Thanks Jerry. I just mounted my tourpack antenna for now. I will look into getting one of those short flex antenna later. I walked into my antenna just the other day at the gas station. I know I must have looked pretty silly when I did it. I still had my helmet on so it kind of startled me with the noise. ;DI have been riding a softail for the last few years so some of the touring equipment is new to me.
When I first removed the TP on my '99 FLHTC, I used the antenna bracket for the Road Glide that mounts down on the fender strut instead of the more expensive Antenna Relocation kit. I simply rerouted the antenna cable to the lower mount and moved the whip.
Several times, when riding on the interstate to work, I would hear a loud "crack" like a rock smacking into the windshield of a car. I had no idea where it came from. I wasn't behind anyone and didn't have a clue. "Crack" I heard it again. I was starting to get worried and kind of hid down behind the windshield so I wouldn't get hit with anything.
Long story short, it was the ball on the end of the antenna swinging to and for, and coming forward and whacking into my helmet. I finally figured it out one day when the sun was right and I could see the shadow of the antenna flopping all over the place.
I quickly replaced the long whip with a 16" cheapy I got at Pep Boys that has the antenna material formed into a coil at the base for some springy action. The reception around town is fine, but would probably be lacking out in nowheresville. The antenna almost disappears being black and mounting between the saddle bag and fender. It's pretty stealthy.
I want to do something similar with the new bike, but want to run the antenna up through the fill-in strips similar to the Street Glide. This will take a custom bracket since the Street Glide fill in strips are not the same as ours.
I'll make sure to post pics when I get this one figured out because I think it will look pretty trick.
Chief