I've decided to ride my 2008 ZX14 another season. Its already set up and very close to being as comfortable as a C14 anyway.

The big reason is the rumors circulating that the 2013 C14 is going to get a neutered 2012 ZX14 engine, which is more engine than the C14s have now. Also, lots of chatter about finally (FINALLY!) putting an electronic cruise control on them, since the BMW competition has it already.

So, I vowed 2 years ago to put an electronic cruise control on my ZX14, but the cost of an MCruise from Australia is obscenely high.

Turns out, Murph (big seller of C14 farkles) has a Rostra electronic cruise control kit (which is what the Audiovox cc kit uses) and this puppy doesn't need a vacuum reservoire because it uses a motor to actuate the throttle.

And it is 1/4 the price of the MCruise kit, maybe 1/2 after all the pieces are added in.

So once I get the mirror wideners on, and the cc installed, its all good until the facts about the 2013 come out this coming fall.

Riding to Arkansas in June for the COG National, and Rhode Island for the COG Eastern Region Spring Rally, and have several 3-day and 2-day rides with the mc. My ride schedule is getting full already.

If anyone else wants info about the Rostra, just google "murph's kits" and its in the miscellaneous accessories section, about halfway down the page. Be sure to ask him for a switch (tell him Fred Harmon said to ask) and you'll get a free on/off switch to mount on your handlebars. Maybe not free, but possibly. I am getting it free because I'm a COG member.

keep us posted on the install

sounds great I guessing that you will be on the ZX14 then for the COG rally. Ill see you there. I think Ill be riding my ZX as well. I was going to ride my Connie 1000 but if I get the ZX together like I want Ill be riding that.

Wow, only $240 for the kit?? does that actually include everything that you need? the last time i looked into this cruise control systems were nearly $1000

Yes, it is everything. You really need to spend $30 more for a relay (Murph sells one that works fine) to tie the brake to so it "turns off" the cc when you hit the brakes.

It is not plug and play though. You have to tap the VSS wires (the VSS is located on top of the transmission case, unscrew the bolt, it lifts off) and the aforementioned brake wire.

There are several how-to articles posted at Murph's which have pictures and detailed instructions. One for a C14 (very close to a ZX14, probably plug compatible at the VSS) and one for the BMW K-whatever, so it must be doable on a ZX14.

Anyway, I read the C14 instructions, and they make perfect sense from the ZX14 standpoint.

* Last updated by: privateer on 1/19/2012 @ 12:42 PM *

After studying Brian Felice's write up and photos, I can say now it will be cake to install. Everything used on the C14 install is exactly the same on the ZX14.

This is going to make a lot of my long rides this summer much nicer!

One more thing. Murph sells a control mount for your handlebars seperately, but I am going to go to my friends machine shop and make a custom one because I want it on the left side. I also need to make it work with my existing GPS installation. So the one-size-fits-all mount bracket won't work for me.

Murph's the man, he already shipped my stuff....

We are having unseasonably warm weather here. Granted, some dark chilly days, but far more still not so cold days with the sun out. If I get a weekend of 50ish degree weather with some sun, the garage will warm up a little, and I'll get the left side cowling all pulled off and get the box mounted at least.

Cool find!

I'm stoked, Cooter. I didn't think I'd get to buy an electronic cruise control for the ZX14 because it was either buy the Audiovox and wing it without instructions, or the MCruise and pay $1,000.

And both require a vacuum reservoir so you have to connect to an engine vacuum line.

The Rostra is fully electronic, and doesn't use vacuum but instead uses a stepper motor to pull on the cable. So unlike a vacuum actuated system, there is no wandering around of speed due to vacuum changing as the engine conditions change.

Set it, the stepper stops moving and won't move again until you disengage or change it.

When I ride to Arkansas this summer, a big section of my route is on a state slab highway (divided). It has a lot of wide-arc sweepers, but its still a slab. The cruise control will allow me to run those kinds of roads without having to keep the throttle open with my right hand.

Yea privateer now you got me thinking about it for my bike because you know FL 500 miles 5 curves!

Actually, I got a book of best motorcycle rides (I don't mean flat out for 15 miles on fresh road that has weak sweepers at best which lead you to overestimate your abilities and motorcycle - not talking about you, Cooter - grin) and it seems Florida has a hilly section or two with some really good roads!

One is around Sugarloaf Mountain, and the other is Iron Mountain up on the Alabama line.

* Last updated by: privateer on 1/24/2012 @ 4:09 AM *

Ok, the kit arrived from Murph today. I will start taking digital pictures as I install, and try to put a How-To in the appropriate section.

thanks