Sorry guys, not installing it on a ZX14. Its getting put on my new C14 instead.....

1) Rostra kit - $240 plus shipping : Rostra CC kit

2) Extra relay - $10.35 plus shipping : relay

3) buy or already have a)wire stripper / crimper, b) 16 gauge wire in black and red, c) tube shrink wrap and heat gun.

Then, read this C14 How-To at least 5 times, slowly. It will make complete sense somewhere between the 2nd read and the 5th. LOL.

C14 How-To

* Last updated by: privateer on 2/12/2012 @ 5:42 AM *

This is the kit plus 1 extra relay. Simple, eh? Sure is. Just the wiring harness is a little daunting. No worries. The C14 walkthrough is pretty clear, and I hope to make mine more picture-oriented. If I can remember how to use Photoshop.

I think that’s too much electronics for me id F@#K that up for sure!!!!!

Sorry, this won't get finished. Its going on my new 2012 Concours 14 ABS, super black of course (fastest color).

It is now installed on my Connie. Passed diagnostics yesterday with flying colors.

Since I put the actuator up by the radiator, it is uncomfortably close to the left header tube. So I put a 5" x 7" ceramic core heat shield on the inside of the actuator, and wrapped it all with 2,000 self-adhesive heat shield cloth. The actuator won't even know its close to a header tube.

Had to fabricate a cable stay bracket to anchor the cable so it can pull on the idler arm..

Here is a close up of the bracket installed. I wrapped it in electrical tape just to keep it from vibrating against something...

Here is everything installed. All the wires have been bundled and put inside a vinyl tube for protection...

* Last updated by: privateer on 3/18/2012 @ 9:26 AM *

About a month ago I ran diagnostics on the Rostra cc install. It passed that just fine. I'm using the switch with an Engage light, so have a second relay in the circuit.

Today I took her out and got on US 81 North from Hagerstown to Chambersburg, which includes a long fairly steep incline which in the winter has tractor-trailers jacknifed and sliding down the hill.

The Rostra lit up the on light, and the illumination lights on the arrow buttons were on. I got up to speed, put her in Ecco mode, and thumbed SET. Darned if it didn't set instantly. So far so good.

Next, I pressed Accel arrow, and she sped up and when I quit pressing she set to the new speed. So I tried the Decel button, and she slowed down and set to the new speed when I released the button.

Then I touched the brakes, and she disengaged, and then I pressed Resume and she picked right up to the old speed.

I'm stoked, it was a lot of work and I cut all the wires down to just the length required, so there was always a chance I miss-spliced something or didn't solder properly.

So.... WOOHOO .... this is going to make going to Arkansas much nicer!

Damn I'd love to have actual cruise control

If the actuator ever fails (they do eventually, cars included) I will move it to the right side under the air tunnel cover, and run the cable across and down to the throttle. But this is a stepper motor actuator, not a vacuum one, so it may have a good life.

Or not. But for now, its working quite well.

You could put one on a ZX14, but I understand why McCruise charges about $1,000 for a ZX14 kit. You'd have to find wires in the wiring harness for NSS, VSS (I think its same location as C14), and a few other signals. But you could drop the actuator into the pocket on the side mid cowling panels, probably, with a bracket to hold it steady.

Don't have enough "pocket" on the C14 side panels to do that.

I moved it to the right side under the air tunnel cover, routed the cable between the valve cover and the bottom of the frame/tank, then down and looped to the cable stay in much the same position as originally.

It has performed perfectly since I moved it, and was a godsend going to and coming back from Arkansas.