CB radio

[dannyk]

I just purchased a new 05 1300 and am looking to install a CB radio when the bike gets here, will be released on the 28th of February, should have it in the shop first week of March, anyway looking for any information on type and experience of CB radios and installation problems if any. Thank you

[Fred D]

IMO, J&M makes good equipment, although pricey. There's a handlebar mounted unit on ebay now (http://tinyurl.com/6w2fz) but if the price keeps going up, you'd be able to buy a new one for only a few bucks more.

Air Rider and Sierra Electronics also sell cb's that have been adapted to motorcyle use. Do some searching for competitive prices, a lot of the Gold Wing accessory places can save you some money.

[Hitcher]

Mrs H and I use a bike-to-bike system that's imported by a local company and, I think, is the same set-up as that marketed by Oxford in the UK and elsewhere.

The only part of the system that connects to the bike is the push-to-talk button that velcros onto the lefthand grip. We use Uniden UH044 walkie talkies on a channel that few other users use. We generally carry these in an inside jacket pocket. The kit includes a headset that velcros inside your helmet and enough cabling to join everything together. There are variants available for those who wear open-face or flip-front helmets.

A pretty good system. We get good sound (even through ear plugs) at speeds of up to 120kmh. The limiting factor appears to be wind roar for the microphone.

Costs? About $120 kiwi per set plus walkie talkies. I'd give this 3-and-a-half stars out of five.

http://www.amalgamate2000.com/sales/Uniden%20system.htm

[81654Barry]

dannyk,

My good friend joe has a log cabin on clearwater lake near wetersmeet. We ride our bikes there at least 3 times a summer. Could we look you up this summer? Joe has rc51, dont ask me how he stands riding that far on that bike.

Barry

[dannyk]

Yes, look me up anytime. Danny

[Fireball18]

We used the Cobra hand held CB's with handlebar mount from Sierra Electronics for quite awhile. They require installing a J&M headset in your helmet. The whole kit sells for $199.00, and works well. A long whip antenna will get you better reception and distance than the supplied rubber ducky antenna.

We have since switched to the J&M CB units and love them. True, they're pricey, but well worth it. As a bonus, with the J&M units, they also have an auxilliary audio lead you can plug into a music source, such as a Walkman, MP3 player oar satellite radio. A down side is that the supplied antenna mount is meant for mounting on the license plate bracket of a cruiser, and won't work with an ST. However it's easy to make your own and mount it on your rear cargo rack. The unit is hardwired to the bike, and, although it takes some time to do it, it's actually a fairly easy job. the CB is strong, with good range for both transmission and reception, and the audio section provides its own volume control, and it's high quality audio. :tools1:

[Hewhois]

Do you also need an intercom to talk with the passenger? Or is the CB for bike to bike/car/truck only?

My CB is a Midland 75-822 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000K2YR/ref=e_de_a_smtpd/104-6254636-6706325?v=glance&s=electronics&vi=tech-data). Purchased it at amazon.com

For the headset in a Full-Face Arai Corsair helmet, I use the Motocomm Headset/Communicator Interface - Full-Face MC-551 (http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=17599&Category_Code=MotoComm). They also have them for open faced helmets.

To hook it up with my XM radio I got the Motocomm AUX-1 Music Adapter Cable (http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=17601&Category_Code=MotoComm). Which lets me hear the XM radio and when the CB kicks in the music sound level lowers and the CB sound comes in through one ear. Has a clipon push button switch that turns the music sound off completely while leaving CB sound on both speakers.

I don't need an intercom and have this setup for my RT, and see no reason why it won't work on the ST1300. Have only had it a week, but works well. This setup is used by several of my friends. If you want more range than a group of riders are likely to cover, you may want to look into an external antenna, regardless of which CB you end up getting.

[dannyk]

I was looking at the J&M set up, but I have the hondaline headset in my Arai helmet and was going to use that, but of course true to J&M you have to use their cord and headset in order to use the handlebar mounted radio with weather band, I think total cost would be in the 6 to 7 hundred dollar range for everything, that sucks big time. Will wait til the bike is in my garage and see what I can do, the air rider cb with an option for plugging in a music source looks like it might work, depends on the physical size of it as for mounting it. I really want to see what options I have once I have the bike in hand, I know it will work in a tank bag, had one on my old ST1100 but the filler for the tank was in a differn't spot, don't need the tank bag for local rides etc. other than to house the cb so that will be the last option. I am looking for a more permanent setup on the bike itself. I had a 81 wing that I cut off the bottom of the left side pocket and mounted a radio in that into a piece of wood and then screwed into the wood through the side pocket to hold everything together, the vinyl cover kept rain and stuff out of it and prying eyes also.