Rostra Electronic (non vacuum) Cruise Control

[msitter@bellsouth.net]

This topic of the vss output signal and how to connect it to the Rostra Cruise Control has been visited several times over the years and never fully resolved. I see where the Australian high dollar cruise control setup is seemingly able to tap into the signal successfully on the old vacuum unit but since that has not been produced for a few years they must have come up with a solution for the fully electronic unit. The $800 difference between theirs and the Rostra unit makes finding a solution a real benefit to the Rocket III community. Since the Rostra unit works with virtually all vehicles, the solution to the Rocket III must be just escaping some of the more technically adept members of the site. Is the solution to grab the signal before or after the ECU? I can't imagine that the output signal is completely unique to the Rocket III and not similar to some other vehicles. The magnetic pickup solution just seems tacky and somewhat of an afterthought. If the smarter minds here put their collective heads together I feel a resolution is attainable. Anyone help please.​

 

[tdragger]

This topic of the vss output signal and how to connect it to the Rostra Cruise Control has been visited several times over the years and never fully resolved. I see where the Australian high dollar cruise control setup is seemingly able to tap into the signal successfully on the old vacuum unit but since that has not been produced for a few years they must have come up with a solution for the fully electronic unit. The $800 difference between theirs and the Rostra unit makes finding a solution a real benefit to the Rocket III community. Since the Rostra unit works with virtually all vehicles, the solution to the Rocket III must be just escaping some of the more technically adept members of the site. Is the solution to grab the signal before or after the ECU? I can't imagine that the output signal is completely unique to the Rocket III and not similar to some other vehicles. The magnetic pickup solution just seems tacky and somewhat of an afterthought. If the smarter minds here put their collective heads together I feel a resolution is attainable. Anyone help please.​

AMEN. I'd love to see someone post a resolution to this!

 

[msitter@bellsouth.net]

Maybe we can post a reward for the individual who successfully figures this out and proves that it works. If all those who are looking for a resolution put up a small amount of cash and put it in a responsible persons hands to hold, it may entice some of the real technicians on this site to come up with a solution. There is a lot of brainpower on this site, look at some of the technical modifications that have come out of this forum on a motorcycle that is not well supported in the aftermarket. I know there are a lot of people who are interested in a $200 electronic cruise control. That is only slightly above the price of the Throttlemeister. I have a Throttlemeister and I think the heavy duty model with the matching other bar end was $130 dollars when I bought it. I just bought the Rostra unit with the lighted dash switch for $192 delivered. Considering how much better the electronic unit works, that is not a big premium.

 

[NickeHild]

What we need is answers to the following?

Enhanced Adaptability
Works with 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 Cylinders
Select ECM, AC Generator, Magnets, or Pulse Sender as Speed Signal Source
Select Square or Sine Wave Speed Signal Source
Select Acceleration Rate
Select Gain Control
Select Manual or Automatic Transmission
Select Open Circuit or Closed Circuit Engagement Switches

 

[NickeHild]

Been reading the installation pdf: http://www.rostra.com/manuals/250-1223Form4565F.pdf

Seems very straightforward, find VSS (vehicle speed signal)cable to keep the speed, and a signal from breaklight to turn it off

Can't be hard, most work will be around the throttle cable

 

[msitter@bellsouth.net]

Been reading the installation pdf: http://www.rostra.com/manuals/250-1223Form4565F.pdf

Seems very straightforward, find VSS (vehicle speed signal)cable to keep the speed, and a signal from breaklight to turn it off

Can't be hard, most work will be around the throttle cable

Someone has tried the vss wire and connected it. All that happened was the speedometer quit working and he ended up using the magnets on the wheel with the add on speed sensor. He never said whether he picked up the signal before the ECU from the sensor to the ECU or after the ECU on the way to the speedo. The big question is whether the ECU changes the signal out to something the speedometer can read or it just passes the signal unaltered through the ECU. The throttle cable hookup is probably one of the more straightforward bits of minor fab work and pretty obvious to do. The vss hookup is the big question that no one has answered. I talked to Rostra directly about it and for liability reasons they will not give any motorcycle information or support.

 

[Macrider]

Cruise control

That would be good to know as I am planning to install one on my bike.
If anyone goes ahead and installs one soon please take step by step detailed pictures of the installation.
I would need all the help I can get...

 

[msitter@bellsouth.net]

It is truly amazing that so many people want this and no one has been able to solve the problem. I have looked at other bike brands blog sites and all of them have this figured out. I think I know where the vss is but how to test that it is the right connection escapes me entirely. Somebody help please.

 

[msitter@bellsouth.net]

Anyone? I understand that the Power Commander may also use the vss signal. This has been figured out on almost all the other brand forums, even the bikes that have drive by wire. Check the BMW, Concours 14 , Suzuki and Honda forums, they are all using the Rostra electronic cruise control. If someone has gotten so far into the ECU and its reprogramming on the Rocket III, how can they miss the vss signal? The Australian company taps the vss somewhere and the cruise they use looks very much like the Rostra/ Audiovox unit. I just paid $200 for the cruise unit and the activation switch, they charge $1000 for their unit so the extra $800 seems like a hefty premium for a wiring harness. There might even be a business opportunity for someone. I can come up with the brackets and the throttle hookup if someone else can do the wiring. The clutch switch and the brakelight switch is easy, just the vss signal pickup and everythings good.

 

[rash_powder]

The speed sensor on my 2008 Touring is behind the kickstand. Two wire from it run up to under the small balck cover on the left side of the bike. My Power Commander said to hook into the pink one. Quite certain that the speedometer still works as it told me I was speeding last night.