Modern Vespa

Here's a project I've started on. It's a cruise control that will work on the principle of friction. I have seen BurgerBob's and Moped's. Here's a more simple one. Check back for updates. Latest plans on top first, older ones below.

PLAN C - The Tent Stake- April 9, 2009
Building on Plan C, I happen to have a tent stake in my glove box and some rubber bands. Check out my setup. I tried it on the way home from work today. First impression: Having a sticky throttle feels sooo strange when it's engaged! It's like my Vespa has a mind of its own. We're all used to controlling the acceleration and deceleration with our right hand. We automatically know that once we relieve the tension our right hand has on the throttle, we know the Vespa will slow down. With the tent stake lodged in while in motion, it keeps going! It's such a strange feeling. At your own risk, you'll have to try it out see what I mean. Like I said, cruise control on 2 wheels isn't for everybody. I'd like to continue this project and get used having the Vespa continue to have an open throttle even though I take my right hand off of it.

The drawback to this setup is that the brakes will not disengage the device.




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PLAN C - April 9, 2009

Here's Plan C that looks more promising. It's the same wedge concept. The first picture shows a disengaged wedge where there's a piece of um...'stopper' that prevents the wedge from lodging itself in between the kill switch housing and the throttle. The 2nd picture shows the wedge engaged. That is when the throttle has been twisted back, making the 'stopper' twist back with the throttle of course, giving space for the wedge. It can be disengaged by squeezing the brakes, or by rolling the throttle forward. The 'stopper' will release the wedge.




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PLAN B - April 9, 2009

Here's another idea. I can see a few design flaws already, like the part where the brake lever pushes the wedgie back, what if it doesn't catch on, or what if the entire thing bends? Flaws. But this is just to give you an idea of my Plan B. Here it is unengaged. Press with your thumb to wedge to engage, and (for now) squeeze the brake lever to disengage.


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PLAN A - April 7, 2009

Here is the paper model. I'm going to use it as outline on a piece of plastic as thick as the space between the watchamacalit and the throttle.



Engaged.



Disengaged when the brake lever is squeezed. Notice there is a little curve on the front to disengage it with your thumb without having to squeeze the brake lever.


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More on this later... Your thoughts please. Tips, pointers, flaws, drawbacks, improvements -- all are welcomed.

looks brilliant. What material are you gonna use? I'll take one....

I will be using some type of (not so brittle) plastic, like the same material used on large paint buckets. Easy to cut. I have a Dremel. I've got one laying around. I don't know yet. Got any ideas?

Interesting idea, Rex. My first question, where are you going to mount the spring to hold it against the throttle grip? Then, how is the release mechanism going to work? Where did you attach that pivot bolt? I know for a fact that a fair amount of pressure is required to stop the throttle from turning. You may need a rubber edge to the plastic unit. I think that the biggest problem to your design is how to engage/disengage the spring mechanism. Nice idea though!

Cheers,

Bob

Great questions. The spring thing is the challenge. I have an idea, in theory. I won't get around to installing it until I get the plastic wedgie thingy done. I'll call the wedgie thing, "The Wasp" since it (kinda) looks like a wasp in flight.

Isn't the whole point of cruise control to let you relax your foot from the gas pedal, or in this case, your hand from the right grip? Isn't that kinda dangerous? I mean, if you're already holding on tight to the grips, why install something that might influence you to loosen that grip and maybe cause you to crash?

I say leave the cruise control to the four wheelers.

+1
dangerous and for what? more when you drive with one hand it's quite dangerous if you hit a stone or whatever...
one time i had a problem with my accelerator on a moto (Honda NTV650) and it was quite dangerous. Imagine your system brake, you'll have only your "kill engine" buton to stop your machine...
personaly i've made rides of 300kms or even 500, with breaks i've never think about a mod like this.
if you want to relax your hand, have a break, drink a coke

regards

On my PX I reversed the throttle spring in the handlebars so that it was opposing the spring at the carb, keeping the cable taut. The result was that the throttle stayed where I put it, so I could ride no-hands, scratch my nose or backside, or whatever, without the throttle snapping shut.

