zwhits9

Hey everybody I just Installed electric cruise on my Blackbird and I have to tell you.....IT IS AWESOME!!!

I have always wanted cruise on my bike. I have developed some wrist issues due to working construaction (numb wrists). I am really stoked to be able to rest my right hand on the hwy!

The cruise system is made by audiovox. It's designed for cars, but is perfectly functional on motorcycles. I can't take full credit for the install as I found a lot of great resources form other chaps on the www. specifically :

AUDIOVOX CCS-100 ON A CBR1100XX


I hit one snag though. I had everything installed and wired and the cruise wouldn't engage. Turns out the servo needs to see a ground path through the brake light circuit. This insures that the cruise will disengage even if the tail light bulb is burned out.....well, turns out that LED tailights are to high resistance. This tricks the servo into thinking the brake circuit is open. the fix was found here:

Audiovox Cruise Control Install

Then I was off and running. The big bird holds the speedo right on.

I just bought the bike a couple weeks ago. This was one of the things I wanted to do right away. She's my new toy and it's getting a lot of attention, more than my wife.

The other mods are:

New Dunlop roadsmarts (excellent first impression)
6mm shim
PC3 Yosh full system map
motek tail
30A relay acc power for GPS, Radar, Tank bag cig splitter. etc...
Ram mount brackets
frame plugs
Oil, filter, brake and clutch fluid change (9000 miles)

I'm getting a lot closer to being tour ready.

http://zacharywhitson.smugmug.com/ph...3_AE9Ze-XL.jpg
The switch is a little cheesy so I radioshacked this momentary button to use for the "set" button. I don't need the other switches.
http://zacharywhitson.smugmug.com/ph...98_jc9nY-L.jpg
http://zacharywhitson.smugmug.com/ph...86_niQNF-L.jpg
http://zacharywhitson.smugmug.com/ph...85_djGLK-L.jpg
here's my custom fab ram mounts
http://zacharywhitson.smugmug.com/ph...03_dwTjr-L.jpg
http://zacharywhitson.smugmug.com/ph...59_Jqtqg-L.jpg

Enjoy you're bikes guy summers coming on!

Catenaccio

Looks impressive. How's the wallet?

CanadianBird

Well done, I guess. What's that wire running across? It it isn't "plug and play" it won't work for me. No splicing for me. I think the throttle meister is the prefered choice for "cruize control". However, I applaud all shady lane mechanics. Cheers

Poundstretcher

Looks good

zwhits9

The wiring is actually pretty simple. The only wires I had to tap into were

Brake light
one side of and ignition coil
Ignition switched power. (tail light)

use water tight heat shirink/glue connectors (the cheap butt connectors in the picture are temps to test)

The wallet's ok, about $600.00 (exhaust/PC3 came with the bike) on the tab so far. Motorcycling is an investment right?

steveb

Looks great, can't find a seller in the UK - Google came back with USA based retailers - but, Amazon have them at just about $90, maybe I'll treat myself...................

steveb

I like the subtle little "set" button idea, does it work OK once you have the throttle at the desired speed - I'm in favour of dumping the up / down button supplied with the kit as I think it'd be a fiddle with gloves on.
Thanks
Steve

zwhits9

Well, so far the set button works well. The switch barely clears the handlebar, that's why I put it as far left as possable. It's just a tad bit difficult to reach with your thumb while holding the trottle steady but that's a minor challange. Much easier than the big supplied switch,and not nearly as combursome as twisting a throttlemeister with one hand. Also I ran the switched on/off to ignition voltage so its always on. But if you could use any standard on of switch and put it in an obscure location if you wheren't comfortable with this. i don't think I'm likely to bump the set button accidently though so it's not a concern to me.

JP7

Awesome!
Thanks for your post and the link.
I've been wanting to do this exact setup since last year, but was debating whether to go instead with the rather pricey custom-made bike kit out of Australia.
Now that I see how straightforward this is, I think I'll save myself the extra $450!

__________________
Ian

Styles

I like that setup. Any tips on installing the alternative switch? I take it you've wired the on/off wires closed (do you recall Audiovox colors?) to make your cruise always on, and ignored the acceleration wires. Beyond the Radio Shack's part #, might you have any more tips about opening the bike's switch housing?

Again, a fine looking setup. Great work.



Styles

__________________
"STyle is the fashioning of power, the restraining of power." A. N. Whitehead

zwhits9

I should probably note that the under-tank picture was taken during my initial test set-up. The servo (main big black can-like part) didn't quite clear the fuel pump here, so, I had to move it two holes towards the engine and tuck it down just slightly. it fits fine now. I like having my tail section empty.

The switch housing is pretty straight forward. I didn't actually remove it because I didn't want to undo the throttle cables. Tips: don't get to far left with your hole or there's a little shoulder of plastic inside the switch that interferes with the cruise set button lock nut. I had to grind it down slightly with a drill bit. FYI just 2 phillips screws from the bottom is all that holds the 2 halves of the stock switch together. easy.

