Ok, I am looking for a better mod than the ones I have tried so far.
Throttle buster- cheap, but getsa in the way.
Caterpillar O ring- cheaper, but doesn't hold that well. Maybe my grips are tired, since they are original, not sure.
Suggestions are welcome. Mechanical lver electronic preferred.
At least I amtrying not asking about oil or tires, eh?
I have a Throttle Meister on my 84 and it works great. It also looks good as it is polished stainless and replaces both bar ends. It does take a little effort to get it adjusted just right and is about $150. It is a mechanical friction device rolling on and off with the bar end. I was thinking of trying an Atlas throttle lock on my 93. This looks like a well made item for about half the price of the throttle meister. It is a lever locked design and fits between the grip and kill switch.
Dave
I use a Vista Cruise throttle lock. A bit bulky, but it works fairly well. Will hold speed well enough too rest your throttle hand on long rides.
Can be sourced from Cycle Gear and eBay.
Fred
Quote from: aviationfred on December 27, 2017, 09:48:38 PM
I use a Vista Cruise throttle lock. A bit bulky, but it works fairly well. Will hold speed well enough too rest your throttle hand on long rides.
Fred
I agree with Fred on this. Probably the best bang for the buck.
Guys,
I'm unsure of the benefits of Cruise Control on bikes, can you advise of the Pro's.
I admit that with every trip there are sections where you have to slab it but it doesn't take too much effort to twist the throttle and hold it :sorry:
Yes, I have had trips where I've done 1000k's back to back with some fairly straight roads which included Eyre Highway 90k straight.
Apart from the occasional left hand on throttle while giving the right a rest, I cannot see a reason for Cruise Control but please correct me
Cheers Alan
Quote from: Sparky84 on December 27, 2017, 11:53:24 PM
....Apart from the occasional left hand on throttle while giving the right a rest, I cannot see a reason for Cruise Control but please correct me
Don't do that Alan. A throttle lock is much safer than using your left hand to hold the throttle open.
Kinda like heated grips. They are not needed most times, but the times they are, they are nice to have.
https://www.murphskits.com/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=422 (https://www.murphskits.com/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=422)
I have this one fitted to mine.
http://home.mysoul.com.au/rover/page05.htm (http://home.mysoul.com.au/rover/page05.htm)
I just happen to have all four types on bikes in the garage, OEM electronic, Omni, Vista and friction ring. Of the three mechanical types the Vista is the best, the Omni works well but looks like and an after thought and the friction knob I only ever used once, it's a Kaoko which is probably the best (and most expensive) of that type but I don't like the way it activates, it's not a clean action and can be engaged unintentionally.
I use my throttle lock mostly for adjusting mirrors, picking bugs out of my helmet, adjusting clothing, tightening my helmet, getting things out of my pockets, tucking in my neck warmer, checking zips, taking photos etc, all manner of things you can only do with your right hand. I do occasionally use it for wrist relief and it allows a far greater range of movement all over on longs trips without stopping to stretch. Standing on the pegs with my knees locked or swinging my arms around for example.
Having ridden many miles with them all, the Vista would be my recommendation.
Noel
Quote from: Pat Conlon on December 28, 2017, 12:07:46 AM
Quote from: Sparky84 on December 27, 2017, 11:53:24 PM
....Apart from the occasional left hand on throttle while giving the right a rest, I cannot see a reason for Cruise Control but please correct me
Don't do that Alan. A throttle lock is much safer than using your left hand to hold the throttle open.
Kinda like heated grips. They are not needed most times, but the times they are, they are nice to have.
.... and heated vests, Pinlock visor inserts, GPS, ear plugs, polar fleece neck tubes, lambswool seat covers, decent lighting, all season jackets, intercoms (or music and phone), grippy tyres etc. Yes, we've all ridden for years without all this stuff and done just fine, it's often difficult to see the value in something you haven't tried.
You will use and enjoy all of these things way more than you imagined before you had them.
Noel
Quote from: Sparky84 on December 27, 2017, 11:53:24 PM
Guys,
I'm unsure of the benefits of Cruise Control on bikes, can you advise of the Pro's.
