Ordered McCruise Cruise Control for Burgman 650

[drwhom]

Well I have gone and ordered the McCruise motorcycle cruise control for my Burgman 650. I have ordered it with the custom model specific wiring loom. I have decided to try and install it myself. When I do I'll take pictures and post them on the gallery.

I ordered it from here: http://www.spoiledbiker.com/mccburgman.html

I realize that it is very expensive but compared to the over $600 that many of the members have payed for a custom seat, I don't think it is out of line. I drive a large commercial truck for a living and find the cruise control on it indispensible. I find a cruise control is the best way I know for keeping my speed within legally acceptable limits.

will keep you posted when it arrives

[TomRider]

Excellent investment if youre a traveller.

I remember last month when i went to Algarve (about 600 kms), my wrist was the part of my body wich suffered more.

During that ride i loose my right hand position and couldnt avoid the wrist pain.

Best luck for CC installation and better for his utilization.

[matrixviking]

Wow, the Algarve. I remember visiting there 'back in '89 for honeymoon with (now ex-) wife in December. Beautiful place.

[bechtoea]

I invested in the "McCatterpiller O ring"...total cost, less than $4.

[TomRider]

I invested in the "McCatterpiller O ring"...total cost, less than $4.

Hi bechtoea,
my opinion is that the best things are the simplest.

So, how is the result? Does it work?

You can maintain your speed and kepp your right hand off the handlebar?

From 1 to 10, how do you classify it?

Heres a pic:

[scubed]

You will really like the McCruise, I purchased one and had my local Suzuki dealer install it. It is great for my commutine 35 miles each way. It works.

[gruntled]

Avoid just one ticket & it will have pretty much paid for itself. Especially
since it could affect your work as well. I've been trying to find a GPS that would have a setable speed warning for much the same purpose.

[csachs1]

I've had the oring for a year now but it just fell off somewhere, so I need a new one.

I found it difficult to disengage unless stopped.

I am thinking of one of the items like the vista cruise control.

The electronic item looks great. Please let us know how the install goes!

[McQ]

csachs1,
What's a "DJ Ellis Tank Bag?

[Jim]

Link to pics.
http://burgmanusa.com/gallery/album17

Link to source
http://burgmanusa.com/forums/viewtopic. ... s+hump+bag

[Selias]

I have been very interested in this product.
I am going to add here since the subject was sort of abandoned and I think some serious riders who travel a lot would be interested in this product.
I've been asking DrWhom about it and he's extremely satisfied with the product!

FULL cruise control like you have in a car.
Pic of controls on left handle

Advantages:

Less wrist-strain and able to 'cover' brakes.
Less worries about throttle being 'stuck' open in an emergancy.
Less watching your speed = more attention to the road and surroundings.
More pleasurable (longer) rides.
One more mod to be proud of having.

Disadvantages:

Expensive (approx. US$600 including the model-specific wire harness - US$40).
Takes more than a couple hours to install.
One more thing to answer questions about from lookie-lous.

If I were to be riding just a few more miles/day and/or touring at all more I would invest in this product for my 650. I'm still 'on the fence' but it's something I would spend $600 on before paying that much (or more) for a custom seat. Your mileage may certainly vary!
Anyone know where I can get an espresso machine that fits in the glovebox?

[burg650]

Where is this company from who makes this cruise control.

[Ranko]

I don't know how you guys feel about Audiovox, but they make cruise controls for cars, some of which have a dash mounted switch pod which looks at home in the center of the Burgman handlebars. The kits I've found have been under $200, so I'm considering ordering it. I spoke with a person who installed a kit on his Hayabusa, and he said it wasn't much more work than the MCCruise would have been.

[Selias]

Where is this company from who makes this cruise control.

Found this on the home page:

Please use the following methods to contact Spoiled Biker, inc:
Email: joe@spoiledbiker.com
Tel: 1-877-246-7187
Address: PO Box 700628 Saint Cloud, Fl 34770

Ranko,
I have no problems with Audiovox. I haven't heard of the product you describe and do not know how it would work or look on a Burgman but would be interested in looking at a link.

