CB radio suggestions for 2012 1800

mikeu48 · Post by **mikeu48** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:19 am

Hi peeps.. I'm brand new here and close to buying a 2012 1800 GW (non air bag option #3 package). Deciding what accessories I want at this time and what ones I can install. All seems good at this point but need suggestions on a GOOD CB radio and install sugestions. I've searched the net and YouTube with no results for the install. I'm hoping it's just a hook up the trunk and adding the antenna....wishful thinking...lol
Thanks in advance for the help

Viking · Post by **Viking** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:35 pm

Yeah, that is wishful thinking alright. It is a simple job to install a CB, but not an easy one. You need to get the wires up under the top shelter on each side of the bike by the air intakes. The rest isn't bad, but that is a real pain. It helps to have tiny hands that are strong too. Mine are very strong, but kinda chunky, and a buddy had to fish around in there to connect the two sides. As far as the type of CB? I bought a Hondaline, but if I had it to do over, BEFORE I bought my J&M MP3 player, I would have gone with a bikemp3 CB with integrated mp3 player. I also might have gone with the integrated AM/FM antenna that has the CB coils right in it. Two antennas is a pain when putting the bike in an enclosed trailer.

mikeu48 · Post by **mikeu48** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:33 pm

Hey Viking...thanks again for the input on this subject. I looked at the GL2way Advanced CB for the 2012 but didn't see anything with the MP3 player. Also I didn't understand the GPS cable option unless that is for a OEM GPS. I'm looking at the 2012 #3 option package with Navi. Also they show an option for a second radio??? HELP!!!!! lol
Thanks again

Viking · Post by **Viking** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:19 pm

mikeu48 wrote:Hey Viking...I looked at the GL2way Advanced CB for the 2012 but didn't see anything with the MP3 player.

Sorry, my bad. I misunderstood the way they put this thing together, thinking the bikemp3 plugged into the GL2way. Should have known better, with the wiring already in place on a GL1800 for a CD player. And I believe the GPS cable option is for a NON OEM GPS, rather than the OEM one (if you have one), which you can already listen to integrated into the stereo and the CB. The second radio option is to hook in an FRS or other type radio if you do not wish to communicate using the CB itself.

salyzyn · Post by **salyzyn** » Tue May 01, 2012 6:43 am

themainviking wrote:And I believe the GPS cable option is for a NON OEM GPS, rather than the OEM one (if you have one)

If you already have an integrated GPS, then the GPS cable can be used to connect a Phone or bluetooth adapter. There are three 'radio' inputs, they just labeled them CB, FRS and GPS, nothing says you can not use them for something else.

mikeu48 · Post by **mikeu48** » Tue May 01, 2012 9:36 am

Well ...with all things considered.... the 2012 is wired for a CB radio and that's all I want to connect as the Navi is built in and functional. Any 2012 owners want to chime in on the GL2way CB and any install concerns. Is this better that the CB honda sells? I've also read about "tuning" the CB antenna.... What's that??? My prior GW already had the CB and antenna installed so this is all new to me.....Thanks again for the help.

Red Ron · Post by **Red Ron** » Tue May 01, 2012 10:38 am

I never did tune mine with the meter but those I ride with have commented on how clear my transmissions are and I have about the same range as they do.

mikeu48 · Post by **mikeu48** » Tue May 01, 2012 11:06 am

Thanks Ron...that's good to know. I'm still about 30 days out from buying this bike and using this time to research as much as I can about the accessories that I want.......

YouTube · Post by **WingAdmin** » Tue May 01, 2012 11:08 am

mikeu48 wrote:Well ...with all things considered.... the 2012 is wired for a CB radio and that's all I want to connect as the Navi is built in and functional. Any 2012 owners want to chime in on the GL2way CB and any install concerns. Is this better that the CB honda sells? I've also read about "tuning" the CB antenna.... What's that??? My prior GW already had the CB and antenna installed so this is all new to me.....Thanks again for the help.

Have a look at How to tune your CB antenna SWR (GL1800)

Red Ron · Post by **Red Ron** » Tue May 01, 2012 12:11 pm

mikeu48 wrote:Thanks Ron...that's good to know. I'm still about 30 days out from buying this bike and using this time to research as much as I can about the accessories that I want.......

Another thing. Instructions say to take the trunk off and the top shelter all the way off. I didn't. I was able to drill the hole for the cables to pass through the trunk without taking it off or loosening it up at all. Also I only took out the bolts along the sides of the top shelter and was able to raise it up an prop it with a piece of scrap wood while I made the connections. I left the shelter top bolts in place as well as all of the radio and radio antenna connections. There is a rubber groumet that comes with the kit to fill up the hole in the trunk and the cables pass through it. I was still worried about rain getting into the cb compartment and ruining it so I sprayed a little "Great Stuff" to seal it off even more.

tfdeputydawg · Post by **tfdeputydawg** » Tue May 01, 2012 1:47 pm

THOSE THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT REMOVING THE SHELTER AND "TAKING" THE TRUNK OFF ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A 2012 WING.
Besides not having to removing the trunk on any year 1800, the 2012 connections are all inside the trunk
There are several sources for the GL2way and the BikeMP3, however, the one I suggest would be http://www.sierra-mc.com/ because in addition to handling these products, you can purchased their combination antenna with a straight through coax for the CB antenna use w/the splitter being for the AM/FM audio function and their claim is the Antenna is already tuned.
Not having experienced their single antenna yet, I can only tell you I have dealt w/Sierra for years on helmets and headsets and recommend them highly.
2012 installation:
http://www.gl2way.com/GL12.pdf

