F6B Radio Reception

[F6Dave]

I just took a 700 mile trip to western Colorado to visit my mom.  The F6B is incredible.  Great power, handling, and comfort.  The fairing's protection also impressed me.  I rode in a steady rain for more than an hour and all that got wet was my boots.

However, the radio reception isn't nearly as good as on my old Interstate.  Stations fade out much more quickly.  I suspect it's the fault of that stubby antenna.  Has anyone replaced it?  If so, what did you use and did it improve reception?

I drove by the Blue Mesa reservoir near Gunnison and decided to take a picture in the same place I did when my Tourer was a year old in 1999.  Here's the 1999/2015 'then and now' comparison:

[jimmytee]

Nice looking fast Red F6B.   

I have not , or at least I don't remember, seeing anyone post about replacing the antenna . Some have relocated it or changed something to mount a CB antenna. You might search the F6B Riders forum. I don't use the radio very often, partially because of the fading in and out of reception. Here in hilly, Kentucky, it can be a problem for most radios let alone one with a stubby antenna. I have 30 gigs worth of music on a thumb/flash drive, and other times I use I heart radio with my  phone.

[F6Dave]

I've been reading that forum since before I bought my F6B.  It's a good, active site, and I've seen several familiar names there.  It's about time I post something there.

I often listen to AM radio on trips for the local news and talk.  In my experience the 50,000 watt stations can provide good coverage hundreds of miles from their transmitter.  But with the F6B, the signal fades out more quickly than I'm used to.

BTW, on my trip I found a burger place that matched my F6B!

[hungryeye]

The best setup for interstate travel including backroad travel is a small Sirius Sat radio set up. Has all kinds of music and talk + Fox News TV audio. I been using my Smart Phone the last few years with I Heart and internet Sirius but reception can get iffy in rural areas. Works great coast to coast on the Interstate. We have Sirius in one car so the internet is 3-4 bucks per month extra.

[jimmytee]

The best setup for interstate travel including backroad travel is a small Sirius Sat radio set up. Has all kinds of music and talk + Fox News TV audio. I been using my Smart Phone the last few years with I Heart and internet Sirius but reception can get iffy in rural areas. Works great coast to coast on the Interstate. We have Sirius in one car so the internet is 3-4 bucks per month extra.

I'm saving my pennies for a Zumo navigation unit with the sat radio built in. I think that's mynext big purchase for the F6B. I've been using my smart phone, a Razr M. It's supplied and paid for by my employer. I have a docking station on the bike that I've mounted to a mount meant for a Zumo . Its an accessory I got when I put the Helibars on the bike. It works ok, but phone signals cam come and go too, and I'm ready to step it up a notch.

[dans2014]

  Listen to that engine. It's all the music you need!!! I live in Western Colorado and the radio can be sketchy with any setup at times. AM is of course the strongest signal

[Dave Ritsema]

I found the radio to be not all that great as well. I put a cheap XM radio in the fairing pocket powered by the 12V accessory plug. Totally plug and play, no wiring other than the cig adapter plug. Put the antenna inside the cubby as well, all in all a 10 minute installation. Secured the head unit with two sided tape. I love sat radio because you can listen to the same channel from coast to coast if you want to. I have also just streamed Pandora from my smart phone.