[PBee]

Well I have gone and ordered the McCruise motorcycle cruise control for my Burgman 650. I have ordered it with the custom model specific wiring loom.

I installed the McCruise a couple months ago and love it. If I need to ride the freeway, (which I’ll avoid whenever possible), it’s set it and relax. But then you know that from your commercial driving. The instructions and pics that come with the unit make the installation quite easy. Read twice and install once.

The company that makes the McCruise is in Australia - Joe is the US distributor and a hell of a good guy to call if you have any questions.

[Selias]

I PM'd DrWhom about specifics on the cruise control and I would like to share his reply to all those 650 owners who would be interested in this product.

Yes, I installed it in Feb. I have to say it is probably my favorite mod. I use it every day. It helps me control my speed and also relax my hands. It took me about one day to install it. The instructions are specifiic to a Burgman 650 installation and I just followed them to the letter. If you decide to get it I recommend the "bike speciifc wiring harness" which made the process easier. The only negatives are the high cost of the unit and the somewhat complicated installation which is probably not for the 'mechanically faint of heart'. I did not take any pictures during the the installation(primarily because of the negativity I perceived when I made that post) but if you check out my pictures in the gallery you'll be able to see the control unit mounted just under the left grip in several of the pictures.
see link: http://burgmanusa.com/gallery/Lazy-Flam ... ewsIndex=1

Thanx for your reply. I have no objection to you including any of my observations or opinions in anything you would like to publish.

As far as the day to day performance goes I have been very satisfied. It operates almost identically to the cruise control in my car and commercial truck. It will not hold or set speed below about 25 mph. At about 30 mph it seems to surge a little between say 28 and 31 mph which I attribute to the throatle opening being so small and the rpms so low. Above the 45 it seems to hold speed almost exactly with no surging noticed at all. If the speed limit changes say from 45 to 55 I often just push the set/acc button in until I reach the right speed and let it go and it holds it perfectly. Its pretty flat over here in west central Florida so I can't really comment to much on it hill holding abilities. The only real hill climbing tests it's received has been going over the bridges over Tampa Bay which it seems to done without my really noticing anything. The next time I go over the bridge I'll pay attention and let you know. I use my bike to commute 30 miles round trip about 4 out of 5 days a week. I start at 5:00 and therefore go to work in the dark and come home in rush hour traffic. I always use the cruise on the way to work so as not to speed (too much). It also allows me to rest both hands open covering the brake levers in case some animal crosses into traffic and at all the lights.

chris

As you can see (akin to a car's cruise control) it is not for stop & go driving but for open road riding so for those who tour or ride longer miles it would be of more use. HTH!

[Ranko]

Ranko,
I have no problems with Audiovox. I haven't heard of the product you describe and do not know how it would work or look on a Burgman but would be interested in looking at a link.

http://www.audiovox.com -> Find a Product -> Mobile -> Cruise Controls

I'm looking around for the one I saw in the gallery.

[Selias]

Thanks Ranko. I would (personally) lean towards something made specifically for the 650 but would love to hear if anyone has adapted the audiovoxx product to their Burgman!

I could not find anything in the gallery for the Audiovox but I did find a good one on the McCruise Control thanks to Travis Johnson!

http://burgmanusa.com/gallery/travisnj/MCcruise/

[Duster]

drwhom, I would LOVE to have your problem in the big truck. When I get my dump truck wound-up with the pedal flat on the floor, I'm luck to get it up to the speed limit on the freeway. Please wave as you go by.

[stvsanders@aol.com]

I recently spent over $1400 to have my Suzuki dealership install an MC Cruise , a Talon alarm with remote trunk release and Motolights -- boy was I shocked at the price for installing these. The problem is that even with a little incline the MC Cruise will not hold the speed it is set at, drifting from 82 down to 73 or so. On steeper climbs it drifts below 68, making me somewhat of a road hazard. Needless to say I am much poorer and somewhat frustrated. The rpms try to stay at the same but the mph drifts unless it is absolutely flat. In addition, I bought the Talon alarm since it was installed by someone here who had good luck with it, especially with the remote trunk release, but the mechanic said that the remote trunk release would not work on the Burgman. Any ideas from anyone with experience with the MC Cruise, or is the MC Cruise designed for flat landers? I sent an e-mail to MC Cruise from their website only to have it returned by the mailer deamon as undeliverable.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

P.S. The mechanic also dropped my bike testing the Cruise and scraped the right fairing! LOL!

