All farkled up

[crazykz]

Hey All,

Well I test mounted everything today off the fuse block I plan on mounting on the outside of the right fairing pocket. Surprisingly I didn't have as many issues as I did with the HD on this job. There are some things though that are issues I may have to resolve but one nice thing is I ran the cables between the airbox and the frame up the right side of the bike and I get very very little interference from the coil.

An issue that seems to come and go is when I plug the cellphone into power on the bike. Occasionally I get a slight pulsing sound when I do that which is odd because the charge is suppose to be constant. It also does it off the bike so it doesn't have anything to do with the bike.

I'm pretty happy with everything so far so I hope I can get everything buttoned before everything goes to hell on me. Now I have to get the CB and the XM radio and I'll be all set. Of course I'll need to mount a sidecar at that point so I have a place to sit and ride it. :crackup

The knob in the helmet is me.

Curt

[Kennedy]

**** Curt you must be 747 qualified to fly / ride that thing. :)
Good job.

[gunther1300]

Curt,

Don't leave that baby outside unguarded, a lot of cash on that dash. I know you live in Wisconsin, Milwaukee area if I remember right, I live north of you in the Fox Valley. . I hope to see you at the races in June at Road America. I also remember from a previous post that you mentioned that you were there last year, I think? I saw one blue ST there last year, I was there on my 'ol ticky FJR. I will watch for the blue ST that looks nose heavy due to massive front end electronic farckles. LOL :eek: Curt that baby scares me!!! :eek: A little flex loom and the wiring will look great. SUPER JOB. You will scare the hell out of almost all Honda Dealer techs with that amount of hard wired farkles, of coarse that doesn't take much though, most techs can barely change oil.

Gunther1300

[crazykz]

Thanks Gunther. I was at the races last year. I got to meet up with an old riding buddy but I was on my HD with all that stuff mounted to it at the time so the ST was someone else. I have to say I would rather go ride than go to the races but hanging out with friends for the day is always nice too.

I know there's a lot of crap there and I never wander far from the bike without locking it all up. The ***** is that I'm still not finished. I still have to order the CB and get an antenna for it. Then I think the XM/Sirius radio will go down in the middle of the bars to protect it. The one thing I don't have is radio which I use when I commute everyday. I'm considering the iRiver H10 which has FM built in but iTrip keeps making so many cool options for the iPod that I might wait. They were making an FM tuner but ditched it when Apple changed the remote control plug. ;( Grrrrr. SO I was ready to buy the H10 when I saw that iTrip was making an RF remote for the mini! Super cool and the remote has nice big rounded buttons that would be easy to work with gloves on. Of course I still wouldn't have radio then. The H10 has a wired remote so maybe I would just use that but the stupid thing is so small it almost isn't worth it.

Decisions, desicions...

Curt

[AgSTreak]

Curt, even a 747 pilot has mostly automated systems to help him avoid sensory overload. You need a co-pilot in a sidehack to help monitor all your systems. Remember motorcycle down time is directly proportional to increased complexity. :eek: In any case,farkle on and enjoy.- john

[AZST]

Notice a decrease in fuel economy??!! :D

--Bryan
04ST1300A
STOC# 5197
:04biker:

[jsl]

You need a bigger bike !

[eddiemack]

Does it have a motor?

[blumax]

Looks good. I hope you use everything.

[crazykz]

Did the test ride today and everything works although I figured out a few things. One if I want to keep the cellphone power from providing another ground path I'll have to put a ground loop isolator in their somewhere.

Second I think I need a new MP3 player because this one just doesn't have enough space to record songs at a higher rate and the Mix-It has to have a ground loop isolator on the output so you loose a little dB when you add it.

My power wiring needs to be clean up some so that it can be moved easily.

My ground loop isolator location doesn't work because it pushes down on the dash too much. Wondered why I could only see half of my dash turn signals.

I also need to add switched power to the tail section of the bike to switch power off to the comm unit. If anyone actually reads this can you tell me where to get a switched + acc 12V at the rear of the bike.

Thanks everyone.

Curt

[crinteastwood]

Sorry guys - just my first post, but I don't get it with all the farkles. Some are nice and convienent but cmon - GPS, heated grips, sat radio, cellphone, CB, camera mounts, seat heat, police switches - add infinitum.
Have we forgotten that riding is an adventure and to be enjoyed by all the new things and sights that we see and experience? Maybe I am the odd person out in the group - hardly any mods done and loving it - the better half can't get ahold of me (it's my time), if I end up on a different road than what the Garmin says - so what? - use a map. Don't get me wrong - each to his own, but if I need all the gadgets and worry about someone stealing them - it just takes away from the true experience of why most of us ride in the first place. The car is always there if we need to be so sheltered and electrified up.
Mick (non R.U.B)
(rich urban biker)

[Mellow]

Well, it's hard to explain.

If this was a Harley group, we'd all be trying to put as much chrome, chonchos, fringes or flames on our bikes.

If this was a goldwing group, we'd all be trying to out-light ourselves with LEDs in every nook and cranny (Hey, I know this, don't ask me how :D ).

Given the riding style of most ST owners, which appears to be for long distance cross country touring, the want to add communication or other electronic devices is strong. None of us needs any of this equipment to enjoy the very basic part of the ride which is, as you said, the adventure of new areas and sights.

Most consider the additional equipment either safety or convenience oriented.

Those in northern states have a limited riding season, if I were in their shoes, I'd probably add every possible accessory just to have my hands on the bike during the winter.

