Audiovox cruise control with installation service, all years

[kindofblue]

Hi Smitty,

Looks like you've struck a chord here. Have you considered taking your show on the road? Touring around the country, making a few $$ on installations. Alternatively set up shop at WFOs, etc. a couple days before the rally and you could write off your trip as a business expense

 

[smitty141]

I ordered a cruise unit "for stock". So if anyone does not wish to go thru the trouble getting one. I have one ready to install.. Smitty :yahoo:

 

[airboss]

I ordered a cruise unit "for stock". So if anyone does not wish to go thru the trouble getting one. I have one ready to install.. Smitty :yahoo:

Smitty, did you get the vacuim can too, got to tell ya, glad we decided to go ahead and include it with the install, very smooth transitions beween power on, power off.

A week after the install and 800 mile later, very happy with this install. :clapping:

 

[mdisher]

I ordered a cruise unit "for stock". So if anyone does not wish to go thru the trouble getting one. I have one ready to install.. Smitty :yahoo:

After EOM when I come out for tires, mebe you can talk me into it... I'm not sold on it just yet That and we'll have to see what my fundage looks like at the time.

B)

 

[mehaffydr]

My 2005 is at Smittys right now going to drop off the skyway mount in the morning.

Its great having someone work on your Bike that you can trust to do such a fantastic job with no ********.

BY the end of week I will have cruise and SS brake and clutch lines.

 

[Shane Stump]

My 2005 is at Smittys right now going to drop off the skyway mount in the morning.
Its great having someone work on your Bike that you can trust to do such a fantastic job with no ********.

BY the end of week I will have cruise and SS brake and clutch lines.

Well, I got back in late last night from Smitty's (1478 mile round trip) and as expected, HE DID A FANTASTIC JOB installing the cruise control in my AE. I didn't have as much time to visit because of business obligations, but Smitty is a real straight up guy (NO BS)!

As far as the CC itself, here are my initial observations so far:

1) It works very well on FLAT roads.

2) It doesn't hold speed very well if the road has many ups / downs (not necessarily big ones). Example, setting the speed at 74 I experienced a speed range of 62-74 and this happened many times. As soon as I got to a flat road, the speed held +/- 1 mph.

Smitty emailed me an idea to try for #2. Even if it doesn't fix it, I am still happy as the CC allows me to rest my right hand on long rides. The ride up my right hand was numb after 250 miles (and I still have 500 to go) and I didn't experience any right hand problems on the trip back!

Again, if you need anything done to your FJR, I don't believe you will find a nicer / better person to do it than ol' Smitty!

Best Regards,

Shane

 

[mehaffydr]

I picked up my bike last night from Smitty's Garage. I now have a cruise installed in Skyway mount which is very nice.

Also Smitty installed my SS brake and clutch lines that I purchased from another member that I no way was going to do myself it included new pads and speed bleeders.

Also installed heat blaket.

So the results : AWSOME!!! the cruise works perfect the brakes also work perfect (lucky for me) and the SS lines really look nice. Havent road enogh yet for an opinion on the heat blanket but it sure looks and fits nice.

It sure is nice having someone close you can trust to work on my bike for things Im just not quite cofortable with.

Oh forgot to mention I dropped it off tuesday morning and picked up wednesday night!!

Thanks Smitty

 

[KSFJR]

Just got back from a few day trip including a stop by Smitty's to have the cruise installed. Outstanding work with everything done to make it first class including the nice touch of putting sheathing over all of the wires to clean things up. Also had the heat blanket installed and a tire change.

The cruise install would probably take a day or more or a first time installer and after watching Smitty l would still have him do the installation. It is easier to let someone like Smitty install the cruise as he is much more efficient than I could be. My observations are pretty much the same as Shane Stump's on the operation of the cruise but still a heck of an improvement over not having one. Just sorry that I waited this long.

I did notice that the fuel tank was cooler after the install of the blanket than before the install.

Smitty. his brother and another guy and I went over to the HSTA (Honda Sport Touring Association) ride over at Bull Shoals Lake, southern Missouri and northern Arkansas and had a great 350 mile ride Saturday on mostly Arky roads, including a ferry ride across the lake at the end of the day.

One tragic event there however. A rider on a CBR 600 took a big time spill and had to be helicoptered to Springfield, MO for care. They had the road shut down for close to an hour trying to get him stabilized. During that time, only about 10 or so cars stacked up and 50 or so motorcycles. Nice untraveled road.