Another reason is to help stave off Carpl Tunnel Syndrome. (https://www.cycleworld.com/reduce-carpal-tunnel-syndrome-and-tendonitis-motorcycle-tips-ride-smart) Once all the items re vibration damping are checked off (balanced carbs, greased mounts, bar ends, etc), cruise control can help extend your riding life. Not fun to have though it can be alleviated through surgery.
It was one of the main factors in ending Freddy Spencer's GP career. Once it becomes chronic it will never go away.
That reminds me... haven't bought myself an Xmas present this year so this might fit the bill for the start if riding season in April. The Cramp Buster just doesn't do it anymore.
Quote from: ribbert on December 28, 2017, 07:40:45 AM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on December 28, 2017, 12:07:46 AM
Quote from: Sparky84 on December 27, 2017, 11:53:24 PM
....Apart from the occasional left hand on throttle while giving the right a rest, I cannot see a reason for Cruise Control but please correct me
Don't do that Alan. A throttle lock is much safer than using your left hand to hold the throttle open.
Kinda like heated grips. They are not needed most times, but the times they are, they are nice to have.
.... and heated vests, Pinlock visor inserts, GPS, ear plugs, polar fleece neck tubes, lambswool seat covers, decent lighting, all season jackets, intercoms (or music and phone), grippy tyres etc. Yes, we've all ridden for years without all this stuff and done just fine, it's often difficult to see the value in something you haven't tried.
You will use and enjoy all of these things way more than you imagined before you had them.
Noel
OK, then What suspension upgrades should I be looking at doing?
Cheers Alan
In 2006, I fitted the Australian made MC Cruise cruise control to my FJ and have never looked back. A properly engineered electronic cruise control which meets all the necessary safety standards.
As the name implies, a "cruise control" comes into it's own when cruising. For the times when, say, you have to ride on the free way due to time restrictions or sum such, just turn on, press set and cruise.
Benefits are immediately noticeable. Constant speed up hill and down dale, relaxed riding with you right hand just resting on the bar like your left hand, better fuel economy (true) and possably less speeding fines.
With a proper cruise control, you have the added assurance that when you touch the brake or clutch, it disengages.
To the best of my knowledge, all FJ's have a reed switch on the speedo which switches to ground. In conjunction with a 47K resistor, I used this switch to provide the speed reference pulses to the electronics. No external sensor required.
However, they are not cheep, but what price safety. The alternative, choose the curvy roads option on your sat nav.
Quote from: fj-f3a on December 31, 2017, 06:04:33 PM
. The alternative, choose the curvy roads option on your sat nav.
Have they got other settings?
Quote from: fj-f3a on December 31, 2017, 06:04:33 PM
In 2006, I fitted the Australian made MC Cruise cruise control to my FJ and have never looked back. A properly engineered electronic cruise control which meets all the necessary safety standards.
As the name implies, a "cruise control" comes into it's own when cruising. For the times when, say, you have to ride on the free way due to time restrictions or sum such, just turn on, press set and cruise.
Benefits are immediately noticeable. Constant speed up hill and down dale, relaxed riding with you right hand just resting on the bar like your left hand, better fuel economy (true) and possably less speeding fines.
With a proper cruise control, you have the added assurance that when you touch the brake or clutch, it disengages.
To the best of my knowledge, all FJ's have a reed switch on the speedo which switches to ground. In conjunction with a 47K resistor, I used this switch to provide the speed reference pulses to the electronics. No external sensor required.
However, they are not cheep, but what price safety. The alternative, choose the curvy roads option on your sat nav.
BUGGER OFF!
This 'Moditis' affliction is bad enough without people like you coming along putting up posts like this.
I'm going for a run on the FJ just now, but I'll send you an email later if that's OK, for a bit more information. I've had a look at their site, but you can give me stuff about the FJ fitting.
Cheers, and Happy New Year.
Dave.
Quote from: fj-f3a on December 31, 2017, 06:04:33 PM
In 2006, I fitted the Australian made MC Cruise cruise control to my FJ and have never looked back....
