New owner - best FRS option?

[mrjasonl]

I just bought a 2000 K1200LT and I am in the process of setting it up. It has the stock com system with inputs for an MP3 player and a second for a CB/FRS. I am having a hard time getting clarification from my dealer or my manual.... Can I plug in any FRS with VOX capability or is there a specific one that must be installed? What is the best choice and what is the best way to mount it? Thanks in advance for any help!

[AlaskaFish]

You will require a cord to go from the FRS to the Comm System which your Dealer will need to sell you. As far as I know they were specific to either the Kenwood "Free Talk" series or the Motorola "Talk about". I do know the Kenwood cable will fit several Kenwood FRS/GMRS sets. It has two male jacks, one larger than the other, that plug into the FRS and a multi-pin right angle plug that goes to the Comm Sys. I believe the Motorola cable only has one male jack that plugs into that FRS. Shop around if you wish, but I bought my Kenwood at the Dealer just to make sure it would be compatible.

HTH,

John

[MikeERideWNC]

My wife and I have the Chatterbox GMRS-X1.
We have multiple bikes so we can talk whether on the BMW or other bikes.
Also, it allows you to talk to other riders.
You can plug MP3 and cell phones into them.
You can also connect a passenger easily with a PS/2 cable, if you only want to buy one.

[mbwillis]

We use the Cobra FRS radios that we got from Wal-Mart. They work great and were less than $100 for the pair.

[jwd98056]

I use a Garmin Rino. It is waterproof and it is also my backup GPS.

[Brian-NC]

I was wondering about that Rino option, thanks for mentioning that. How does the GMRS work? I have been looking at several models on the market such as, Midland, Cobra etc. but I've never used any of them. I'm sure the range is nowhere close to what is advertised. I figure if I could get a mile or so out of one that would be ok. I want to install a bike to bike system and yak it up a bit with my fellow riders but, being at least water resistant is important. I think being able to communicate with another rider is a good idea.

Anybody else out there who uses a GMRS/FRS that has good reception? Another thing that comes to mind is, how do you carry the radio. What kind of mounting do you use?

I would think that Ram Mount would have a solution but I don't know.

Brian
Charlotte, NC

[munson]

I was wondering about that Rino option, thanks for mentioning that. How does the GMRS work? I have been looking at several models on the market such as, Midland, Cobra etc. but I've never used any of them. I'm sure the range is nowhere close to what is advertised. I figure if I could get a mile or so out of one that would be ok. I want to install a bike to bike system and yak it up a bit with my fellow riders but, being at least water resistant is important. I think being able to communicate with another rider is a good idea.

Anybody else out there who uses a GMRS/FRS that has good reception? Another thing that comes to mind is, how do you carry the radio. What kind of mounting do you use?

I would think that Ram Mount would have a solution but I don't know.

Brian
Charlotte, NC
Hi Brian,
My wife and I have used cheap Midland GMRS radios for about a year, and the range is very short. The transmission starts to break up at 1/10th of a mile. That was OK as long as we were riding together, but if we got separated, no joy. I bought an Icom IC-F21GMfrom motogear4you.com (run by Raffy, a long time member of this forum,) and the range is way better. Raffy said he and a friend tested them on a flat, straight stretch of road and got 9 miles. I just ordered one for my wife, too.

[eljeffe]

+1 on the ICOM option. Make sure you get the optional AA battery pack (it takes 6 AA batteries). If you can't charge your rechargeable batteries, you want that as a backup.

[lnowell]

The Garmin Rhino will work well with the LT in both the FRS and GMRS modes - until you try to power it from the bike - forget doing that - BTDT. Noisy transmission even with a filter. Mine was set up with the Pro M1 and I tried to use a Autocom Rhino power cable - total waste as the LT is a very noisy machine - electrically speaking.

If you have an Autocom system, the Free Talk works very well and can be powered by the bike - which make life a lot easier. I, and most of my riding friends, use the Free Talk in several modes and, other than a couple of wiring problems, have worked very well. We even have custom rain covers for them compliments of Lectric Larry AKA Farkle Furgason.