YouTube · Post by **WingAdmin** » Tue May 01, 2012 2:24 pm

No antenna can come perfectly tuned. Antennas are affected by their immediate environment and ground plane, i.e. the bike it is mounted on. Do you have a trunk rack? Extra chrome? Different lights? That will couple somewhat with the antenna and affect the SWR. Every bike can be slightly different. The best way to get the maximum output is to put the antenna on the bike on which it will be used, then do the tuning right on the bike, in an open area.

tfdeputydawg · Post by **tfdeputydawg** » Tue May 01, 2012 7:06 pm

WingAdmin wrote:No antenna can come perfectly tuned. Antennas are affected by their immediate environment and ground plane, i.e. the bike it is mounted on. Do you have a trunk rack? Extra chrome? Different lights? That will couple somewhat with the antenna and affect the SWR. Every bike can be slightly different. The best way to get the maximum output is to put the antenna on the bike on which it will be used, then do the tuning right on the bike, in an open area.

While I have historically agreed w/everything you state, this antenna may be the closest to "good to go" ever marketed! Call and talk to Wayne @ Sierra, then see what you think!

mikeu48 · Post by **mikeu48** » Thu May 03, 2012 7:38 pm

Thanks Dawg on the advise for the 2012. I THOUGHT all the connections were inside the trunk seeing the audio system is now there. I'll check out Sierra as well...

Thanks again.....

agoldtrike · Post by **agoldtrike** » Sat May 12, 2012 4:16 pm

I also have a 2012 Goldwing Trike with CB trouble, Factory installed, I get a CB error message but intermittent, Dealer does not know what to check.

tfdeputydawg · Post by **tfdeputydawg** » Sat May 12, 2012 8:14 pm

agoldtrike wrote:I also have a 2012 Goldwing Trike with CB trouble, Factory installed, I get a CB error message but intermittent, Dealer does not know what to check.

Suggest you have him check all connections.
If no joy there, have him perform a ECM reset.
It would not have been factorty installed. Unless something changed on the 2012, CBs are a dealer installed
item.

mgarrett · Post by **mgarrett** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:34 pm

I have a 2012 Goldwing and am adding the factory CB to it. Do you have to remove the audio unit or stack the CB unit over it? I do not have the CB unit as of now and am not sure. thanks

ge4ever · Post by **ge4ever** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 2:00 pm

After reading all the posts on this subject here is my experience.

Last month on my new 2012 with navi/xm I installed the cb.

I started with the factory cb & factory cb antenna purchased from my
local Honda Dealer at the best on line price I could find. They matched
the lowest price.

Install per the instructions took about an hour. On the 2012 you remove a dummy
piece of chrome where the antenna mounts, drill a hole for the antenna cable, and
install the antenna. It is very important that the ground be complete to the frame.
On my trike CSC had run a wire braid from the frame to the antenna mount. I rather
expected to see the ground on the big strap that comes from the antenna inside the
trunk. It appeared CSC anticipated the problem

I notched the cover above where the cb is installed and ran the wire direct to the cb.

The rest of the install is plug and play per the instructions.

You may not need to tune the antenna but I did. On my bike removing about an inch
from the antenna rod gave a perfect match from ch 19 to 32 with very little vswr on the
higher and lower channels.

The cb install on a gen II bike is totally different and much easier than an install on
a Gen I bike. About six hours labor easier.

Wayne · Post by **Wayne** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 4:13 pm

It takes a whole 90 minutes to install a gen 1 CB and antenna. You mention a chrome cover, you must have armrests as there is no cover or holes when the bike is made. Also might add that the antenna mounting hole locations are no longer marked on the inside of the trunk on the 2015 1800.
As far as pre tuning the antenna goes the only item that makes much difference on an 1800 SWR is armrests. For the Hondaline antennas I will line up 100 bikes and the ones with armrests require 3/4 inch removal and without 1/2 inch and the SWR will be below 1.5 to 1 across the band. Anything requiring 1 inch or more to be trimmed has a problem.
By the way, the CSC has a problem with the ground for the trike kit and a braided cable has to be added to the antenna mount to get a good ground. I recommend a ground wire be added to any antenna install and especially if passenger armrests are attached at the antenna mount.

ge4ever · Post by **ge4ever** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 7:10 pm

Wayne

As Wane pointed out and I neglected to mention, My trike came with the chrome passenger armrests.

The chrome block I mentioned is part of the armrest and when removed is where the cb antenna
mounts. Wayne is also correct on how much I removed from the antenna rod. i cut it about 1/8" at a time
until an about perfect match was achieved. Probably more like 3/4" shorter.

It was my local dealer who claimed it took six hours to install a cb on the earlier gen one bikes. I could
not easily convince him that it looked like a one hour project on a 2012. He did agree to do it for two hours of shop time

I confess not to be too informed on the GL-1800. My 2014 is my first goldwing since 1983. My reason for posting was
it looked like too much was written making a simple installation look complicated.

I am happy to say I am very pleased with my 2014 CSC trike conversion and only regret that I did not return to the
GoldWing years ago when I strayed to another brand.

Bill G. VA

CB radio suggestions for 2012 1800

CB radio suggestions for 2012 1800

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