No doubt electronic cruise on a bike is the way to go. As we all know, bikes are far more responsive than cars and far more prone to speed fluctuations. For me it's more about speed monitoring. Where I live they cut you no slack. I just got another ticket in the mail this week - 64 in a 60 zone - $198!! That's a bit over 2mph over the limit. (also recently $238 for merging into a bike lane more than 50 metres before a corner, $370 for 115kph in the country, $216 for 65 in a 60 zone and more earlier in the year)
With every Police vehicle fitted with mobile radar and every speed detection device set to these tolerances (including the coppers themselves) and the cops having roadside discretion taken away from them, speed monitoring is essential if travelling on major roads.
IMO staying within these tolerances while concentrating on driving or in hilly country is unachievable and becomes more a game of luck rather than good management.
Those MC units have a very good reputation but are expensive, almost as much as I've paid over the last year in speeding fines!
Noel
Cruise control sounds like an absolute necessity in Aus. With such low tolerances and high fines I don't think I could enjoy riding there. Here in Texas you can get away with 10mph over and the fines are a lot less.
Years ago the U.S. Department of transportation tried to install a 55mph national speed limit. The great state of Texas refused. The Department of Transportation then said they would revoke Texas highway funding. Texas said fine. It took the Department of transportation over 2 weeks to realize Texas paid in millions more in highway funds than it received. After that they said Texas could have any speed limit they wanted.
A few years before that Texas started installing speed cameras on highways. They removed them after repairs were too costly. That big white box with a black lens in the middle just made perfect targets. Not saying I shot any. No more remote speed devices.
Ride safe
Dave
I think I would quit riding if there were speed cameras on the highways. That's just too goddamned far. Government is just out of control. Drain the fucking swamp.
Quote from: ribbert on January 01, 2018, 08:09:41 AM
Quote from: fj-f3a on December 31, 2017, 06:04:33 PMIn 2006, I fitted the Australian made MC Cruise cruise control to my FJ and have never looked back...
IMO staying within these tolerances while concentrating on driving or in hilly country is unachievable and becomes more a game of luck rather than good management.Those MC units have a very good reputation but are expensive, almost as much as I've paid over the last year in speeding fines!
Noel
Noel,
Given a choice between tickets, fines, possible loss of license,
-OR- spending the same money (once, not yearly!) on a cruise control, I would prefer the great convenience of a cruise control. Seems 'way better to me than feeding the constabulary each year.
Quote from: ZOA NOM on January 01, 2018, 09:39:32 AM
I think I would quit riding if there were speed cameras on the highways. That's just too goddamned far. Government is just out of control. Drain the fucking swamp.
Coming to your state soon if it's not there already. :diablo:
A few years ago in Ontario they started with automatic plate scanners (http://www.lfpress.com/2013/12/11/opp-to-expand-automated-licence-plate-recognition-program) on the cruisers. Deemed contentious, but it didn't raise the ire as much as photo radar since they only nab the "bad guys". Since this article it has expanded even more. I'm sure it exists elsewhere and will probably be standard everywhere eventually. Photo radar was canned back in the 90's and hasn't been able to be resurrected yet....
Now back to cruise control on your local station. (popcorn)
Not all of Australia is as bad as where Noel lives, I haven't copped a fine or lost a point off my licence in over 30 yrs and do stray over the limit quite a bit. Not sure what cruise control would be like on a bike, but in the car I hardly use it because not long after you set it to a constant speed you have to disengage because you always seem to catch up to someone in front and are constantly hitting the off/resume buttons. Roads in the country away from suburbia are fine but virtually impossible to use on some of the motorways as your always changing speed and lanes getting around people who have no idea of the road rules and insist on driving slow in the overtaking lanes.
GS Jockey (Dave)
By all means, shoot me an email.
I could post some photos of my installation if others are interested.
Quote from: Bones on January 01, 2018, 01:57:33 PM
I haven't copped a fine or lost a point off my licence in over 30 yrs and do stray over the limit quite a bit.
:flag_of_truce: I'm over here book me.
I've had my fair share of tickets and licences. If memory serves me right, car and riders licence used to be separate identities, if you lost one you used the other.
I was given the option once of 12 months of probation licence or 3 months loss of licence. I took the 3 months, I thought if I can drive for 12 months without a fine, I can surely do 3 months without one.
Cheers
Alan
Quote from: fj-f3a on January 02, 2018, 08:11:26 PM
GS Jockey (Dave)
By all means, shoot me an email.
