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If you are an ardent rider, you might already be knowing how crucial are CB radios during your solo rides. Though CB radios may seem quaint and mistakenly obsolete, it is still widely used by many.
Experienced riders still love using a motorcycle CB radio over smartphones and other modes of communication. You might think, I’m lying here. But I’m not. You will find the reasons later in the article.
Here are some important factors you should take into account before buying a CB communication system for your motorcycle:
- Small CB Radio
- Rugged design
- Easy to read display
- Portable/Mobile CB
- Short CB antenna
Yeah, it’s a bit hard to find a CB matching all these features. But you don’t have to worry. We have done the job for you.
I am sure that you can’t resist the price tags!
Table of Contents
Best Motorcycle CB Radios, Antennas and Headsets
CB Device | Highlights | Price |
Midland 75-822: Best CB radio for motorcycles |
| ➥Check Latest Price on Amazon |
Cobra HH 38 WX ST: The Rugged One |
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Uniden Bearcat PRO520XL: Mobile CB Radio for Motorcycle |
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FireStik FG2648-B: Best Motorcycle CB Antenna |
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Rugged Radios H41-CF: Best Motorcycle Headset |
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Top 3 Best Motorcycle CB Radio Reviews
#1. Midland 75-822: Top Portable CB Radio for Motorcycle
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Our top pick is coming from one of the highly reputed CB brand, Midland. Midland 75-822 is a portable CB radio that is the perfect fit for small-sized vehicles like motorbikes.
This great little CB gives you almost all the functions, which you find in normal CB radios. These are:
- 10 NOAA channel
- Instant access to the emergency channel (channel 9) and channel 19(Weather Channel)
- One year warranty
- Dual Watch monitoring
- Dimension: 9.4 x 2.6 x 6.7 inch
These factors coupled with outstanding performance makes it the favorite of many. In fact, 75-822 is one of the most sold motorcycle CB radios in the market till date.
For powering up, you have two options.
- Six AA batteries
- A cigarette lighter adapter that is included for mobile use
You will love the crystal clear transmission and reception the device offers. It has an amazing feature like ANL (automatic noise limiter). It also has squelch control feature which improves reception and eliminates noise.
The transmission quality is excellent and weather channel works pretty well even if you want to go on a wild jeep trail or bike trail on a bumpy road.
One of the biggest advantages is versatility. This CB radio can be fitted to small spaces in your car or truck or bikes. It’s portable to a greater degree and can be morphed from handheld radios to the mobile radio.
If you are planning to purchase this one, we highly recommend to get Midland-18-2442 to have a high-quality experience. You can click here to check it’s latest price on Amazon.
#2. Cobra HH 38 WX ST: Rugged CB Radio for the Money
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There can’t be any roundup post related to CB radios without mentioning the Cobra band. They are the most reputed brand in the industry.
Cobra HH 38 WXST is an amazing CB radio that is known for its rugged nature. Jampacked with a nice array of stunning features, this CB radio is the ideal for off-road trips on your motorcycles. It works great for short-distance communication.
Cobra HH 38 WX ST offers dual watch & full-channel scan. It also has 40 CB channels and 10 weather channels you can tune in to for alerting your folks to keep their bikes parked inside.
The Sound Tracker system is the highlight of this product. It cuts up nearly 90 percent of the noise to give you clear voice messages without any interference. Yeah, you will not have any worries about the city chirping behind you when you’re riding the bike.
Just like Midland 75-822, this motorcycle CB also has two options for powering up. There is a High/low power switch which helps in reducing power consumption.
All in all, we recommend Cobra 38WXST for people who are looking for a rugged CB for their motorcycles.
#3. Uniden PRO520XL: Best Mobile CB Radio for Motorcycles
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If you are someone who doesn’t like handheld CB radios, this is for you. Uniden PRO520XL is a compact mobile CB radio. You can easily mount it on your motorcycle without much hassle.
The compact, rugged designing is what forced us to put the Bearcat CB on this list.
Well, the device comes packed with almost all the accessories you require. These are the items you will find in the box:
- CB Radio
- Microphone
- Mounting Hardware
- Mounting Bracket
- User’s Manual,
Uniden PRO520XL is a well built CB. It comes with a fabulous two years warranty. The CB will easily last 10 years and you will still enjoy amazing performance with it.
#4. FireStik FG2648-B: Top-rated CB Antenna
One of the most important things to look for in a Motorcycle CB antenna is the requirement of No Ground Plane(NGP). FireStik FG2648-B precisely offers it along with enhanced performance.
This is a 2 feet CB antenna that perfectly fits your requirement of short length. The greatest aspect of this short CB antenna is that it doesn’t require any tool for mounting. Amazing, right?
Well, Firestik has employed its patent ‘no tool technology’ tunable tip here. With this, you can easily adjust the SWR. The CB antenna has supreme quality coaxial cable to ensure no signal loss.
All in all, FireStik FG2648-B is an easy to tune CB antenna for your motorcycle that will exceed your expectations with long-range and quality performance.
#5. Rugged Radios H41-CF: Best Motorcycle Headset
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H41-CF from Rugged Radios is an amazing buy when it comes to headsets for motorcycles. Although Bluetooth headsets work well for motorcyclists, most of the CB radios are not compatible with this feature.
Even the Bluetooth CB radios available in the market are a bit heavy and are not good for motorcycles. If you can properly mount a heavy CB radio to your motorcycle, you can definitely check out Bluetooth CB radios.
H41-CF is behind the head style headset which is designed to give clear audio even in a noisy environment. It has a 5-pin port where you can connect your handheld CB radio using radio specific jumper cables.