[Texas42]

+1 for the ICOM and the Kenwood TK3101, good range but they are not cheap. I have tried Motorola and others and they cut out in less than a 1/2 a mile or so. Get a Push-to-talk switch. The cables that I use have a ground-loop isolator built in, no noise at all, it is very clear.

[Brian-NC]

Thanks John,
I sorta figured the small, cheap gmrs radios would be good for about that distance no matter who makes it or what claims they make. I got some other good replys as well, most really good comments on the Kenwood and Icom radios. I guess I'll spend a little extra and get a better radio.

I'm still interested to know how you and others mount the radio on the bike. I assume thats a better option than clipping it to your belt and wrestling with more wires.

Brian

[Brian-NC]

Good to know about the noise issue. I also have an older Autocom Pro M1. I'm seriously thinking of upgrading to a newer system but the budget won't stand it right now. I've also thought about the Starcom 1 system. It seems to be well made and about half as expensive as the Autocom, same features and also made in England. Sorta makes you wonder...

Brian

[munson]

Thanks John,
I sorta figured the small, cheap gmrs radios would be good for about that distance no matter who makes it or what claims they make. I got some other good replys as well, most really good comments on the Kenwood and Icom radios. I guess I'll spend a little extra and get a better radio.

I'm still interested to know how you and others mount the radio on the bike. I assume thats a better option than clipping it to your belt and wrestling with more wires.

Brian
We use the Pro M1's as well. The Autocom PTT switch works great with this radio.

I use a ram mount, with the Trick Stick clutch reservoir cover, also sold by Raffy. It allows the antenna to be up and in the clear, and it's easy to adjust the radio. The down side is that I have to stow it at stops. If it's just for lunch time I throw my jacket over it and the GPS, mounted on the brake reservoir cover with a ram mount as well.

[Ranger6]

I agree with Bo. Icom...get it from Raffy...or the Kenwood TK3101 are the way to go. A little quirky to program but miles ahead of the playground style cheapies you get from most sources...these things are MILSPEC. The transmit/speaker connections are reversed on the Icom for use on the LT Comm System, but adapters can be had.

[Brian-NC]

I did a google search last night on the Kenwood TK3101 and apparently this radio has been discontinued and replaced by the TK3202 model. Most of the sellers of the 3101 are out of stock. The 3202 can be had for less than 250.00. I also looked at the Icom and the features are very similar but the info on motogear4u doesn't indicate that it is water resistant. The Icom is a little cheaper, 160.00.

Now all I need to do is figure out the best radio and convince my riding buddy to get one too. Thanks for all the feedback !

Brian

[munson]

I did a google search last night on the Kenwood TK3101 and apparently this radio has been discontinued and replaced by the TK3202 model. Most of the sellers of the 3101 are out of stock. The 3202 can be had for less than 250.00. I also looked at the Icom and the features are very similar but the info on motogear4u doesn't indicate that it is water resistant. The Icom is a little cheaper, 160.00.

Now all I need to do is figure out the best radio and convince my riding buddy to get one too. Thanks for all the feedback !

Brian

Here is a link to the mil specs if that helps. (http://www.icomamerica.com/products/landmobile/f21gm/specs.asp) Also, if you use the oem battery at full power it lasts about 4.5 hours. I bought two of the 13 hour batteries.

[VitesseLT]

I use UBZLF14 - first "freetalk" in US. Compatibility with 2006LT factory VOICE is good.

None of the FRS units work great in the oddments box. Range is short. Went to a bar mount and even a low power unit like this has respectable performance then.

I think current equivalent is UBZLH14; the other Kenwoods discussed here have more channels, PL options, features and power output.

[munson]

I also looked at the Icom and the features are very similar but the info on motogear4u doesn't indicate that it is water resistant. The Icom is a little cheaper, 160.00.

Raffy put the Icom F21GM on sale on Motogear4you.com. Great timing!