WELCOME ADVENTURE RIDERS

The Marshall Mod

NOTE:  The Firestik AM/FM 3' whip antenna has been discontinued. I have replaced it with the
Firestik "FireFly" antenna which was the original configuration. The Euro Mounts have also
been discontinued. Use the 203EZ as a replacement.

NOTE: Some of the 203EZ fold down mounts have a little slop. Not enough to hurt the design, SWR, or anthing
else, but wanted to let you know it is there ...

For 1st Generation owners, if you need a new splitter for you single antenna system, I can
highly recommend the Firestik Match Maker CB/AM/FM, CB  Antenna Splitter, model
AR-1A can be had for about $18.00, from Firestik or many CB antenna distributors.

             1St Generation 1983-1990

Venture  1G Single AM/FM Radio ONLY

1        FL3B  Firestik "Firefly"   Antenna
1        Stud Mount - #JBC930 - Oversize
1        203EZ - Fold Over Adapter Item: 203EZ
1        128XMOTO29  RG-8X 12' Pre-made Coax Cable (AM/FM)
________________________________________

Venture 1G Single  Antenna Kit 
(For 1983-1993 Single Antenna Configuration)

1         FL3B  Firestik "Firefly"   Antenna
1         Firestik PL259/UG175 
1         Stud Mount - #JBC930 - Oversize
1         203EZ - Fold Over Adapter Item: 203EZ
________________________________________

Venture 1G Dual Antenna Kit 
(For 1983-1993 Dual Antenna Configuration) 
(DOES NOT INCLUDE DUAL MOUNTING BAR)

2          FL3B  Firestik "Firefly"   Antenna         
2          Stud Mount - #JBC930- Oversize
2          203EZ - Fold Over Adapter Item: 203EZ
1          128XMOTO29  RG-8X 12' Pre-made Coax Cable (AM/FM)
1          128X29   RG-8X 12' Pre-made Coax Cable (CB)
__________________________________________

Venture 1G "Marshall Mod" Dual Kit 
 (For some 1986-1987 1g Venture with dual mounting brackets)

2          FL3B  Firestik "Firefly"   Antenna
2          203EZ - Fold Over Adapter Item: 203EZ
2          Stud Mount - #JBC930 - Oversize
1          128X29   RG-8X 12' Pre-made Coax Cable 
1          128XMOTO29  RG-8X 12' Pre-made Coax Cable (AM/FM)

Venture 1G "Marshall Mod" Dual Kit 
      w/Valor Fold over

2          FL3B  Firestik "Firefly"   Antenna
2          203EZ - Fold Over Adapter Item: 203EZ
2          Stud Mount - #JBC930 - Oversize
1          128X29   RG-8X 12' Pre-made Coax Cable 
1          128XMOTO29  RG-8X 12' Pre-made Coax Cable (AM/FM)
__________________________________________

         2nd Generation 1999-2006

__________________________________________

 Venture 2G Original Marshall Mod Dual kit 
      w/Valor Fold over (Old Style)
2           FL3B  Firestik "Firefly"   Antenna
2          203EZ - Fold Over Adapter Item: 203EZ
2          Stud Mount - #JBC930- Oversize
1          18" 18SMMPL Pre-made Coax Cable (CB)
1          128XMOTO29  RG-8X 12' Pre-made Coax Cable (AM/FM)

MarshallMod for the Honda ST1300.

It appears that from what I have been reading, the ST1300 is a real bear to do a standard install. Well,
found out how much bunk that is ... They also use a NGP antenna system which IMHO, is worthless. A standard
install is SOOOooooo much Better ... The biggest problem in the ST1300 and ST1100 is the rear end is covered
in ABS ... There are no grounds for the antenna bracket, so you will have to run a ground wire to the antenna
mount or this could will turn into a nightmare on ST Street ...

BUT, DON'T LET THE ST-1300 CB GURU's FOOL YA !!! THERE IS PLENT OF GROUND PLANE TO RUN A
STANDARD INSTALL ON THE ST-1100 AND 1300. WHY BOTHER WITH A VERY EXPENSIVE AND STUPID
NGP (No Ground Plane), NON-PERFORMING, JUNK, INSTALL. YOU ARE MOUNTING THIS ON A MOTORCYCLE,
NOT A FIBERGLASS BOAT, TRUCK OR TRAILER.

With that out of the way, here is my latest install on my new to me ST1300 ..

