"Cruise Control" options?

Generally happy owner of a 2000 VFR800. I plan to do more longer distance riding and am looking for a "speed maintenance" option. I currently have a Cramp Buster, which works pretty well for basic/shorter term stuff, but for longer distance, I'd prefer something more. I've been researching various cruise control/throttle lock options. Ideally, the solution would include the following features:

- Maintain a set speed
- Disengage when the brake is applied (or throttled up) for that "emergency maneuver"
- Not cost more than the bike is worth to install

I understand that throttle locks merely hold the throttle position. Not as ideal but if it's the best option overall, I won't automatically rule any option out. Oh, and btw, I have heated grips, for what it's worth (heard that some devices either won't work with them or the manufacturer says they won't or won't recommend them. Here's what I've seen/heard/thought so far:

THROTTLEMEISTER and KAOKO
Lots of riders using them and recommending them, but every video I seem to find shows people activating/deactivating them while the bike is off. Many are using two hands or their left hands to set them. And I haven't found a video of anyone actually activating or deactivating them while actually riding. So how easy is it to do while in motion? It seems like you'd be trying to hold a throttle position while also rotating the unit to set it with the same hand. Doesn't appear to be easy. Or is it? And to "disengage" you roll off the throttle. Unlike a regular throttle which doesn't have resistance, I would imagine these devices would require some amount of force to roll off the throttle. If the need to quickly brake or perform an evasive maneuver, it would require actively forcing the throttle down as you're trying to apply the front brake. Not the most ideal situation I would imagine?

OMNI-CRUISE and GO CRUISE: Both seem to work the same way. Pretty straightforward and seem fairly simple to engage. Like the throttlemeister and kaoko, it requires actively using some force to roll off the throttle, as opposed to letting the spring work. Again, in an emergency situation you can't just allow the throttle to snap back into a resting position while you apply the front brake. Maybe it's not a big deal, but not having used one I can't say for sure.


NEP CRUISE CONTROL and VISTA CRUISE CONTROL (really a throttle lock)
Thumb activated/deactivated, locks the throttle into position. Simple design, seems intuitive and most importantly, easy to engage/disengage for a throttle lock. Inexpensive. Seems like a win? Anyone using either of them?

BRAKE AWAY CRUISE CONTROL
The only throttle lock I've found that will disengage when you squeeze the front brake lever. Seems like a win, like the closest thing to how a car cruise control works (i.e. it disengages automatically when you brake; still a throttle lock, however)

ROSTRA
An electronic cruise control that, while not specifically designed for motorcycles, functions on basis of maintaining speed through monitoring it, disengages when it senses the brakes are being applied, and adjusts the throttle to maintain a set speed. More expensive than other options, requires at least some level of know-how to DIY install it. No extra vacuum canister requirement, etc. like on the Audiovox (an automotive cruise control that requires additional mods to your bike to work).


So I'm checking in with you, fellow VFRs, with your vast and diverse experience:

What do you have?
Install yourself or had it done, and how difficult/expensive was it?
How satisfied are you with it?
Caveats? Recommendations?

Thanks for any advice, and let the games begin!

 

I for one actually do used the Kaoko Cruise, while riding...about every day. I live about 17 miles one-way from work and about 12 of those miles are highway. If you just slide your hand down to the area where your normal bar-end would be, and as you roll the throttle back just roll the Kaoko back also, it locks the throttle. It's not ever locked stiffly enough to cause a safety issue. If you want to roll it forward the same way, it will be disengaged. if you just roll the throttle forward on its own, it will disengage. Easy to get use to and nice quality. A few friends that ride have seen it and thought it was OEM.



The hardest part of the install is removing the stock bar-end. As with any "throttle lock" type cruise, the speed will drift slightly but can easily be adjusted with the throttle, without any adjustment to the Kaoko unit.

I tried a Vista Cruise and didn't like it. Seemed kind of cheap however it was a lot more economic to purchase. I still have it in a box somewhere. I had considered the Break Away Cruise. It looks heavy duty and close to an OEM operation.

Good luck with your desission and just remember if you try something that's not for you, you can always change it and try something else.

 

Can't recount how many times i've boosted up the idle adjustment screw to maintain a steady, legal 65 mph on interstates and take a load off my wrist and CONSTANT need to monitor and control speed. Costs nothing, just what i can afford. :smug: Not recommended for guys with lotsa kids at home.

 

The "programmable" cruise controls are just one more farkle that can go haywire in the middle of nowhere. The plastic throttle gadgets break. Throttlemeisters are metal and counter weighted.

What I never figured out is why all the other bike manufacturers didn't follow the lead of BMW with their built in throttle locking thumb screw.

Now with the electronic throttles just more shit that can go wrong.

 

I have had one of those cheaper plastic throttle locks that BB refer to, on my bike fora few years now. A slight learning curve with them to get used to them, but I do like it. As has been noted, they only lock the throttle in position, so in traffic or on hills, you still have to adjust your speed....or not. But you can adjust the tension on the lock so that you can easily adjust the speed without disengaging the lock.

When Long and I put mine on, I recall that the space between the handlebar grips and the switches was very tight and the plastic was in some need of filing down to fit. Long did not have the tools for that. I just cut off the lip on the inside of the handlebar grip which freed up about 1/8 inch and the lock fits fine. Has been working for me ever since,

Tried one of those palm throttle paddles. Fucking scary things those are.

 

This is what I have on my scooter.

http://www.mccruise.com/collections/honda/products/16

 

I went with the Rosta on my FJR and have a Vista Cruise on the VFR.

 

I bought a spare R/R , some roadside insurance and some Jo-jo's.

 

Ive had the NEP for 15k miles and use it just about every time im on the highway its been a godsend on the longer trips

 

I use the OMNI-CRUISE [ www.omni-cruise.com ] every day.
Cost is ~$50.
High quality and well constructed - made of metal.
Easy to adjust tightness (customizable to your grip diameter) even while riding.
Easy to invoke while riding.
Easy to disengage by just turning the throttle - no danger risk that I have experienced.

As with all pressure style throttle locks:
I set it for 74; a uphill slows me down, and downhill speeds me up, yet it consistently returns to 74 on flats.

 

"Tried one of those palm throttle paddles. Fucking scary things those are."

I'm glad I'm not the only one that doesn't like those. I tried one once and hated it.

 

I bought an inexepensive plastic clamp type throttle lock. Works awesome. Here is a thread showing how I mounted it.

http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthread.php/39797-Custom-Handlebar-conversion?highlight=grip

Jose

 

Those work pretty well as a throttle lock. I have one on my Yamaha.

 

Cool design on that one. I'm not saying to re-install it on your bike but it could be put to other uses like cracking nuts.

 

I have a brake A way cruise eerrrr...throttle lock. They don't make one for the vfr but one of the suzuki ones fit the sixth gen. It was/is a bit of a pain to set up and maintain - seems like every so often the alignment gets off and begins to cause a drag on the rotation of the throttle even with brake a way off. When it does work it works as well as a throttle lock can work and I do REALLY like the fact that it will shut of if I touch the front brake handle or just push the off button. I don't think it was worth the $170 price tag! If I was to do it all over again i would do a full out electronic cruise control but that is a LOT of money and even more of a pain in the ass to install!

 

I have a cheap breakable plastic throttle lock gadget on my bike. It was easy to install, cheap as dirt, works a treat with the on/off lever convenient to my right thumb and the friction is set so perfectly (I did that!) that it holds the throttle but it can also be slammed shut or just moved and adjusted as needed. The only draw back is a slight obstruction of the starter button.

 

Does this same outfit make kickstarter kits too?