Just finished putting on this Aussie cc on my new 06 and offer up these observations: Documentation is 1st rate install instructions are 48 pages with pics and/or drawings at every step. Quality a bit hard to judge at this point, but appears to be high. Cost is high, depending on currency exchange rate, at the time of purchase, mine about $570 US. I've put Audiovox cc on my 650 Vstrom and it probably cost around $150 when all was done. But I've been concerned about that little chain laying around waiting to get into mischief, especially on the FJR where space is even tighter than the Vstrom. So I talked myself into this unit instead of the AVcc, whas this the right decision, I guess time will tell.
The Audiovox on my Vstrom is slow to engage and maintain speed, but eventually does it, MCcc seems to respond much quickly and maintains speeds more accurately. The vaccum actuator does look suspiciously like the unit on the AVcc, but has an additional computer which appears to be programmed for m/c specific applications. Their speed sensor is a very clever soluition IMHO, it consists of a sensor mounted on the rear swing arm with tiny earth magnets placed INSIDE each of the mounting bolts of the rotor, hence needing no balancing. The amount of time MCcruise spends on documenting each and every model install I'm sure adds greatly to the cost. With the AVcc you do the R & D. (or get to stand on the shoulders of others who have do the heavy lifting for you!!!)
What makes this cc quite different from the AVcc is the use of separate cable to pull the throttle also no separate vacuum canister. Your grip cable goes to a box and when the throttle is twisted, rotates a cam device that pulls on the throttle. Their is no chain to worry about (although I've not heard from anyone having a issue with them). All this requires VERY carefull routing of the 3 cables: actuator, grip and throttle to maintain feel and reduce effort. With the high effort required on the 06 grip to begin with, careful attention is necessary. Although I didn't have a stock unit to compare with mine, effort seems to be on a par with stock. I VERY carefully lubed the cables with dri-slide several times to minimize drag which appeared to work. After installing everything the 1st time I went back and redid the cables to improve the feel. This week I'll do the spring release to improve further. Guess I'm somewhat "MonK"ish!
Technical help from the factory over the net and Spoiledbiker.com (where I bought it) has been outstanding. Frank and Tony with MCcruise were especially helpful with very technical explainations and advice. Everything has been considered and documented and no cutting required, really plug & play. I'm somewhat anal and it took me 2 weeks to install, working on it part time each day. Because this is so important to safety I was EXTREMELY carefull with all the mechanical parts of this install. I took this opportunity to do the heated grips, batt monitor and relay controlled fuse block at the same time, so this slowed progress. Joe @ spoiled biker says about 5 hours install, I'd say 10 is more like it depending how skilled and confident you are. There are significant test procedures to follow (if you care to) to afirm that the unit is ready for road testing, with the AVcc you just do a road test and hope it works ok.
If you order one, I'd suggest ordering the control unit with a top mount, which I didn't realize you could do until too late. The control unit is on the left grip mounting above or below the switch housing for turn signals. I got the bottom mount, by default, which interfered with my Engage tank bag, a top mount wouldn't have this problem. I found a way to mount it to the left bar down about 1/2 way to the triple clamp, not ideal, but workable.
I've got tendenitis in both both forearems so electronic cruise control is a must, but for you'all not aflicted, maybe a throttle rocker might do. I never did like a cruise which locks on the throttle, aka throttlemeister. The other ones that click off with a button or operation of the front brake I've never tried so maybe they'd be just fine.
The Audiovox on my Vstrom is slow to engage and maintain speed, but eventually does it, MCcc seems to respond much quickly and maintains speeds more accurately. The vaccum actuator does look suspiciously like the unit on the AVcc, but has an additional computer which appears to be programmed for m/c specific applications. Their speed sensor is a very clever soluition IMHO, it consists of a sensor mounted on the rear swing arm with tiny earth magnets placed INSIDE each of the mounting bolts of the rotor, hence needing no balancing. The amount of time MCcruise spends on documenting each and every model install I'm sure adds greatly to the cost. With the AVcc you do the R & D. (or get to stand on the shoulders of others who have do the heavy lifting for you!!!)
What makes this cc quite different from the AVcc is the use of separate cable to pull the throttle also no separate vacuum canister. Your grip cable goes to a box and when the throttle is twisted, rotates a cam device that pulls on the throttle. Their is no chain to worry about (although I've not heard from anyone having a issue with them). All this requires VERY carefull routing of the 3 cables: actuator, grip and throttle to maintain feel and reduce effort. With the high effort required on the 06 grip to begin with, careful attention is necessary. Although I didn't have a stock unit to compare with mine, effort seems to be on a par with stock. I VERY carefully lubed the cables with dri-slide several times to minimize drag which appeared to work. After installing everything the 1st time I went back and redid the cables to improve the feel. This week I'll do the spring release to improve further. Guess I'm somewhat "MonK"ish!
Technical help from the factory over the net and Spoiledbiker.com (where I bought it) has been outstanding. Frank and Tony with MCcruise were especially helpful with very technical explainations and advice. Everything has been considered and documented and no cutting required, really plug & play. I'm somewhat anal and it took me 2 weeks to install, working on it part time each day. Because this is so important to safety I was EXTREMELY carefull with all the mechanical parts of this install. I took this opportunity to do the heated grips, batt monitor and relay controlled fuse block at the same time, so this slowed progress. Joe @ spoiled biker says about 5 hours install, I'd say 10 is more like it depending how skilled and confident you are. There are significant test procedures to follow (if you care to) to afirm that the unit is ready for road testing, with the AVcc you just do a road test and hope it works ok.
If you order one, I'd suggest ordering the control unit with a top mount, which I didn't realize you could do until too late. The control unit is on the left grip mounting above or below the switch housing for turn signals. I got the bottom mount, by default, which interfered with my Engage tank bag, a top mount wouldn't have this problem. I found a way to mount it to the left bar down about 1/2 way to the triple clamp, not ideal, but workable.
I've got tendenitis in both both forearems so electronic cruise control is a must, but for you'all not aflicted, maybe a throttle rocker might do. I never did like a cruise which locks on the throttle, aka throttlemeister. The other ones that click off with a button or operation of the front brake I've never tried so maybe they'd be just fine.