This install uses:
MCL (Motorcyclelarry) antenna mount.
203EZ fold down
Firestik Fire-ring 9' coax
2' Firestik II Antenna
14" of 10-6 braided ground wire
 

HOW TO DO IT (Yamaha Royal Star Venture):

CB:

On the CB cable, you will need the Motorola plug on one end and a PL259 plug which screws  into the base of the Antenna Mount ... This cable is about 18" long and easy to install once you get the trunk loosened up to a point where you can lift it up and get to the CB. The CB lives under the trunk in a plastic box which is held together with two rubber straps .. Just loosen the straps and the top of the box comes right off. Disconnect the antenna cable from the radio, run the new cable in and plug it up ... Easy to accomplish.

AM/FM:

On the AM/FM antenna side, I was able to pull enough access cable out to where I could cut the  cable close to the antenna (Left about a 1/2" stub). Just make sure you have enough cable to  install the second PL259 before you cut it. If you don't have enough cable to accomplish this, the pre-made 12' Motorola/PL-259 cable works great. You will have to remove your seat, gas tank and front half of the fairing to gain access to the AM/FM Radio and to re-route the new cable. Of course, if you don't want to cut the cable on the AM/FM antenna, this procedure will have to be followed.

.STEP BY STEP:

1) Uninstall the old antennas, they just unscrew from their mount. Cut the AM/FM cable if you have enough free play, otherwise you will have to take the seat/gas tank/fairing off to pull the old cable out .. HOPEFULLY you will not have to do this.
2) Install the 300-340 Stud Mount  or DVSB mount... TIP, Install the fold down mounts first into the top section of the Antenna mount. This way they will be tight and you can adjust the mount with it folded down. Tighten the two pieces of the mount up TIGHT, making sure the fold down is pointed toward the front of the bike.
3) Install the antenna's, screw in and tighten them down. Lay the antenna down toward the front of the bike and make any adjustments required.
4) Screw in the PL-259 connectors to the bottom section of the antenna mounts on the AM/FM and CB  side to finish the installation.

PARTS PLACES:

Firestik Antennas  Read all about the antenna's, specs, warranty and some good tech support data.
Walcott CB Carries Everyting you will need. See the Kits Section Above ..

If you are mounting on any other type Motorcycle, email me and I should be able to help you decide on a kit. I have done over a thousand CB/Antenna installation of all brands of Motorcycles, cars, trucks and boats and have seen just about all situations.

I would like to personally thank Curt Whitehead (Concours) for his support on the 1st install on the RSV. Curt donated his scooter for the test platform and received the 1st Marshall Mod ever for the Royal Star Venture. 

I would like to thank Mr. Bob Edwards,  Retired President of the Venturers MC for letting me install the MarshallMod
on his "Rushin Blue" .. The following photos show the use of the Dual Antenna bracket which can be milled from the specs at the bottom of the  page. 

Antenna Bracket For 87-93 Yamaha Venture Royale

After looking at everything,  I came up with a new antenna bracket design which totally replaces the Venture OEM antenna bracket. The new custom bracket allows installations of dual antennas on the 1st generation Venture 87-93. Installation also allows for the removal of the AM/FM/CB splitter which is part of the OEM arrangement. The new bracket mounts under the trunk on the top trunk brackets. There is some preparation required for the install. The OEM bracket mount will have to be removed from the trunk rail, a drammel tool will cut this bracket off with no problem. The following pictures are of the new bracket and the finished installation. I have not done the install on 1983-1986 1st generation Venture but I am confident a small change in the bracket specs would make the installation possible.

Unfortunately, the dealer I was using to make the dual antenna mount is no longer in business so they are out of production. If you know someone who has a CNC mill, I have included the bracket specs at the end of this write-up.

Once the bracket is installed, the rest of the parts pieces needed and installation instructions are the same as for the RSV. The only difference is removal of the AM/FM/CB splitter which is attached to the back or on top of the CB radio and running new separate coax for the CB and AM/FM .. Cable length is about 10' for both pieces of coax and the pre-made cables work great.

Single Antenna Marshall Mod
All First Generation Ventures 83-93

Ok, so ya can't get a Dual Mount, your cheap, ya haven't got the big bucks for the Dual Mount .. The Single mount is just as easy as the Dual Mount. Same parts pieces, mount, fold down and 3' Firestik whip.  .. See kits above.

