Best Short Antenna for Harley Davidson 2022 – Reviews and Buying Guide

The name that often comes to mind when you hear the word motorcycle is Harley Davidson. Harley Davidson has become an icon of the motorcycle world from its overwhelming popularity. Riders love the look and feel of riding a Harley but often need to improve the radio and communication reception when riding their Harley.

After all, if you buy a Harley Davidson motorcycle, you want the experience to be the best it can possibly be. This can be achieved with something as simple as upgrading the stock antenna on your Harley.

Model	CravenSpeed Stubby Antenna	Rydonair Antenna	Tekk Short Antenna
Category	Best Overall	Best Value Option	Best Runner-Up
Size	4 in.	7 in.	4.8 in.
Color	Black	Black	Black
Reception Strength	Strong	Strong	Strong
Weight	2.4 oz	1.28 oz	3.2 oz
	View on Amazon	View on Amazon	View on Amazon

 

How We Tested and Compared These Products

We understand that communication is essential for bikers, especially when riding in packs, so we only included top-rated antennas with strong signal strength on our list. Any antenna that didn’t have a strong signal strength was immediately removed from the list.

We also looked at the size of the antenna. It was important for us to make sure the height of the short antenna was, in fact, short. Aside from the 24.2” hidden antenna on our list, the longest motorcycle antenna on our list is the Rydonair antenna that measures 7” tall. We made sure to avoid a tall antenna or one that looked out-of-place on the back of a Harley.

The last thing we looked at with the products was installation; specifically, how easy or difficult the short antenna was to install. We made sure that all of our options could be installed easily with a perfect fit on Harley Davidson motorcycles, new and old.

Our Pick: CravenSpeed Stubby Antenna – Best Overall

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Features:

• Height: 4 inches
• Color: Black
• Reception Strength: Strong
• Weight: 4 oz

CravenSpeed makes great aftermarket accessories, so it was easy for us to choose the CravenSpeed stubby antenna as our best overall pick. CravenSpeed is an American-owned company known for its quality auto accessories, and its motorcycle antennas are no exception.

The CravenSpeed stubby antenna is a short antenna that is durable, has a strong signal, and is extremely easy to install. The antenna is designed to match the factory base that comes with your factory antenna so that you can easily and snugly attach the motorcycle antenna to Harley. We like how natural the CravenSpeed stubby antenna looks on all Harleys. It looks like it should be the factory antenna that came with the motorcycle instead of an aftermarket one.

We also like how durable the short antenna is with such a strong signal strength. It is machined out of billet aluminum and has a durable black texture powder coat that can withstand the elements. You don’t have to worry about chipping, scratching, fading, or even breaking with this design. It has stainless hardware that won’t rust or corrode.

Best Alternatives

Rydonair Antenna – Best Value Option

 

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Features:

• Height: 7 inches
• Color: Black
• Reception Strength: Strong
• Weight: 28 oz

The Rydonair antenna is our pick for the best value option because it’s slightly more affordable than the other options on our list while offering just as many strong features. It doesn’t lack any strength or durability. The antenna has a premium rubber outer construction that makes it weather resistant. It has a carbon fiber column on the bottom and an aluminum housing base. This makes for a stylish and durable design.

The antenna is compatible with AM/FM, Bluetooth, and Sirius XM radio. It gets great reception and easily connects to your cell phone through a Bluetooth connection.

Rydonair guarantees that you can have the Rydonair antenna installed onto your Harley Davidson in less than a minute.

You should know that the height of the antenna is 7” tall, so it’s a couple of inches taller than the rest; however, it shouldn’t be an issue.

Tekk Short Antenna – Best Runner-Up Option

 

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Features:

• Height: 8 inches
• Color: Black
• Reception Strength: Strong
• Weight: 2 oz

Our runner-up pick is the Tekk short antenna because it’s affordable, offers great reception, and will withstand the elements. If you’re torn between the CravenSpeed stubby antenna and the Tekk short antenna, you can’t go wrong with either choice. That’s why we chose the Tekk short antenna as our runner-up pick. It’s just as good of an option as the CravenSpeed.