I threw out the packaging of the momentary switch I used from radio shack. So no part# (sorry) but I bought this same switch several years ago and they still had the same one so you shouldn't have to much trouble tracking one down.

Styles

My thanks. I'll find the part, and get handle on the colors, I'm sure.


Styles

__________________
"STyle is the fashioning of power, the restraining of power." A. N. Whitehead

zwhits9

.....I take it you've wired the on/off wires closed (do you recall Audiovox colors?) to make your cruise always on, and ignored the acceleration wires.


The colors are:

Brown: +12v Ign
Red: Switched +12v (this I wired to Ign also)
Purple: Brake light
Black: Ground
Green: Set/decel
Yellow: resume/accel
Blue: Tach/coil (on the blackbird you want the NON black wire. (blue&Yel)

The instructions are pretty clear on these

steveb

Seems like there's no UK supplier of these kits and nothing as close on price so I've ended up buying one from a USA based ebay seller - gonna cost me nearly as much in shipping & taxes as the kit cost hope that when it arrives it's as easy to fit as you made it look!!!

shewie

Well done! Thanks for the write-up and pics. Well done!

__________________
If you don't like the way I ride then stay off the sidewalk.

Banshee

I had one of these on my '98: HONDA :: Manufacturers :: Motorcycle Cruise Controls - ATV, 4 Wheelers and Quad Bike Accessory & Parts

Worked a treat & was fairly easy to install. Price is up by 50% over the last 8 years though...

steveb

I followed the link, nearly passed out when I saw the price but, read the article anyway. Apart from those guys pushing their kit as being the best of the best I agree with the logic - it makes more sense to fit a proper 'Bird kit than adapt a car one but, at 7 times the price plus shipping & taxes I'll try the Audiovox one first.
If it turns out to be as bad as the Aussie guys say I won't have to worry - I'll have crashed and burned because I didn't fit their kit in the first place

steveb

Even though I only ordered the kit from the USA last night I've been thinking of how to utilise one of the Honda switches to switch the cruise on / off and have hit on a cunning plan.
I'm gonna use the flash / passing light!! Mine is of no real use as I have HID on both high / low beams so the "flash" doesn't really work because of the delay in the HID's warming up to their usable brightness by which time whoever I wanted to flash is long gone.
Not being an electrical genius it seems like the perfect answer to me, anyone got any thoughts about why it might not work?
Cheers
Steve

getsarge

I'm no electrical genius either, so I am anxious to find out how this plays out.

__________________
Semper Fi

shewie

Do you have a flash-to-pass button, sarge? I do not.

__________________
If you don't like the way I ride then stay off the sidewalk.

getsarge

I don't, 00 model, but it looks as though there is a flat space where a 'flash' button would fit. As smart as the idea is, even if I'm unable to accomplish it, I am curious to hear how it's done; then perhaps I may be able to 'redneck engineer' one?

__________________
Semper Fi

steveb

You guys miss out on all the best switches don't you???
No lights on / off switch and now no flash switch - no wonder the prices are lower in the USA!!

shewie

You must not have the same laws regarding full-time headlamps on motorcycles. It has been a requirement here since about the mid-late seventies that all motorcycles run their lowbeams at all times. I would love to be able to buy the switches that you guys have, but they seem to be like hen's teeth.

__________________
If you don't like the way I ride then stay off the sidewalk.

RXX

I've had the audiovox on my bird for the last 3 years. Works like a charm, I have mine spliced into the VSS so it is speed dependant, not RPM dependant. There is a TON of install tips over on the "other" board.
One thing you will need to keep in mind is that the bird doesn't really pul enough vacuum (yes, it doesn't suck too bad) to keep it engaged at lower (55) speeds in a higher gear.
I also have a throttlemeister. The CC blows it out of the water.

zwhits9

I tried to run mine off the vss and it wouldn't work. I read on other forum post's that honda's vss has a really high ppm rate. Like 80,000. Since the cruise has options of 2000-8000 how did you get it to work?

RXX

I work on my bike as an excuse to drink beer, so persistence is a virtue. I just kept ****ing with the DIP switches. I will give you the positions if I get in there today.

steveb

Mine's not here yet but, all info gratefully received - which site do you mean?
Cheers
Steve

RXX

CBR1100XX.ORG

steveb

Well, one UK "value added tax / administration fees" bill later the cruise control arrived at my door and what a fun looking box of bits it is!!! (cost just about $35 on top of the $45 shipping charges!!)
Typically the English Spring weather has turned to English Autumn weather (my only free day until next weekend) so it won't be getting installed this week
To be honest if all I had to work with were the instructions in the box I'd have been putting it on Ebay tonight - thank heavens for helpful forum members around the world for the especially zwhits9.
Just need a couple of sunny days, about 5 hands and a lot of luck to get the thing fitted

beestoys

Looking to instal this next weekend but looking to use a right control off a goldwing it has all of the switch inputs on/off accel/decel resume built in. I'll take pics after its on for you all.