HOW TO DO IT

1. Remove the Right top fairing panel which houses the CB Control head.
2. Look on top of the CB and you will find the Match box. A cable goes over to the AM/FM Plugin, a cable goes to the back of the CB radio and there should be a Motorola Female plugin which is the coax that goes back to the Antenna ... If you look on the top of the AM/FM/CB Matcher, they should be labeled.. See NOTE below...
3. If everything is the way I have described and the coax going back to the antenna can be unplugged THEN ...
4. Remove the Top Cover
5. Remove the Seat.

NOTE: Some of the early matchers did not have connection plugs, they were hard wired into the matcher 
box. If this is the case, DO NOT CUT THE CABLE .. These matchers are unfortunately out of production
and other than E-Bay, have no idea where you will get one. Firestik used to make the matcher, but they are
also out of production ...

6. Unplug the cable labeled Antenna and un-install this cable all the way back to the antenna. This cable is hard wired into the base of the antenna, so once you get there, just go ahead and unscrew the antenna and pull the piece of junk off in one piece.
7. Install the new Pre-Made cable, using the same track as the old cable you just pulled out. Plug it in the Antenna Jack (Motorola Female) going into the AM/FM/CB Matcher. Tidy up your cable run with plastic wire ties all the way back to the antenna. Put the fairing cover back into its position but don't screw it all back up until everything is done and checked out ...
8. Clean up any corrosion or rust around the antenna mounting hole where the old antenna was .. Make it shine.
9. Install the Fold Down into the top section of the Maxi Mount and snug it up tightly.
10. Install the  Maxi mount in the OEM Antenna bracket where the old antenna was. MAKE SURE THAT NYLON WASHER IS ON THE TOP SECTION AND NOT THE BOTTOM SECTION !!!
11. Install the 3' Firestik Firefly into the Fold Down mount and snug up tightly. Fold down the mount to the front of the bike and make any adjustment that need to be made as far as position of the antenna.
12. Perform SWR Calibration check. NEVER SKIP THIS STEP ! !
13. Once you get your SWR calibration accomplished, screw in the PL-259 connector into the bottom of the antenna mount. Tape the whole arrangement with several layers of electrical tape and tie it all up with a wire tie.
14. Put seat, top cover and all the screws back into the Right fairing panel.

PIECE OF CAKE !!!!

BRACKET SPECs:

If you know someone with a CNC Mill and can make your bracket here are the specs:

1/4" thick material.
1.5" wide
28.875" long with .75" radius each end. 
  NOTE: If you are running light bars on the side of your trunk, extend the mount
                1.5" on each side.
Drill .520" hole .75" from each end for antenna mounts.
Drill holes for 6mm threads to mount the attachment caps at 7.445 from end,
8.555 from same end, 20.320 from same end and 21.430 from same end.

Build a cap with a .76" wide full radius slot to capture the existing .75"
tube bar. and drill this cap for (2) 6mm bolts with 1.110 spacing between
the holes.

Mill .060 clearance cut on the long bracket, front to back in the middle of
the cap mount on the side that fits to the rack. This allows the bracket to sit over the
trunk rack and keeps the trunk flush in OEM position.

CB SWR ADJUSTMENT:

On the CB side, you will need to do an SWR calibration of the antenna to make it right. The Firestik II and Firestik "FireFly" antennas have a tunable tip which makes setting the SWR pretty easy ...

1) Connect the new CB antenna cable to the input side of the meter. Connect a 2' section of coax with PL-259 on each end, one end to the antenna side of the meter, the other end to the antenna mount.
2) The antenna comes with a plastic (red or yellow) cap which slips over the top of the antenna tunable tip. IMPORTANT, Make your setting with the cap on, because it influences the SWR setting on the antenna ...
TIP : If you squirt a little WD40 into the plastic cap, you can turn the whole cap while holding the tip securely.
3) Adjust the antenna per the instructions you received with the antenna. If you don't have a SWR meter, try and find a CB Shop that is close by who does SWR adjustments. Most shops will do this for you for about $10, or you can come down to Charleston SC and I will do it free ... :O} ...
4) After you get everything installed, I normally use black electrical tape to wrap the PL-259 and use a plastic wire tie to secure the tape. This wrap will water proof the connector for a couple of years.

Hope I haven't blown you away with the technical stuff ... If you can solder a little, the cables are not that difficult to make. A good CB shop will make them for you and do your SWR check for normally a minimal cost ..