The radio reception offered from the Tekk short antenna is unbeatable. It has built-in high conductivity double-copper coils and a signal-enhanced circuit board to create a lifetime of high-quality reception. The exterior is made of high-quality ABS and is high-temperature and high-impact resistant. The exterior will not corrode, chip, or break from the weather or riding conditions.

The installation is quick and simple. You don’t need any special tools to install the Tekk short antenna. Simply screw the stud into the vehicle antenna port and then screw the antenna rod into the stud. Installation is estimated at less than one minute.

How to Choose the Best Short Antenna for Harley Davidson

 

You’ll need to know how to choose the best short antenna for your Harley Davidson. There are different features you’ll need to consider, and some of them may be more important to you than others. Here is what you should keep in mind when choosing the best short antenna for your Harley.

Length

Because we focused on short antennas in this article, we didn’t include any antennas that were more than 7” long, aside from the hidden antenna that measures 24.2” long. A hidden antenna is an antenna that is hidden in the front fairing of the motorcycle and doesn’t have an exposed antenna receiver mounted on the bike. You don’t have to worry about the antenna length with a hidden antenna.

With a short antenna, you’ll want to make sure you know the exact length of the antenna to make sure it’s not too long for your bike. Most short antennas measure around an average of 4 inches long.

If you plan to use a CB radio for your bike, you’ll likely need a CB antenna to go with it. A short antenna is best recommended for AM/FM radio, Sirius XM radio, and Bluetooth devices.

Reception

Reception is important. Without good signal reception, the antenna will be useless. Reception allows the antenna to receive and transmit radio signals, which is how you can listen to AM and FM radio stations. Without good reception or any reception at all, you may only get a few radio stations or no radio stations at all.

Where you live or ride will also play a part in how good the radio reception will be.

You will get less radio reception in rural areas than in urban areas. This isn’t a fault of the antenna, necessarily. An antenna with excellent signal strength will get the best reception, including the most channels with the least amount of static than a short antenna with weak signal strength.

Durability and Quality

The last thing you want to do is purchase a Harley antenna and have to replace it because it couldn’t last in the elements. You should look at what the antenna is made of to ensure that it will be durable against all the elements when riding your bike.

One of the best things to look for in the durability and quality of the short antenna is its outer coating. The outer coating is what will protect the entire antenna. The outer coating should be made of protective material like a powder coat or aircraft coating and should be corrosion-resistant.

The internal housing of the antenna is where the signal will be received. The housing should be made of a material that will protect the components within the antenna. We recommend only choosing a short antenna with an aluminum housing, as the aluminum housing will provide strength and corrosion resistance.

FAQ

Should I add a CB radio to my Harley Davidson?

Since we’re talking about radios, you may be curious to know if you should add a CB radio to your bike. A CB radio is used to communicate with other riders who have a CB radio.

To add a CB radio to your Harley Davidson, you’ll need to purchase a CB antenna and a CB radio relocation kit. This will include everything you’ll need to install the CB radio to your Harley.

You can add both a CB antenna and a short antenna to your Harley Davidson. This will allow you to listen to AM/FM radio and communicate with other riders while on the road.

Why should I choose a short antenna instead of a long antenna?

A short antenna is more compact and will stay out of the way when you need to park your bike in low-clearance areas like parking garages. From a cosmetic standpoint, some people simply don’t like how long antennas look. Short antennas are sleeker and less visible than long antennas.

A long antenna may get better radio reception, but as long as you choose a short antenna that has strong reception, you shouldn’t notice any difference.

How do I replace my stock antenna with a short antenna?

It has never been easier to replace the stock antenna on your Harley.

First, you’ll need to unscrew the Harley Davidson antenna (rotating counterclockwise) from the base. Then, you’ll take the new short antenna and rotate clockwise, attaching it to the base.

You may have a stock antenna attached with a lug nut and screw. If so, you will need to remove them and then remove the stock antenna and replace it with the new short antenna. You will need to tighten the new short antenna with the lug nut and screw to fasten it to your bike.

Conclusion

We hope this has helped you decide which short antenna for your Harley Davidson is the best one you should pick. Our top pick is the CravenSpeed Original Stubby Antenna because it is durable, affordable, and fits most Harley Davidson models. The short antennas we reviewed in this guide should have most, if not all, of everything you’re looking for in a short antenna.