Why buy CB radio for Your Bike?
I have seen many motorcyclists with a lot of confusion on whether they should buy a CB or not. Let me give you a few reasons why a motorcycle CB communication system is a good investment.
Simplicity:
CB radios are exceptional in the case of simplicity. They are convenient and do not require a license for legality like most of the two-way radios. Feel free to waver your locks of hair in the air, conversing over new CB radio, riding the new Kawasaki in town.
Trust me, no one will stop you for license check in the middle of your biking spree!
Reasonable Price and Expenses:
In case you wondered why to use CB radio when you can make a call with a mobile phone; Cellular phone charges you every time you make a call. If you want to team up with your peers in a wild riding game, staying connected, you wouldn’t want your postpaid account to lose a fortune.
CB radios need one-time payment and installation, allowing you to make as many calls as you desire for free.
Security and Safety:
With cellular phones, we face signal issues in some areas, making it difficult for us to make an emergency call. There are chances you were on long ‘motor’ drive and lost connection service while meeting the unfortunate emergency.
CB radios provide a separate channel for emergency situations, monitored by a number of volunteers and services. Your location can be spotted for rescuers’ arrival in time.
Less Vulnerable to Accidents:
Shoving smartphones inside the pocket of your ripped jeans may not be the right choice during long rides. Chances are that you may use it later while riding to text your friends behind you. Helmet CB radio needs pressing just one button for making a call.
Smartphones demand to look down on a glowing screen, sliding down the menu for calling your peers. This, however, is dangerous, or perhaps, fatal in case of an unnoticed blaring truck before the bike.
Have Fun, It’s a Great Kit for Adventure
Suppose you’re planning an adventure upon the hills or silent roads in sweet December with your motorbike squads. You’ll just need to decide on the set of frequencies you’ll be using or engaging with. With this, you’ll be able to alert your pals regarding weather conditions or can detect or notify others in case your mate goes missing.
There are plenty of other reasons as well that motivate you to go on CB radio shopping for your motorbikes. These radios have the tendency to integrate entertainment, safety, and cheap cost communication.
How to buy a CB Radio for Motorcycle
We have given a comprehensive review of the best motorcycle CB communication systems including radio, antenna and headset earlier. If you still can’t find one for your rides, here is a buying guide to help you out.
A. Look for Compact CB Radios
If you’re looking for CB radios for your Motorcycle, the top most important thing is its size. Choose radios that are portable or can easily be mounted on smaller areas or vehicles.
B. Instant Channels: Emergency and Weather Channels
CB radios must-have emergency channels like channel 9 and channel 19. When you go out buying the radio, make sure you look for this feature as you can encounter any emergency while riding the bike.
C. ANL and RF Gain: For a Better Experience
When you’re booming in the city with that sheeny heavy bike, you wouldn’t enjoy the city’s hustle ruining CB radio’s reception. For this, check for the ANL feature. ANL (Automatic Noise Limiting) removes noises producing from the static, vehicle engines, and other factors to remove the sound quality of reception.
By reducing the gain of the receiver’s side, RF gain can filter certain transmissions the radio receives based on signal strengths. It is adjustable and can be used for blocking low transmissions to restrict noises in the background while communicating with someone who has a strong signal.
D. Illuminated Displays
This is an important feature if you mind squinting in the night, parking your 750cc bike behind the tree. Check for radios that have Nightwatch or Backlit display.
E. Bluetooth And Headset:
Some CB radios merge Bluetooth technology with the radio. With this, you can make or receive a phone through radio calls if Bluetooth is available. After finding CB radio with Bluetooth technology, look for wireless headsets that are compatible with them. This can limit the distractions and help you focus on the road, enjoying cold night drive and clear talk.
F. Waterproof Technology:
Riding a bike in a sudden rain slicking away your $340 jacket? Hated that your radio received water splashes. Wished everything was waterproof?
G. Weather Channels:
Keep your friends and yourself updated with the weather condition by tuning in to weather channels before planning a biking trip. Many CB radios or two-way radios provide up to 10 weather channels. This is a good way to stay aware of what is to come and what roads may be slippery.
FAQ
Can I use a regular CB radio in a motorcycle?
It is not recommended to use larger CB radios for motorcycles. You will find it hard to mount it on your vehicle. Moreover, if you are not planning to mount, the heavyweight and size will trouble you during rides.
How do you carry your CB radio on your motorcycle?
There are two options:
- You can mount it on your motorcycle
- You can keep it in your jackets(if it’s a handheld CB)
Summing Up
Though this may be an era of smartphones as a source of communication, CB radios have their own charms and benefits that stand them out. It is safer, cheaper and easy to use.
It’s surprisingly a great way to keep in touch with your homies on a bike. There are chances you’d want to smash the speed in rain, competing with your hoard while being in touch. This is why most of the motorcyclists like me look for the best motorcycle CB radios in the market for an awesome experience.
Many touring organizers and clubs use CB radios for communication which is comparatively less unpleasant and more feasible than exchanging phone numbers for keeping in touch. Even we’re living in the 21st century, many would prefer CB radio over mobile phones for motorcycles too. Positively, this cool automotive product offers wider range for lesser prices.
For selecting the best CB radio system for your motorcycle, you need to consider top factors like size, portability, emergency channels, etc. into account.
We think we have given you the ultimate guide on buying a motorcycle CB radio system. If you still have any doubts, ask it in the comments. If not, go ahead and set up CB for your bike, and enjoy the rides.
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