Thinking (dangerous, at best) about the way the cruise control works on the newer baggers.

Used to be gospel that you don't use cruise on rainy roads because if you hit a slick spot, and the wheels started spinning, it would run away with you. Fair enough.

The newer bikes (mine's a 2012) seem to be so sensitive to RPM increases that I wonder if this is still the case.

You can prove this to yourself by rolling along in 5th gear with the cruise on. Using the throttle, increase your speed so you have to shift into 6th. As soon as you pull the clutch, the cruise drops out. I looked at the fiche and didn't see a switch in the clutch lever so I'm pretty sure that the RPM increase is what causes the cruise to drop out. Would that make it safe enough to ride on wet roads?

David

 

Being new to these bikes (I come from the Sporty world) I believe the cruise is electronic with the controller taking input from brakes and throttle position. I'm still getting used to the cruise, but I would seriously doubt I would want to use cruise in the rain on a bike. Things are treacherous enough without adding one more thing to the mix. I never use my cruise in snow and ice (on my van) due to potential wheel spin. Don't know why you'd want to risk it on two wheels.
But then this is my two cents worth!!!

 

No. I think they have always done that. I still wouldn't use it where traction is questionable at best.

 

There is a clutch switch - just like the brake switch. Having said that, I don't think the danger is from the wheels speeding up but not being able to quickly react to hydroplaining by releasing the throttle.

 

Cruise control on any vehicle cuts off when it senses quick rpm changes. I have add-on cruise on a '61 Studebaker and it has a sensor attached to a plug wire to shut off if rpms increase quickly.

DON'T use your cruise in rainy weather.

 

Don't think any cruise control is going to start the wheel spinning in the rain. Regardless, nothing inherently wrong with choosing not to use it in the rain.

 

my 09 the cruise disconnects if:

clutch pulled in

brakes applied

throttle rolled forward

switched off


I can leave the cruise 'set' and accelerate past a truck (for instance), and when I release the throttle, the bike will resume at the set speed on the cruise.

I have not experimented on slick surfaces in which the rear tire might loose traction giving a 'sudden' increase


mike

 

I think somewhere in the manual it states something about a sudden increase of acceleration shuts off the cruise...

 

Right out of the 09 Electrical Manual.

The ECM monitors both the engine RPM and the VSS

output speed signal. The ECM signals the throttle control

actuator to open or close the throttle to keep the speedometer

output speed signal constant. The engine RPM is

monitored to detect engine overspeed, a condition which

automatically causes cruise disengagement.

5. The ECM automatically disengages cruise mode whenever

Still don't advize Cruise Control when riding in the rain.

the ECM receives one of the following inputs:

a. front or rear brake is applied.

b. throttle is "rolled back" or closed, thereby actuating

throttle roll-off (disengage) command.

c. motorcycle clutch is disengaged (ECM senses too

great an increase in RPM).

d. cruise on/off switch placed in the off position.

e. handlebar-mounted engine stop switch placed in the

off position.

f. handlebar-mounted cruise SET/RESUME switch is

pushed to SET and held in that position until vehicle

speed drops below 30 MPH (48 km/h) or pushed to

RES until vehicle speed exceeds 85 MPH (137 km/h).

 

I don't use my CC in the rain. Doesn't seem to be a safe thing to do. Just my 2 cents.