I normally don't even turn the radio on but next week I am taking a multi-state bike trip through the mountains of TN, NC, VA, WV, KY, and maybe someplace else if it looks good and I have time. Went ahead and installed the head set in my helmet incase I decided to use the radio and thought about the CB. My last experience with a CB was many years ago in the "breaker 19" era. My recollection was the radio was mostly garbage with trucker wanna-bes, poor reception and and static. Since CB range is limited, does anyone use the thing. Is there a "biker" channel?

Since I mostly enjoy the machine while riding, the thought of useless chatter is not thrilling, but it might be nice to say "hi" once in a while. This is a solo trip by the way.

 

When I ride solo, I keep the CB on 19 and the squelch down -- helps me know when to obey the applicable limit. However, when riding with others, it is nice to have communication between bikes, both for passing the time and also in event of emergency. We ride while monitoring Ch. 3. The good thing is that most of the people with whom I ride don't just talk to talk. It is just the occasional comment that makes the ride that much more enjoyable.

 

Don't use mine much but just got back from a 5 day trip and 1 other guy in the group had a CB. There was 4 of us on the ride. It's nice if someone in the front and back have communications so when you get spread out you can get everyone herded back together. We didn't do a lot of talking but getting everyone off at the same damn exit for a break did make it pretty worth while IMHO.

 

I only use mine on extended road trips. Truckers can be an invaluable source of information. And as already stated, riding in a group with two or more CBs is great.

 

if u sit down with the book and figure out how to use it u can set it to play radio and cb will only cut in when the squelch is broken.set the squelch right and u only get mostly clear trucker breakin in on your tunes.

 

I was talking to a buddy of mine, who got caught in a rainstorm in Rhode Island. He asked some truckers for directions on his CB, and they told him he was going to be crossing a bridge with metal grates soon. They told him to get in between them and they made a blockade so he could cross the slippery grates, at a slower speed.

I don't even know how to use my CB, but I am going to learn over the winter. That would be handy.

 

Extremely cool!

 

I spent some time reading the owners manual about use of the radio and CB. Guess I'll just set it up to monitor ch19 unless someone can offer a better suggestion. I tried out the radio today and doubt that I will use it much. The weather radio feature might be handy though. Will see. Thanks for the helpful replies.

 

You can preset a number of channels if you like. I have 19 preset for obvious reasons but also channel 1. A lot of riders use channel 1 for bike to bike communications because of low usage and not to interupt the truckers.

 

Ditto on channel 1.