I would like to do something similar to my GTS, but so that it would only operate up to cruising at 50mph - about 1/3 of full throttle - and snap back at higher throttle openings.

Mike

This looks like a great idea! If it works, I may want one, too.

I had a throttle lock on my Scarabeo for long trips. But I was cheap then and went with the getto-fabulous coat hanger method. Worked great, though. Didn't start to wear out until about 2 years.

What's the "coat hangar method"?

Wrap a bit of old wire coat hanger around the throttle so it's tight, but can be moved by just your thumb if needed. Make sure part of that coat hanger bit sticks out enough to reach your mirror stem. Cover the coat hanger with your choice of sturdy tape, so it doesn't poke you.

So when you want the cruise control "on," you push the coat hanger bit so that it holds your throttle open, braced against the mirror stem. Just move it with your thumb, or force the throttle closed to turn it "off."

I'd post a picture, but I don't have that scoot anymore, and I really don't want to do it to my Vespa. After a couple years, it did end up getting rust on the grip. Can't seem to find a picture of it online.

Why ????
Sounds like an accident waiting to happen to me ....Sorry

Apparently, cruise control on 2-wheels isn't for everybody.

I have a throttle rocker and I won't use it on city streets. There's too much twist and release going on on the throttle and rocker gets in the way so I won't use it unless I'm on longer rides. If and when this project actually gets done and it's working fine, I also won't use it on city streets.

This is for those times when you're just going straight on an open highway, and you really don't want to stop just to take a tiny right arm stretch, or scratch an itch that can't be reached with the left arm. We all know well enough to take breaks when we need to on longer trips.

I just thought of something different...might be easier than this one!!!

New developments.

PLAN C - The Tent Stake- April 9, 2009

See first post above.

Try My Cruise Control instead

A Rubber collar fit over the grip first then the Cruise control fits on next.

It is not a solid circle it is an open coil when pressed down it grips and turns the throttle and the spade fits into your palm very well.

So when it turns clockwise it turns freely and when it turns anti clockwise it grips the throttle.

It helps reduce fatique to wrist and lower arm whilst on long journeys.

Easy to fit and remove.

Easily adjustable.

Helps to keep smooth throttle response when on motorways/major roads.

Thanks MCT. I already have one of those

Didn't read all your post 8)

No worries. I'm not big on the throttle rockers. They get in the way when you relieve the tension on the throttle because they point straight up. It doesn't give you room to firmly squeeze the brake lever when it's at an awkward position. Do you experience something like this?

Yes mate the position you need to set it at for the cruise on long journeys is to high in position when you slow down or come to a stop...... 8) 8) 8)

It does get in the way a bit though with the bar end mirrors

I know you have heard this before, but the "throttlemeister" installed in minutes is "fantastic"...still have full control of the throttle...I did what you are doing and finally settleded on the T-meister.

I'm sorry to tell you but to me it's dangerous for a bike!

It's not for everybody.

It was on a 1992 BMW Airhead. I low sided the bike in the rain with a throttle lock on. The bike bike bounced off the left crash bar, righted itself and proceeded to ride itself straight into a guardrail at 70 mph. It was quite a thing to witness while sliding down the highway on my back.

This company makes a professionally engineered device that does what you want. Panic breaking will unlock the throttle. Nice unit and probably safer than most.

http://www.brakeawayproducts.com

If you want to spend some coin, here is TRUE electronic cruise control. Got $700 and an engineering degree?

http://www.mccruise.com/Universal-Basic-Cruise-Control-components-kit.html

I have brakeaway on my burgman, I love it, use it all the times

Sweet bar end mirrors! Where do I get them? I want some for my GTV in chrome.

-NP