Well, this will be a little long, so here's your warning to get out now if you don't like reading long posts...
Being a self proclaimed techno-nerd, I am always on the lookout for new technology related bits to install on my bike. I ran across an article in Motorcycle Consumer News about (former Indy 500 Racer) Dominic Dobson's Motion Research Corporation and its SportVue division. They produce a Heads Up Display Unit for Motorcycles. After some research, I decided this could be really cool and ordered one. Here are the details of the installation. I will come back here from time to time throughout this year's riding season to offer additional comments about how I like it.
Well here goes - Complete with Photos.
I ordered the MC2 which comes complete to display Speed, RPM, Gear and a Radar Alert. It all comes neatly packaged in a rather small box...
The part that mounts to the Helmet's Visor is called the HMD - short for Helmet Mounted Display. It looks like this...
The real brain behind the system is the MSU - short for Motorcycle Sending Unit. It is remarkably small, I've placed my Triumph key next to it for size comparison...
The first thing I did was choose a location to mount the MSU. While the instructions suggest simply mounting it under the passenger seat, I have already installed a StarCom1 Communications System in that location and wanted to look for another spot. I ended up selecting a spot under the front tank cover on top of the air box...
The next step involved some digging through my service manual to locate the correct wire that runs from the ECM to send the signal to the Tachometer. You have to tap into this wire to get the MSU the information it needs to calculate RPM, which is also used in the calculation of Gear selection. I determined based on my VIN that I had the MC 1000 ECM on my bike...
There are two connectors that fasten to the ECM. One is black and one is grey. I had to take a close look at the Tachometer Wiring Circuit to determine which connector had wires that fed the Tach...
From reading this wiring diagram and comparing it to the chart on how to read the pin locations on the connectors, I determined that the wire I needed to tap into was in location 2/A1 which meant it was on the grey connector...
I then used the supplied wire taps...
to connect the MSU to the appropriate wire leading out of the grey connector on the ECM
and into the tail light harness for power...
This photo shows the location of the ECM from the left side of the bike. It is located on the front side of the battery box...
In this view, you can see the wire tap and the ECM following the reinstallation of the connector...
The next step was to install the HMD onto the visor of my Arai Quantum/f Helmet. They supply a sanding mask to apply to the face shield so you can sand the areas where the mounting clip will adhere, without scratching up the rest of your face shield...
Here are what the clips look like...
They are specific to the side of the helmet that you install the HMD on. Also, specific clips are needed for Arai Helmets in order to clear the visor vents found on the helmet.
Here is what my Arai looks like with the HDM Installed...
Here it is with the Visor up...
And from the front...
The image that you see is adjustable up and down and requires the use of an extremely tiny allen wrench...
This is a view of the Ceramic Magnet that has to be epoxied onto the rear brake or sprocket. This provides the rotational speed calculation for the system...
You program the actual diameter of the rear tire into the system when setting it up once installation is complete. The Speed is far more accurate than my actual speedometer, which seems to be about 10% over.
The rotational speed of this magnet is picked up by a sensor that has to be mounted within 1/4" of the magnet. This photo show the rough fitment of the mounting bracket for the sensor...
I chose to run the wire from this sensor along the same path as the rear brake cable...
After rough fitting the bracket, I took it off and cleaned up the end by rounding it off just above the hole where the sensor mounted...
Profile View...
Here's the finished bracket in place after thread lock had been applied to the sensor...
The kit comes with three different brackets for a variety of bikes. Here are the other two...
The view of the data looks like this...
The bar graph is the RPM, the numbers to the left represent speed (programmable for MPH or KPH), and the number to the right represents gear selection. By the way, the system will display three digit speeds, so no worries once you get to the Ton!
Once the installation is complete, there is a programming procedure that you have to go through that involves setting the rear tire diameter and then running the bike through its gears while the system calculates a comparison between RPM and Wheel Speed. This is what programs the gear selection display. The installation manual recommends doing this on a paddock stand or center stand. This is not possible on a bike with a single sided swing arm, so an open stretch of road was needed for my programming purposes. Although I have Pit Bull stands, they warn against running the bike while it is on the stand. If it came off the pin while programming 6th gear, I'm sure my bike would shoot through the wall of my garage, that's why I opted for the open stretch of road.
As I said in the beginning of this post, I ordered this item from
SportVue.
The complete kit costs $349.00 plus shipping.
I will continue to update this post throughout the season with my impressions, but so far it's pretty cool. The afternoon I programmed the MSU, I spent about an hour riding some of the twisty roads around my house to test it out.
Initially, I found that I had to look up out of the corner of my eye just a little to see the numbers, but my eye did not have to refocus in order to be able to read it. By the end of the hour, the data was really just kind of floating out there. It is pretty cool to be able to see your speed in the corners and your gear selection.
I'll post more later...
TripleThreat
[ This message was edited by: TripleThreat on 2006-03-26 15:00 ]
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