[PBee]

I recently spent over $1400 to have my Suzuki dealership install an MC Cruise , a Talon alarm with remote trunk release and Motolights -- boy was I shocked at the price for installing these. The problem is that even with a little incline the MC Cruise will not hold the speed it is set at, drifting from 82 down to 73 or so. On steeper climbs it drifts below 68, making me somewhat of a road hazard. Needless to say I am much poorer and somewhat frustrated. The rpms try to stay at the same but the mph drifts unless it is absolutely flat. In addition, I bought the Talon alarm since it was installed by someone here who had good luck with it, especially with the remote trunk release, but the mechanic said that the remote trunk release would not work on the Burgman. Any ideas from anyone with experience with the MC Cruise, or is the MC Cruise designed for flat landers? I sent an e-mail to MC Cruise from their website only to have it returned by the mailer deamon as undeliverable.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

P.S. The mechanic also dropped my bike testing the Cruise and scraped the right fairing! LOL!

Steve - - That so called “mechanic” didn’t follow all the instructions for the install. I did my own and at speed going up the mountains or going down the mountains my speed doesn’t fluctuate more than a couple mph. And by “couple” I mean 2. On the flat I get a fluctuation of perhaps 1.0 mph according to my GPS Under 40 mph I do get more of a fluctuation.

How long did they work on your Burgman? How in the world did he drop it “testing the cruise”? When calibrating the computer you need to be riding a steady 45 mph – and testing it should be going at least the same speed. As I said I installed my Mc Cruise – and yes it took me all day, (read the instructions twice and installed once). After the install it took me a while to get everything calibrated. Okay – figure total time of 10 hours, (that includes some coffee breaks – b.s. breaks with neighbors). With a flat rate of $80 an hour that’s still only $800.

Email Joe at joe@spoiledbiker.com or call him at 877.246.7187. He’s in Florida and seems to always answer the phone – even on weekends. Talk to him – get his input and then get back to the dealer and demand that he either does it correctly or refund your money.

[stvsanders@aol.com]

Thanks Pat. I have e-mailed Joe.

Steve

[Ragman]

Have any of you tried the "Throttle Rocker"? See the following website:
http://www.throttlerocker.com/

It may not be a full fledged cruise-control but it certainly helps relieve the wrist pain on decent rides. Being able to use the palm of your hand allows you to stretch your fingers from their curled position around the throttle.

[Selias]

Have any of you tried the "Throttle Rocker"? See the following website:
http://www.throttlerocker.com/

It may not be a full fledged cruise-control but it certainly helps relieve the wrist pain on decent rides. Being able to use the palm of your hand allows you to stretch your fingers from their curled position around the throttle.

Throttlerocker (as well as ThrottleBoss and I believe there is a CrampBuster) are simple ergonomic strap-on or clip-on 'paddles'. They are not cruise controls. In the same category are all the throttle locking devices (o-rings, and more expensive 'locking' devices). I bought 5 o-rings for my 400 which did the same thing as the rocker you name ($1.49) except I could remove my hand completely from the right handle if I wished (not recommended, of course). There are cautions associated with all of these and the locks and paddles are not recommended for in-town riding. Apples and Oranges. I can use my palm with no o-ring or rocker at all. I understand these alternatives are far cheaper and help considerably (over nothing at all) but they are not a 'cruise control'.
NOTE: When the FAQ project goes live each of the various options (with links) will be included and explored. Some will opt for less expensive and more limited solutions while others will opt for a complete cruise control (like you would find on a car).

[Ragman]

Selias: I agree with you that they are not a "cruise control". And you are right about using one of those in town. I find myself rotating the paddle close to straight underneath so as not to hit it inadventently during a right hand turn (happened once or twice) in town or in traffic.