up is.

I think you'll find the nay sayers either don't have anyone to talk to or just haven't used them. When I'm travelling alone I have it on channel 19 and listen to the trucker traffic.

 

Outdated, maybe. Depends on what it is being used for.
Needed, no
Helpful, yes
It sure beats having to stop to see where everyone wants to go or the route to take.
Front to back communication is useful.
Sure beats having to run someone down from the back to the front if someone needs fuel. Beats hand signals.
Used often, no.

 

I use CB frequently when riding with groups. Some friends have even traded Road Kings for Ultras just to get the intercom and CB. HD apparently doesn't think we Ultra riders need or want it so they took it out of the Ultra in 2014. I guess for more money you can make the "better bike" a better bike.

 

What channels does everyone use?

 

Dealer told me HD did a survey and only 10% of riders used a CB so they made it an option on the FLH's. I wonder who they really asked on this survey, Sportster riders?

 

I use mine all the time.

But then again, I'm an old oilfield trucker, so it's just something that is there.

My best friend and I have covered thousands upon thousands of miles chatting on the CBs on our bikes....

 

THAT right there, nailed it. Granted, I'm in the older crowd (40's) who grew up with a CB in his car (hell, the Dukes did it, why not?) and quickly learned of it's value after learning to speak "truckese"....Bears, traffic, bottomless girls in cars (don't laugh, heard more than a few times in my travels to Ga, Tenn, and back to Pa), and jaw with a few relatives that are OTR drivers. Haven't found a good (low-priced) headset/mic to use (wasn't aware there was a handheld avail...thanks Nute), But I listen through fairing speakers for all the reasons above. I've had plenty of areas (even these days...go up into Bradford County Pa) that has sh*t for cell reception, but channel 9 & 19 always work
"Old" doesn't always mean worthless

If your in a group, it's usually pre-determined after finding a non cluttered channel, but for everyday use, this is what I've always been told (and found on occasion...your area might be different with the exception of Ch 9)

Channel 4 - 4x4 trucks (was in my earlier days, dunno if it still applies)
Channel 9 - Emergency use ONLY
Channel 13 - RV's
Channel 19 - the truckers...usually the spot for listening to the best conversations LOL
And in my rides back in my cage days, we were usually all on 17

 

I use my CB too, and prefer the hand held micraphone. That way I still have communication if I decide to go helmetless, like in a national park where you are always stopping to look at things.

 

I took that survey from Harley. They didn't just ask "who uses the CB". They asked about how much and where it was used.

The questions made it sound bad to say you used the CB. So I bet a lot said they didn't.

 

On the guided tours at Americade, before the tour starts they tell everyone if you have a CB, tune into channel X. During the motorcycle tour, the leader talks about the area, history, points of interest, things we are passing, etc. I thought the tours were well done and informative. Having the CB certainly made it more enjoyable.