CB Radio in the Suzuki V-Strom

The guy with the goofy smile is me now without the beard.

I ride with several guys who have Goldwings with CB radios. When I ride my Goldwing, no problem communicating. It has a CB built-in. However, I like to ride the V-Strom with them as well, so had to figure out how to install a CB to stay in touch.

First, I had to get and install a “No Ground Plane” CB antenna. Then, because the V-Stroms are notorious about adding a squeal to CB transmissions when the CB is hooked to the V-Strom 12 Volt power, I installed a Navoni Independent Power Supply and eliminated that.

Then I put in a Sena SR-10 BlueTooth transmitter to send the signal to my headset, adding a push-to-talk handlebar button (which doesn’t show in the tank bag photo) dedicated SR-10 to Midland connector to go to my Midland CB and a few other goodies and I’m in business. It’s great to be able to talk with my riding buddies while we go on our rides.

Some like to communicate via GMRS and FMRS “Family Channel” radios. Got that covered too. The Midland plug just plugs right into my small handheld and works the same as the CB but maybe not the same range since the antenna is kinda buried. Only one radio at a time, though.

By the way, if you are with a riding companion who also has a Sena Bluetooth Headset, you can pair them ad get clear communications via their intercom function. We get almost a mile range consistently doing that. Works concurrently with the other radio so you get both comms at the same time plus cell-phone connectivity.  Very versatile setup.

Dempster Highway to Inuvik, Northwest Territories.

Our 2018 motorcycle destination.  That’s the Famsa tank bag (extended up) with the CB in it plus lots of other stuff. 

Sena 10-C Helmet Video Camera, intercom

It’s a great intercom and also a great video/still camera. But sometimes the battery doesn’t last as long as your ride if you are using it a lot.  Here’s a photo of it, upside down and charging, on my helmet.

However, it isn’t charging from a wall plug or 12Volt socket, it’s charging from an add-on battery I glued to the other side of the helmet. See that photo here:

It’s really a small and very light mobile phone recharging battery power supply. Here’s a closer-up look at it plus what I used to glue it and some misc shots:

All in all, I don’t notice the negligible weight of the add-on power supply and it gives me all-day + use of the neat Sena 10-C.