I'm planning to add Electronic cruise control

So since my 400 mile round trip over the weekend I have become near-obsessed with the idea of installing an electronic cruise control into my S'wing.

After doing some research i will most likely be installing the Rostra universal system, which doesn't rely on a vacuum source nor a tach source and should be pretty simple to install. (my only real concerns are if the throttle cable will be long enough to reach from the front of the bike (behind the headlights, no ABS module) to the throttle body and how much modification of the throttle cam is required for a reliable connection).

I am estimating parts at around $250 and perhaps maximum of 4 hours labor including removing all required panels. I hope to document everything (unless anybody has done so already).

Hopefully I'll have the parts and will do the work over holiday vacation.

Thanks,
Jesse in Atlanta

x

Jesse, I'm with you on wanting a cruise control. It came on the Can Am and its fantastic. I ride a lot of open roads so the cruise is very useful.
Please document the process and also, if you will, where you got the parts.

Save your money. I have had one bike new that came with cruise control, a Kawasaki Voyager----problem, it may give a shot of gas just when you don't need it. Bikes fall down/slip, etc.

For nose picking, etc, I find Nep throttle stop fine-----Otherwise I prefer to be in control of bike/life and enjoy ride.

x

My Voyager cruise control had no defect---but did/could make surge of power to maintain speed----not good when slippery, etc.

I guess I am just different type of rider and like to pay attention/enjoy the ride.

x

john grinsel wrote:

Save your money. I have had one bike new that came with cruise control, a Kawasaki Voyager----problem, it may give a shot of gas just when you don't need it. Bikes fall down/slip, etc.

For nose picking, etc, I find Nep throttle stop fine-----Otherwise I prefer to be in control of bike/life and enjoy ride.

I had cruise control on my Goldwing, and My Harley Roadking and liked them both. if you are riding with a group you can't use them. I would like to have cruise on My Swing too.

I had an Australian cruise control on my ST1100 (McCruise?), it worked fine but had acomplicated linkage to the throttle and was not cheap in the UK. I could use a cruise control now and then but it would need to be easy to fit and cheapish !!

So I shopped around and found the Rostra kit and controller for about $243 including shipping. Then after I ordered i found a similar kit here for $240 (free shipping): http://www.murphskits.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=369 .

From what i can tell the difference is the controller for the one I ordered is similar, but has 2 indicator lights on it- an "ON" light and a "CC Active" light whereas the Murph's kit one just has an "ON" light (although I believe the wiring of the kit allows a remote-mounted "active" light.
On the Murph's kit website i also found a silicone "Prophylaxis" that is supposed to fit over the controller and serve as a good water repellant. I ordered this and it was $5.25 including shipping. I still plan to disassemble the controller and squeeze some clear silicone into the cable entry and seam areas.
The Murph's site includes at least 2 installation instructions, one on a Kawasaki 4 cylinder and one on a BMW 4 cylinder.

What I have been trying to decide is where to place the control module, whether on the left handlebar, right handlebar, or somewhere in the middle, such as the center of the handlebar cover. I am also looking to find some kind of handrest for the right handlebar (that perhaps replaces the weighted bar end) so I will have a place to keep my right hand while the cruise control is active.

Jesse in Atlanta

Jesse: I'd suggest mounting on the right side because the activate and speed up/down are on the right of the box, where your thumb could more easily touch them without looking. On the left, without looking, you're likely to be hitting the on/off button.

The mount looks like something that could easily be fashioned out of soft metal or preferably aluminum and cut so the box can be mounted as convenient as possible.

Please document and take pics. I've very much interested if it appears something I can do myself.

I didn't order the aluminum bracket- I'll probably end up making one myself.

The problem with mounting on the right side is that I would possibly have to take my hand off of the throttle to activate the cruise control, and the bike would immediately begin to slow down before the speed is set. If i mount on the left side I am afraid to take my hand off of that grip in case of a surge in speed. I guess I will try multiple mounting positions before I make a final decision.

Thanks for your input,

Jesse

I've used a Vista cruise control for some years on every 2 wheeler I've had and that would solve your right hand prob;

http://tinyurl.com/7em2m58

(Moderator editted to shorten link for better display on smaller monitors - www.tinyurl.com is a great tool)

toolboxjesse wrote:

So I shopped around and found the Rostra kit and controller for about $243 including shipping. Then after I ordered i found a similar kit here for $240 (free shipping): http://www.murphskits.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=369 .

Wait a minute...You're gonna order something from someone named Murphy? Jeez, what could possibly go wrong?

ulflyer wrote:

I've used a Vista cruise control for some years on every 2 wheeler I've had and that would solve your right hand prob;

I think that defeats the purpose of what I'm trying to do here, but thanks for your input.

Jesse

I have an older style cruise control (no longer made) but on long drives it is a great tool for relaxing the hand and enjoying the ride. Good luck with it. I'm sure you'll have a blast.

Dan

Dan- what type of cruise control are you referring to?

It was an automotive cruise control made by magnavox, which a guru out in tennessee by the name of Joe wolfe installed for me several years ago.
Look at my album (linked in my sig) and you will see the cruise remote on my left handlebar. Look at the pic labeled "Collage 7 Dashboard".

Dan

Oh very nice- That's what i have in mind. BTW there is a silicone cover available for $5.25 if you are interested- see above posting.

The css 201 is exactly what I have.
Rostra may have made it for magnavox or vice versa. Not sure which.

You'll love it.

Dan

Dan- if I can ask - where do you rest your right hand with the CC on?

On the right grip. Adding the CC doesn't rotate the throttle the same way the gas pedal pulls away from your foot when your car cc accelerates.
So a loose grip thats just enough to keep the steering straight is all that's necessary.

Dan

Just to give you an update- I received all of the parts and began my installation on Sunday morning. I removed pretty much every panel to gain access to the guts of the bike and I performed the mechanical installation of the cruise control. It tool me hours to figure out the best solution to add the cruise control cable to the existing throttle setup. I ended up filing down the part of "barrel" of the end of the throttle "puller" cable to allow the added CC cable to ride on it. I installed the control module where the ABS unit would go (since I don't have ABS, not sure how much room there would be for the module if i did have ABS) and put it all back together. Next weekend I need to finish the wiring and then perform whatever calibrations are required.

Jesse in Atlanta

Grr!

Finally got the CC installed completely yesterday but there is no power to the unit. I checked all of the electrical connections and the unit seems to be getting power, but I am not getting any light to the self-diagnostic LED or the control module.

Well. I'll keep looking, but perhaps the unit was DOA.

Jesse