Firestik is pretty much the best antenna out there. If you have a Road Glide with a tour pak, you can probably mount a bracket underneath the tour pak. When I had my Road Glide Special, I had a bracket fabricated to come out the right side of the fender trim to match the radio antenna.
Director of Risk Management
Road Guard - Southern Route
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CVMA Chapter 6-5
Very good question. While there are, of course, many variables and while the exact process may differ from route to route, rider safety is going to trump schedule in the event of severe weather. There are unexpected weather events with RFTW, just like there are with individual riding, but the RCs and RGCs all keep a close eye on the weather in an attempt to plan ahead as much as possible. I recall at least one instance in which a RC made the decision to delay departure in order to avoid potential severe weather. It put us behind schedule all day, but we just contacted our supporters and let them know the revised schedule.
I guess this is a long way of saying weather IS something that is watched closely at all levels, and each decision regarding schedule changes is made on a case by case basis, with rider safety always at the forefront.
Director of Risk Management
Road Guard - Southern Route
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CVMA Chapter 6-5
If you’re talking Central Route, I believe that may be the case, but I would direct that to someone in CR leadership. It is my understanding from reading the RCs message that what you are saying may be the case due to the amount of gracious donors this year. The fuel situation does differ from route to route based on donors, etc.
Director of Risk Management
Road Guard - Southern Route
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CVMA Chapter 6-5
A few people have already given some great suggestions, so I won’t add a ton. I’ll just say that every year it seems like I pack less and less as I figure out what I need and don’t need. For clothes, I take a couple pairs of jeans and enough T-shirts to last a week so I only have to do laundry once during the Run. I see there was already mention of cash for the fuel stops – that is a big one. I think it was already mentioned, but doesn’t hurt to pack layers in case (when) weather changes. I have a riding jacket that has different layers that can be added/removed, but people do it different ways.
Most of all, welcome to Run for the Wall!
Director of Risk Management
Road Guard - Southern Route
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CVMA Chapter 6-5
Kinda depends on what brand of bike you have and what brand of CB you have. On my 2018 Road Glide, I had the Harley CB with the Harley wireless headset interface and the Harley branded sena headset. It worked fine, but I didn’t like how I had to charge the headset at lunch when on long rides/on the Run. I ended up going back to a regular plug in headset.
Sena also makes the freewire that I believe will interface with many of the CB units and it works with the sena headsets. I haven’t used that but know several people on the Run that have and seemed to like them.
Director of Risk Management
Road Guard - Southern Route
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CVMA Chapter 6-5
Lots of people on the Run have used those. If you want to do so, I know J&M at one time made a harness that would allow the audio from the HD radio to come through the CB headset. I’ve had to call them a couple times and always got a live human being that actually knew what they were talking about
Director of Risk Management
Road Guard - Southern Route
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CVMA Chapter 6-5
I love the headset. CB is clear, I have had cell phone conversations over it, and the music quality through it is very good. I don’t even use my fairing speakers. I have always been pleased with the J&M customer service as well.
Director of Risk Management
Road Guard - Southern Route
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CVMA Chapter 6-5
I’d suggest emailing/calling the Lead Chaplain for whatever route you’re interested in, but one requirement that is pretty much universal is a functional CB. I believe they ask that the chase drivers have a trailer capable of a certain number of bikes, but the Lead Chaplain would be able to give more specifics.
Director of Risk Management
Road Guard - Southern Route
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CVMA Chapter 6-5
Well, for some reason my reply didn’t show up so I’ll try again.
J&M stopped making CBs but there are a few used ones out there. I have run HD CB radios on my last 3 bikes. (2013, 2018, and now 2020). I am very pleased. I did, however, replace the OEM coax (my bike was prewired) with a single piece coax from field components in order to eliminate the quick disconnect in front of the tour pack. I also installed the J&M grounding kit, but that wouldn’t work with your bike unless you have added a tour pak. I am personally a fan of the actual Harley CB due to the way it integrates with the bike. I know of at least one person, however, that uses a Midland 75-822 with an adapter that works well.
For a headset, I use a J&M elite series plug in headset. On my 2018, I had a bluetooth headset with the Harley WHIM, but it liked to go dead on long riding days so I had to recharge at lunch. I gave up the convenience of bluetooth for being able to ride all day without being concerned about battery life
Director of Risk Management
Road Guard - Southern Route
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CVMA Chapter 6-5
On the front of my bike, I have a combination of CIRIUS USA engine guard lights and Custom Dynamics Windshield Trim (with LEDs) hooked to a strobe module. On the sides and back, I have Soundoff Signal MPower lights.
Director of Risk Management
Road Guard - Southern Route
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CVMA Chapter 6-5
I haven’t had any experience with these guys, but just a little FYI . . .
Don’t plan on a Harley dealer being able to troubleshoot much on a CB. My local Service Manager is a CB nut so he is great with them, but he told us a while back that the schools don’t even teach CB anymore because they’re not used very much (outside of RFTW of course).
Director of Risk Management
Road Guard - Southern Route
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CVMA Chapter 6-5
If you want something that works well, get the Harley CB. The Harley OEM CB will outperform anything aftermarket. HD says it won’t fit but it works just fine. I have a 2018 RGS and have the Harley CB. The only issue I had was I run a shorty antenna and my luggage bag partially blocked the antenna. I will probably end up using a firestik but the radio itself works great and integrates with the handlebar controls.
Director of Risk Management
Road Guard - Southern Route
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CVMA Chapter 6-5
NOTICE: Previous year’s route itineraries are provided as archival reference/examples only. Specific details including exact route, stops, hotels, etc are dynamic and change from year to year. Current year route itineraries are typically released in March. Only the current year Route Itinerary should be used to plan your trip.
NOTICE: Previous year’s route itineraries are provided as archival reference/examples only. Specific details including exact route, stops, hotels, etc are dynamic and change from year to year. Current year route itineraries are typically released in March. Only the current year Route Itinerary should be used to plan your trip.
NOTICE: Previous year’s route itineraries are provided as archival reference/examples only. Specific details including exact route, stops, hotels, etc are dynamic and change from year to year. Current year route itineraries are typically released in March. Only the current year Route Itinerary should be used to plan your trip.
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