Alternate antenna?

[chicagorandy]

My bike ('86) - has the rear mounted LONG metal antenna - I do not have a CB. Has anyone swapped this fishing pole out for one of the shorter (about 17") rubber duckie type antennas?

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[Pbpd183]

I have. I am using the big stick now and also have a rubber one. I haven't noticed a difference in reception and most of them come with different adapters.

[Lucasind]

I trimmed down my (stock) tall antenna just enough that it don't smack the raised garage door when leaving or entering the garage, and have noticed no difference in reception.

[gearheadfla]

I cut mine down also, had no problems at all

[chicagorandy]

I dropped by my local Autozone store and found this $8 beauty-



One of the adapters provided with it was the correct thread size for my OEM antenna mount and simply screwed in place. It seems to work just fine but will require a road test once the drizzly rains leave town tomorrow.



The online ones I found that were motorcycle specific were over $20 more so at worst I've only wasted eight bucks - lol

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

Save the package, if you find it don't work for you return it for store credit.
NO money wasted or lost!

[debron]

Randy, I like that. Easy install, huh??

[chicagorandy]

Yeppers - no more catching on my garage door -lol

[debron]

Easier to put on a cover too......

[suzib6sw]

Stock radio will literally work with a piece of wet string in town, however when miles from anywhere you may experience a reduction in sensitivity.

[chicagorandy]

I will report back after a road test. Though here in metro Chicagoland it's kinda hard to be 'miles from anywhere' -lol

[kjsett]

I will report back after a road test. Though here in metro Chicagoland it's kinda hard to be 'miles from anywhere' -lol

Ron (debron), you and I both know that most of our rides are "miles from anywhere". FM is mostly line of sight, so the hills and mountains of the west shorten range considerably.
That said about FM, I think lower sensitivity might occurr from the 9:30 to 11:30 position of the bike as the fairings and dense body are in the way (some more dense than others ).
I am thinking about it, will let you know if i get it. I don't want to do anything i can't undo, though.
Basically just putting a couple of hundred $$$$ into the '03 with the oil pan replacement (got it from Carl super quick ) and changing out some of the hoses and such, so might have to wait as is an option only right now.

-just thinkin - Ken