How to Set your SWR on a Firestik Antenna:
Reprinted Compliments of Firestik^® Antenna Company Technical Support Team
Copyright ^© 1996 Firestik^® Antenna Company

SWR (standing wave ratio), is a measurement of how efficiently your antenna system will radiate the power available from your radio. In simple terms, your radio would like to radiate all of its power, but can only do so if the other components cooperate. Bad coax and mounts, or inefficient antennas and ground plane can cause system bottlenecks. The easiest way to understand the concept is to think of it in terms of water flow. That is, if you put a one inch faucet on a two inch pipe, your potential output will be restricted by the one inch outlet. So goes antenna systems. Setting your antennas SWR will reduce the restriction of radiated power.

If all radios only transmitted on one channel, it would be a much easier task to design antennas. As it is, on CB alone, there are 40 channels to contend with. Mobile antennas can only be made to resonate at one specific frequency (channel). The goal of the antenna manufacturers is to build the antenna to resonate at a frequency in the middle of the available band (channel 19 on CB) and make it broad- banded enough to keep the off-frequency related SWR at the two extreme ends of the band below 2.0:1. It should be noted that if you communicate on one or two adjacent channels anywhere within the band, you can tune your antenna to achieve optimum performance on those channels. Most people, however, prefer to use the entire bandwidth when tuning.

THINGS YOU WILL NEED

SWR METER HOOK-UP

The SWR of the antenna, without feed line, can be measured by placing the SWR meter in-line at the antenna instead of at the radio. However, the coax can help or hinder performance. In the end, your SWR should be checked at the radio end because all components will be a part of the final operational system being used.

SWR TESTING REMINDERS:

1. Remember to check for continuity, shorts and opens in your coax and mount installation first.
2. Take measurements in an open area with the  Top Trunks and saddlebags always closed..
3. All measurements should be taken with antenna tip on, unless you do not plan to use the tip in normal use.

THE SET UP

If already connected, disconnect the coaxial cable from the radio. Connect the short coax cable with the PL-259 on one end and Motorola Plug on the other to the back of the radio *Motorola Connection on radio* Pl-259 to the SWR meter connector marked "Transmit or Input". Now, connect one end of the second jumper cable *PL-259 to PL-259* to the SWR meter connection marked "Antenna or Output" and the other end to the SQ-259 on your antenna mount. Your SWR meter is now in series (in-line) with your radio and antenna.

 You should now have your vehicle in an open area, with all Trunks and Saddlebags closed. Turn your radio on and tune to channel one or the lowest channel on your radio. 

The following assumes that your SWR meter has a standard set of switches, knobs and meters. That is, there will be at least one switch with the marking Forward (FWD) in one position and Reference (REF or SWR) in the other. There will also be a knob or sliding controller marked "Set" or "Adjust". Most meters come with full instructions. If the common configuration does not match your meter you will need to rely on the meters manual for assistance.

Now, switch your radio to the middle channel (20 on CB). Place the meter switch in the Forward (FWD) position, depress the PTT switch and adjust the meter to place the needle on the SET position of the meter face. Once in the set position, place the meter switch in the Reference (REF) position, press the PTT switch and note the reading. Release the PTT switch and write this value down to the nearest tenth of a point. Note: If your antenna system is closely matched to the radio you may get little or no movement from the meter needle on this channel. This is normal and what you are trying to accomplish overall. Press the PTT switch and turn the tune-tip down and watch the meter movement. If it goes up, then reverse the procedure by screwing the tune-tip down. You are trying to get the lowest reading possible on the meter dial, normally less than 1.5:1. The lower the better. Once you have your lowest setting, Remove the Cap and lock down the adjusting screw on the Tune Tip. Replace cap as a final step.

Here is a final tip. In a few cases, I have had to file down the locking nut on the tune tip. This is a real pain so I got some help from the big boss at Firestik, Dr. Rick.

Instead of grinding down the lock nut ... cut the length of the screw down ... 3/8 -5/8". That removes some of the mass and you can most likely tune with the lock nut in place. The antenna design creates a lot of activity at the top (and almost nothing at the bottom) so just about any change up there will have visible affects. Even the length of the vinyl tip will make a difference. If you tuned the antenna without the tip to be resonant at 27.185 (channel 19) and then put the tip on, rechecked and you will see that the resonant frequency will increase almost 400KHz. I've seen some installs that the entire tune screw was removed and the antenna was still a little long so I had the person cut 1/2" off the bottom of the tip to make the final adjustment.... Thank you Dr. Rick !!

Good luck on your installation of The Marshall Mod.

If you have any other questions, shoot me a email and will give ya all the help I can.
mgammon@bellsouth.net