Interstate CB Radio needed

[hondahead]

New member question; I just purchased a 2001 Valk Interstate and need the CB option. Is there any way to get CB used or aftermarket to tie into the radio system? If not, how expensive and available is the factory unit?

[old2soon]

If you can find one they are spendy. Seen em on flea bay-they seem to sell quickly. Some of the people on the board use other than the honda C-B option on their i/s. Lot of help here. I really don't want or need one on my i/s-x trucker-heard enough of the c-b stuff for at least 2 lifetimes. Good luck with your search. As always RIDE SAFE.

[Str8shooter]

 Be prepared to pay way too much for what it is, if you can find one. Then, finding the antenna is more of a challenge. Now, after you find one, the mounting and hooking it up is a breeze. Good luck.

[Willow]

They're not inexpensive.  If you can find a used unit it should cost $600 - $700.

Someone posted once that there was a Yamaha unit that would work.

Big Mike had some aftermarket units built for use on Interstates at one time.  Find Big Mike at Valkyrie Bling and More (That's a link to his site.)

[hondahead]

Thanks for the quick advice, opinions are appreciated!   What a great site, fast responses and plenty of serious fans of this bike. MUCH APPRECIATED!!

[old2soon]

Thanks for the quick advice, opinions are appreciated!   What a great site, fast responses and plenty of serious fans of this bike. MUCH APPRECIATED!!

  Welcome to the insanity. It's a good kind though-mostly. Yeah-can't hide it-we do happen to own very fine motorcycles. Wait til you do the nickel trick for your hardley friends. See the home page. you'll see it-labled the nickel trick. It'll get ya coffee money anywho!!

[MP]

They're not inexpensive.  If you can find a used unit it should cost $600 - $700.

Someone posted once that there was a Yamaha unit that would work.

Big Mike had some aftermarket units built for use on Interstates at one time.  Find Big Mike at Valkyrie Bling and More (That's a link to his site.)

There is a Yamaha one on ebay right now.  They will work.  Get ahold of Big Mike, he knows what you have to do.

MP

[B]

Big Mike... Valkyrieblingandmore.com usually has some clarions he has set up to plug into the factory harnesses.

[Don07tncav]

I put the Yamaha one on my Interstate by dremmeling out the box next to the battery compartment and having a mounting bracket fabricated for a CB antenna. The Yamaha cord is much shorter than the Honda one and their mounting box was a challenge to mount under the truck of our bikes. I took the lazy way out.... Did have to extend the power cord a bit.

[alph]

the question is, do you really need it?  or are you like me, wanting all the extra options.  i got a hold of my CB from someone on this site for $400, had to make my own mounting bracket for the antenna, mounted the head unit under the seat next to the battery, only needed to buy a two foot antenna cable extension, don't forget the J&M headset that'll cost you an extra $100, and only use the radio when riding with a group of other cycle riders.

you realize the next thing you'll get is a cruise control unit!!

[Kaiser]

They're not inexpensive.  If you can find a used unit it should cost $600 - $700.

Someone posted once that there was a Yamaha unit that would work.

Big Mike had some aftermarket units built for use on Interstates at one time.  Find Big Mike at Valkyrie Bling and More (That's a link to his site.)

Is that including the factory antennae and mount and all factory harness connections?  Reason I ask is cause I never use my CB (the main reason I ride is to get away from people/noise) and am pondering selling it.  Just looking for advice on fair market value.

But perhaps that is putting the cart before the horse as I have never attempt to use it and do not know if it works or not.  Are CB failures common - or rarely experienced?  Guess all I gotta do is hit the handlebar switch to change over to "CB" and make sure I hear something, right?  Anything else I could do verify functionality prior to selling it?

Sorry for the hijack.

[MP]

If you are ever thinking about riding with a small group, or even one other, with a CB, it is REALLY great to have it.  Since you have it installed already Kaiser, I would NOT take it out.  Wish we had been able to ride this Feb., so you could have tried it out riding with someone.  It is really great to point stuff out, BS, etc, even when just riding with one other rider.

MP

[Kaiser]

I hear ya MP.  Of all the days to pick for a ride, we had to pick THAT one!  (FYI - it hasn't rained here like that since then.)

I'd say about 99% of the time I'm riding by myself.  Plus, I have a few high dollar things I've been wanting to do to my Valk for a while now (mainly get an Ultimate seat), and selling the CB would contribute nicely to those funds.  From day one of riding for me, I've never had (or used) a CB, so I guess "ignorance is bliss" in that I don't know what I'm missing.  Since I'd use the seat 100% of the time I ride, and the CB *maybe* 1% of the time I ride - seems like a no-brainer to me.

I'm sure there will come that point in time when I regret selling the CB, but there will come many more points-in-time when I regret not having a comfy seat.

The main reason why I would not sell the CB would be if it greatly impacted the resale value of the bike.  But, I'm thinking I have more to gain by selling the CB than offering it with the bike if/when I ever sell it.

You older and wiser types (yes, that's you MP), feel free to chime in if you think I'm off-base here.

[sugerbear]

i tend to monitor channel 19 when going through cities, helps with traffic backup and accidents and how to get around them.

and..... truckers tend to help a bike more than a helping a cage. just my experience.

when my first one was totaled i kept the cb and gave it to my buddy. now we can talk when on vacation

[hondahead]

THANKS ALL!  Got one ordered through big Mike. I appreciate all the advice and feedback. FYI, sold a Yamaha Venture to buy this Valkyrie (much better bike than Venture) and used the CB a lot for group rides and traffic help, wouldn't go without one anymore!