I was considering the Boom antenna when I saw a couple of youtube videos of guys taking the stock antenna and placing it horizonally past the rear fender and up under the fuel tank and then securing with zip ties.

Has anyone tried this with the stock antenna? It would save some money and considerable time.

More curious on reception issues with the stock antenna laying horizonally.

 

I did it, I can't see where the reception is really any different than it was prior..and my wife doesn't get an antenna in her **** when she gets on!

 

So you would recommend this?

 

I positioned my antenna along the seat and zip tied the end like you said. I have good reception in town, but lose radio about 20 miles into a rural ride. I like the look so I might work on Bluetooth for pandora.

 

Do you think if you went with the BOOM antenna you would still lose reception 20 miles into a rural ride?

 

I just did this yesterday. It seems fine to me but the one station I listen too has weak reception no matter how the antenna is. It's raining here but I will try to take it out for a spin listening to a different station and report back. If you're on the fence it only takes about 5 minutes to do. Literally one screw after you take off the seat.

 

Curious if you decided later to go the BOOM antenna route if the reception would be an improvement or not.

What about the gromet for the hole where the antenna came up thru the rear fender, where did you buy the gromet/plug? how much money?

 

you buy the cover from the dealer..was only a couple bucks

 

I tried it. Antenna reception was directly affected by how/where I was sitting on the bike and seemed to be really poor for me. I just took the antenna off, capped the hole and use my phone for pandora/sirius/itunes.

 

I upgraded my stereo to the boom system with the hidden antenna GPS and added the Sirius satellite radio. If it wasn't for the xm I'd probably scrap the whole damn bike the reception is so bad with the hidden antenna. Its like having am radio with a bad reception. Dealership says harley is coming out with a "update" for the boom radio to come in better but time will tell. So I rock the xm for now.

Batman.