What is everyone using for a shorty antenna on EVO tourings? I replaced the stock whip on my 97' EG with a Kuryakyn 865 17" antenna and the reception on all bands is terrible. All the Harley short antennas are listed for bikes 98' and up. Not sure why?

Thanks, G.B.

 

I ended up running the factory antenna cable down the right rear fender and bent a piece of metal to serve as a mount at the saddle bag support.. Then I bought the factory antenna mount and a Kuryakyn short whip... Looks pretty good, still sounds like ****... It's not the antenna, its something else, this bikes radio has never picked up any radio stations worth a damn.. Honestly, I'm kinda baffled about it and interested in what others say here.. I run with the MP3 99% of the time anyhow, so it hasn't been a priority, but it is ridiculous. By the way, its on my '95 Ultra

 

Antennas must be well grounded at there mount locations .
If your radio is an older analog type as opposed to a electronic tuned unit , there will be a ant. tuning screw at the back of the radio .
To tune the older type , you find any a.m. station that is coming in weak and adjust the screw to maximise the reception . This tunes the radio to the particular ant. you have.
The electronic tuner types with do this on there own.
To check your antenna system ...
Ensure the ant. has a clean ground to chassis at its mount .
Remove the ant. connector from the radio and look for corrosion .
If corrosion is found , then water has migrated through the ant. cable to the radio connection.
Clean the radios female ant. connector and replace the cable/ant.assy.
With the above , you should attain the best reception possible .
Im an ex. car stereo installer from way back and believe that a radio and speakers on a bike are nutts and a pair of ear buds and a mpv are all you need.?

 

Thanks HGM and machinehed. However, I am using a Harley antenna rear mount bracket and new Harley antenna adapter. My radio reception on all bands (AM, FM, & Weather bands) was really good with this set up using the stock antenna. The Kuryakyn 865 antenna I just bought is a dual function, AM, FM, & CB. I am thinking this is part of the problem? My bike is a Classic so I don't have a CB. I really don't mind the looks with the stock whip. At 10' from the bike you can hardly see the antenna. The stock antenna is on the bike in the signature picture. You can't even see it. I was looking for a short antenna as the stock long whip hits me in the back when riding in a cross wind. Wt????

Thanks, G.B.

 

Shorty antennas suck, they don't work unless you are local to the signal.

 

I just went to the autoparts store, and picked up one of the short rubberized ones for about $10 IIRC. I get good reception even when it is tucked under the tour pak.