Electronic Cruise Control questions.

[John Schmidt]

What's considered to be the best unit for the Valk and where did you get it. I'm assuming they're a bit pricey which is understandable. I just want to get away from the vacuum operated unit I've had for maybe 20 yrs or more, it's getting a little cantankerous and since I have the tank and airbox off I'd like to address the situation. It would let me get rid of the vacuum reservoir and associated vacuum tubes.

Also, let me know where you have your control module mounted, my trike is an Interstate.

[f6john]

John, this is old news but I bought an MCruise many moons ago manufactured by a company in Australia but marketed here. It was electronic na used an automotive control system but it still used a vacuum canister. They are still in business and have made changes and upgrades to what I had. Rams and I installed the cruise off my bike onto his trike and it worked well for him until it didn't! I/we troubled shot it over the phone with the Australian company a couple of years ago and came to the conclusion that the control box was done.


https://www.google.com/search?q=mc+cruise+control&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari

I'm not recommending or poopooing the company but it is an option to consider.

[John Schmidt]

I know there are riders out there with the Rostra installed, I just need to know a model number and possibly any installation suggestions or a heads-up on problems.

[Mooskee]

I found this forum link about installing a Rostra on a Tourer.

https://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,86066.msg846383.html#msg846383

Contact Bob Smith, Attic Rat. He installed the one on my trike back when he owned the trike. Bob can probably help with a lot of details.

The Rostra works perfectly on my trike.

[Pluggy]

Might it be possible, on a trike...... To measure the pulses of magnets mounted to the driveshaft?  If that would work, it might make for an easier installation.

[John Schmidt]

I believe some installations have used magnets on one of the wheels. When I restored an '84 Std. Wing some years back, I tossed the nonworking gauges and mounted an electronic combo unit(speedo, tach, gear indicator, fuel, odometer). Since the speedo pickup was the same as on the Valk Std. and Tourer...mounted on the left fork and driven by the front wheel, I used a pickup off a Valk I/S which uses an electric pulse for the non-mechanical speedo. To correct the ouput of the pickup, I used an item called a SpeedoHealer. I ran the output wires from the pickup back to the Healer sitting under the seat, from there the Healer output then went to the wire used to drive the elec. speedo. The Healer is adjustable to correct the bike's speedo down to the nit. Was rather easy...I grabbed a roll of duct tape and temorarily mounted a GPS to the handlebars so I could compare the speed shown on the GPS to that of the bike. I then pulled off the road, removed the seat and made adjustments. Back on the road I again compared the readings, did it 2-3 times until I got the speed reading adjusted to what I wanted. I actually adjusted it to read about 3mph high, a safety measure meant to cut down on speeding tickets in the city of Winter Park. 

If an electronic CC needs a pulse to drive it, I would think a SpeedoHealer(see link) would do the trick when driven by an I/S pickup. I've used it twice with good success, once on my '84 Std. Wing and once on my friend Carman Allen's Valk after installing an elec. speedo/tach combo. Knowing Carman, I also set his to read a bit high.


https://www.healtech-electronics.com/products/sh/

[ridingron]

MCCruise is electronic now. No vacuum canister needed.

[John Schmidt]

MCCruise is electronic now. No vacuum canister needed.

Yes, no vacuum canister is about the only good thing they offer...the price is just shy of $1,000. I'd go back to what we used to rig up for a throttle lock first...a round strip of a bicycle innertube and a large hose clamp. Not exactly BreakAway technology but it worked if you were on a long haul to your out-of-town lover du jure. 

I've looked at Rostra, the 250-1223 model, runs in the mid $300's, but most kits you have to buy the switching separate. I could probably use the one from the Audiovox system, just have to match the function of the various wires. I've wired up stuff a lot more complicated than that. One example would be adapting Harley controls to the Valk wiring harness, have done it maybe a half dozen times over the years. Has a better starting circuit, separate turn control buttons...left & right, and it's all chrome. Just add a module in the turn circuit and you now have self canceling turn signals to boot.

[h13man]

The Brake Away has been the best reliable cruise control made and still $190 after 25 yrs. I always use front brake 1st. thus rear brake disengagement isn't possible with this unit as its only flaw. 

https://brakeawayproducts.com/