I could post some photos of my installation if others are interested.
Please post some photos!
I'm curious on where you mounted the cable interface unit, the computer, the vacuum servo unit and how you tapped into the speedo for the speed impulse.
I purchased a McCruise unit for my Super Tenere 2 years ago, and never regretted it. It was a 100% plug and play installation. I'm guessing you purchased a universal kit?
Quote from: Sparky84 on January 03, 2018, 03:45:40 AM
Quote from: Bones on January 01, 2018, 01:57:33 PM
I haven't copped a fine or lost a point off my licence in over 30 yrs and do stray over the limit quite a bit.
:flag_of_truce: I'm over here book me.
I've had my fair share of tickets and licences. If memory serves me right, car and riders licence used to be separate identities, if you lost one you used the other.
I was given the option once of 12 months of probation licence or 3 months loss of licence. I took the 3 months, I thought if I can drive for 12 months without a fine, I can surely do 3 months without one.
Cheers
Alan
Alan, in Western Australia, you lose one licence you automatically lose the other, we are issued one licence only for different grades of vehicle. After 15years of running the gauntlet I was booked in QLD in a 60 zone in the middle of no-where, no on coming roads, house nearby or a town (ask Xray) I'm certain the bugger had to meet a quota because I was booked at 13kph over and it just happens to be 1kph above the smaller fine.
Quote from: Bozo on January 03, 2018, 06:10:41 AM
Quote from: Sparky84 on January 03, 2018, 03:45:40 AM
Quote from: Bones on January 01, 2018, 01:57:33 PM
I haven't copped a fine or lost a point off my licence in over 30 yrs and do stray over the limit quite a bit.
:flag_of_truce: I'm over here book me.
I've had my fair share of tickets and licences. If memory serves me right, car and riders licence used to be separate identities, if you lost one you used the other.
I was given the option once of 12 months of probation licence or 3 months loss of licence. I took the 3 months, I thought if I can drive for 12 months without a fine, I can surely do 3 months without one.
Cheers
Alan
Alan, in Western Australia, you lose one licence you automatically lose the other, we are issued one licence only for different grades of vehicle. After 15years of running the gauntlet I was booked in QLD in a 60 zone in the middle of no-where, no on coming roads, house nearby or a town (ask Xray) I'm certain the bugger had to meet a quota because I was booked at 13kph over and it just happens to be 1kph above the smaller fine.
Same in Queensland, one licence covers the lot. In my younger days It was the other way around where I couldn't keep a licence, wether it was drink driving, burning rubber, speeding, or in general just being a young bloke in a hot car, but back then police used to be more viligant in their patrols instead of letting cameras do all the revenue raising for them. Come to think of it, all the dramas happened while driving a car not riding a bike. These days I'm not as stupid plus the road gods must be looking after me, that or just plain lucky.
Some photos of my Cruise Control installation
Thanks for posting up the photos! The vacuum unit fit under the side panel nicely.
Jeez, I think I will just spring for some new grips. All those electronics :Facepalm:
Quote from: Bozo on January 03, 2018, 06:10:41 AM
I was booked in QLD in a 60 zone in the middle of no-where, no on coming roads, house nearby or a town (ask Xray) I'm certain the bugger had to meet a quota because I was booked at 13kph over and it just happens to be 1kph above the smaller fine.
Yep, was only talking to someone about this exact incident tonight. The monetary value placed on minor infringements ( Bloody hell Noel ! ), is ridiculous. And you John, yep he could have been nice and given you the $150.00 fine, but oh no, he bumped up into the next bracket. Someone on the SEQ Riders FB page was saying a few of her friends were done today doing lane filtering incorrectly. Instead of the cops educating her, ( she honestly did not know), they all got $378.00 fines with 3 points lost. Utter BS. Save the big fines for the dangerous hoons on the roads, not people who make minor mistakes!! Would go a long way for PR goodwill, instead of saying nope, have to write the ticket.
Sory for digressing, I love my Vista cruise, so simple to use. Have to get another for the '94. It actually had the same type on it as in Freds photo, but I took it off. Got in the way of the switches. Just the simple round ring type of Vista is the one I need. Heres the incident John mentioned before, in the middle of nowhere.......