 

[Shane Stump]

Just got back from a few day trip including a stop by Smitty's to have the cruise installed. Outstanding work with everything done to make it first class including the nice touch of putting sheathing over all of the wires to clean things up. Also had the heat blanket installed and a tire change.
The cruise install would take a fair amount of time for a first time installer and after watching him I still would just as soon not install one. My observations are pretty much the same as Shane Stump's on the operation of the cruise but still a heck of an improvement over not having one. Just sorry that I waited this long.

I did notice that the fuel tank was cooler after the install of the blanket than before the install.

Smitty. his brother and another guy and I went over to the HSTA (Honda Sport Touring Association) ride over at Bull Shoals Lake, southern Missouri and northern Arkansas and had a great 350 mile ride Saturday on mostly Arky roads, including a ferry ride across the lake at the end of the day.

One tragic event there however. A rider on a CBR 600 took a big time spill and had to be helicoptered to Springfield, MO for care. They had the road shut down for close to an hour trying to get him stabilized. During that time, only about 10 or so cars stacked up and 50 or so motorcycles. Nice untraveled road.

I have since had a "vacuum" added but I have not had a chance to ride it out of my local area to test it (I live in a relatively flat area where the CC doesn't need the extra pressure).

I will post my results from an upcoming ride to the Texas Hill Country (next weekend if weather permits).

Best Regards,

Shane

 

[smitty141]

Thanks averyone for the kind words about my work. I did edit my first post to add the following price's.

Anyone wanting a cruise installed on 2003-2006 manual shift models let me know. I can do it two ways...

Will do installs most Saturdays, maybe on Sunday (if no other way).

Install your unit............................... .$185. (includes vacuum can)

Cruise install (includes audiovox unit) $285. (included vacuum can)

My control pad bracket . $15.

Vacuum can is now included...

I have desided to put them on all bikes I do. Some work fine without, some don't. I just don't want someone from far away to have a issue and I am not close enought to take care of it. The vacuum can will add $10. dollors to the cost.

Thanks again, Smitty

 

[jestal]

Smitty, if you are ever looking for another spot to put the vacuum canister you might consider in the very end of the tail just in front of the tail light assembly. When the rack and rear tail section is removed (pretty quick to take off once you locate all the fasteners) you'll see a fairly large area that is totally unused space in the end of the tail. The only problem with it is two large ribs molded in the plastic that divide the area. I cut two semi-circles out of the ribs with a die grinder and serrated bit (takes longer to vacuum up the chips than cut out the clearance) and a piece of 2.5 inch PVC pipe lies in there perfectly. Glue a PVC pipe cap on each end, drill a hole in the side of the PCV, thread the plastic for 1/4 pipe and screw in a nipple. Lay a nice layer of black RTV along the cut down ribs, lay the pipe in place and put the tail back together. Takes NO room away from anything else and allows a substantial vacuum reservoir and really takes very little time to fab and install compared to some of the other options. That's where I ended up putting my vacuum reservior. My cruise holds speed perfectly up and down hills and resumes immediately with that reservior in that location. There is no reason the cruise should drop speed unless there is insuficient vacuum supply due to no reservoir.

 

[smitty141]

Here is the vacuum can I came up with. It mounts in the space in front of the rear shock. Saves a lot of room under the seat.. Heres a few pic's.

 

[ltcdrm]

Smitty,

I have an '06 AE and live in the Raleigh, NC area. Am interested in a cruise control and from what I read, you are the man to get it done. I don't have any plans to be in the St. Louis area any time soon but do plan on being in Daytona for Biketoberfest. Any suggestions on how we may be able to link up or do you have anybody else closer by that you would recommend. Thanks in advance. Dwane

 

[jestal]

For some reason I thought that would not fit on a bike with the ABS. Since I don't have ABS that area is available on my bike also but the tail allows a slightly longer and larger diameter piece of pipe and is totally invisible. Otherwise, that is exactly the reservoir I use.

 

[yamahlr]

If anyone around New York City does the same, I'd be interested....

 

[smitty141]

Just want to let all AE owners out there I will not be putting cruise units on that model. Due to the complexity, and lack of knowledge of the clutch system.

I did two installs this weekend, the first went perfect and the second was a disaster. jbrwky (Dave) came down from Wisconsin for a AE install. Everything was strait forward, and seam to go well. Well Dave left to get fuel and head to the motel. After fueling the clutch would not engage. He called and I went to see what the problem was... It did have a engine "light" and would run fine, but the clutch would not engage. We got the bike back to the shop and double checked everything..still nothing. I drove Dave to the Super 8, and thought I would start again in the morning. I have done several without any issues, but this one was not working.

I pulled the fuel rail, checked all the wiring and still would not work. Now I am wondering if it was something I did, or something just go wrong with this bike. Still not sure what the problem was...

I then completely removed the cruise control and put the bike back together. The engine light was gone and everything worked fine.

Here is the end result.......

Dave was terribly inconvenanced, and wasted a weekend. He also went home without a cruise unit installed. I have to say he is a very understanding man.. I did give him a full refund, and offered to pay his motel and fuel. He refused to take me up on that.

Dave, I am very sorry this didn't work out, and for the trouble you went through...

Sincerely, Smitty

 

[Shane Stump]

Just want to let all AE owners out there I will not be putting cruise units on that model. Due to the complexity, and lack of knowledge of the clutch system.
I did two installs this weekend, the first went perfect and the second was a disaster. jbrwky (Dave) came down from Wisconsin for a AE install. Everything was strait forward, and seam to go well. Well Dave left to get fuel and head to the motel. After fueling the clutch would not engage. He called and I went to see what the problem was... It did have a engine "light" and would run fine, but the clutch would not engage. We got the bike back to the shop and double checked everything..still nothing. I drove Dave to the Super 8, and thought I would start again in the morning. I have done several without any issues, but this one was not working.

I pulled the fuel rail, checked all the wiring and still would not work. Now I am wondering if it was something I did, or something just go wrong with this bike. Still not sure what the problem was...

I then completely removed the cruise control and put the bike back together. The engine light was gone and everything worked fine.

Here is the end result.......

Dave was terribly inconvenanced, and wasted a weekend. He also went home without a cruise unit installed. I have to say he is a very understanding man.. I did give him a full refund, and offered to pay his motel and fuel. He refused to take me up on that.

Dave, I am very sorry this didn't work out, and for the trouble you went through...

Sincerely, Smitty

Smitty,

So far mine is working GREAT (thanks)!

Out of curiosity, could it have been a defective CCS100 unit?

Best Regards,

Shane

 

[ndivita]

Smitty worked his magic on my 2005 ABS model yesterday. I was completely impressed by his competence. courtesy and professionalism. The Audiovox cruise unit worked great as I slabbed back to KC from the St. Louis area. If Smitty is within striking distance for any of you who desire a great cruise install at a reasonable price, don't delay, make your appointment. You won't regret it. I hope to be a repeat customer for other modifications or upgrades. Thank Smitty.

 

[KSFJR]

It is odd that the AE is not working. He has done a couple of FJR's with AE's and they worked fine. He did my 05 ABS two weeks ago and it is working fine although that has nothing to do with the problems he experienced on jbrwky's (Dave) bike. The cruise is certainly a worthwhile addition and I am sure that Dave would like to get it working. Perhaps with the knowledge on this board the problem can be solved. This is too convenient an item for the AE community to lose.

I just happend to talk to Smitty yesterday and he is pretty bummed out. He takes great pride in his work and is ready to hang it up but I think that a lot of us would lose a valuable resource if he doesn't get back on his horse again.

Chester

 

[jbrwky]

I just wanted to comment about the "failed" install on my AE. Everything that has been said about Smitty's professionalism, attention to detail, etc. was/is true. I watched the entire install and had great confidence when I left Smitty's that it would work fine. Why it didn't is simply a mystery. The fault light read "shift" and the owner's manual gives some pointers but no detail.

Does anyone know if it is possible that reorienting the computers that control the shift/clutch automation might cause a problem? Seems like really a "stretch" and the fault reading doesn't support this but where is the safety mechanism for detecting a "tip-over"?

Anyway, Smitty did a very professional job and I would recommend that anyone planning a CC install consider driving to his place and having him do it. He will get it done in probablly 1/3 or less the amount of time a first-timer will take and it will be done correctly. I also formed an opinion that doing this for the first-time would take a very long time for most. It is a long ways from "plug & play".

I am leaving this Saturday for about a 6000 mile ride and that CC sure would have been nice. Now I have to grind down a Vista Cruise far enough to fit the open space on the bar and hope it will still work. Anyway, Smitty does excellent work and I highly recommend you consider him not just for CC installation but shock, brake lines, etc.

#12168

06AE

00ZX12R

00SERG

99XX

00XR100(The Screamer)