Thos in states where riding year-round is an option, riders rig their bikes with whatever it takes to maximize saddle time ergo maximizing the adventure.

Farkling is a desease and I'm begining a support group to help deal with it but I do feel the basic 'reason' why we ride has not been lost, just accessorized.

For your first post, you brought up a great question, thanks for the input and please keep them coming. We do not descriminate against the Farkle-less... :D :03biker: :04biker: :biker:

[sherob]

Mick (non R.U.B)
(rich urban biker)

Love the RUB deal :D I am pretty Farkless like you... I will be putting on my Roady2 when I get my bike back for the 50 mile daily commutes, love music. I also will be adding a radar detector since I now have a tendency to speed, not paying attention to speedo, as I did on my cruiser(could hear the bike tell me how fast I was going too :) ). This bike is so smooth you don't realize how fast you are going.

The phone thing I am having thoughts about... I am on call 24/7 and get tired of having to pull over to return a page, especially when I'm on the freeway. This would be a major convenience for me. :D The GPS, CB I can do without... seats, well I am looking at that lovely Corbin :crackup.

If you are doing a long trip, some of these things are handy... maybe over time your opinion will change, or not. Mine has... Ride what and how you like... Farkled to the max, or Farkless... Just ride and enjoy! :D

Enjoy your ST and ride safe,
Robert (non ROB)
Rich Outercity Biker ;)

[stoc445]

First time post as well. My ST1100 is fairly Farkled out. Mostly for convenience and comfort. As mellow mentioned, I can increase my riding season with heated grips and vest. Actually, I Wish I had done this years ago. I commute 100 miles a day on Chicago's Autobahn and music is a great stress reliever. As for the radar detector, not needed. I go as fast as traffic will allow and I'm never alone. On the 'Out with the Boyz" ride, we usually hit roads way off the beaten path and the CB's are needed with this chatty group. The Cell is a must have, job demands it.

Then there is also the Stink Factor. Farkling is the same as putting your own stink on the bike. Its like dogs marking their territory. Or its just a guy thing...

Denny

[Berzins]

Hi Curt.

What mount did you use for your phoen if I may ask?

Dave...

[crinteastwood]

Thanks for the responses guys - first out let me say that my bike is not unfarkled - throttle lock (a must have), aux lights on the forks (not for me - for the buttheads in cages) LED's in mirrors (for the butthead who forgets to turn the signals off), handlebar risers (stopped that knife in my neck), concealed garage door opener with mounted switch (cool), GIVI top case (keeps the S.O from ripping my Joe Rocket off) and a brother in law modified seat (still untested). This is a great bike (about my 21st) and enjoy every trip taken - from the short 5 minute ride to work everyday in the spring, summer and fall to the saturday and sunday 800 plus km "rides". My first trip was the 2000 km ride home from the west coast where I bought this beauty - done in 1 1/2 days. Sorry for the rant, just got to me that everything but the kitchen sink is being put on this unique looking bike and sometimes seems to take away from it's natural beauty.
Nuff said - but I do want to try that new Corbin seat - looks great and my butt will appreciate it - just need to have some input from someone who has one.
Mick :04biker:

[CruisingDog]

Crint,

Couldn't agree with you more. I have GPS holder with power and that's it. OK, a throttle rocker (but I don't really count that as a farkle). I power my cell phone in the left Glove box [same power as my GPS] where it gets locked away whilst I'm riding.

I really think that when it come's to motorcycles, less is more. I've got enough crap at home to clutter my life up. So much so that riding my motorcycle has a cleansing & calming effect on me. Simple life, simple journey. That's how I like motorcycles to be.

Now, I can definitley appreciate the gadgetness of working on a motorcycle and the fun involved. I do gadgetry at work so I get my fix there!!

[crazykz]

Hi Curt.

What mount did you use for your phoen if I may ask?

Dave...

Hi Dave, the phone mount is a combination of things but I did get one from Rammount now that I may use later. For the one you see there I used a slipstreamer radar mount but just the plexiglass shelf piece and the screw that mounts it to their mount. Then I bought a belt clip from radioshack that hooks to the cellphone case and it's the ratcheting kind so you can rotate it and it stays in the position you put it in. The belt clip has a tooth type catch on the end of it which was perfect for this so I drilled a hole that size in the plexiglass shelf piece at the point where the belt clip is all the way slid up onto the shelf. Now it clips to the shelf. So I clip it in when riding and if I want I can take the clip off the bike and put it on my belt.

I mounted the shelf using the screw it had with it and a rammount ball that has a 1/4x20 nut on it. Then you get what you see there.

Here's a link to it when it was on the Harley. The nice thing is I can adapt those slipstreamer radar mount parts to do just about anything and they're only $25 for aerostich.com.

Cell Phone Mount Article (http://www.hard-core-ware.com/howtos/index.php?page=cellphone)

Curt

[crazykz]

Ok, I'll just say this and hope that people understand why I'm posting it. This is a great board and I hate getting into debates about how people are and why people do what they do. People are who they are and I like leaving it that way, at face value without questioning it.

Realize this. When people ask about doing something a certain way don't ask "Why don't you do it like everyone else?". They have their reasons so if you don't have something valuable to add just don't reply. If someone farkles their bike up it doesn't mean they are rich and it doesn't mean they don't enjoy the ride. I have my reasons and maybe I'll pick a time to post them all.

I do like the conversation about what you enjoy in the ride and whether you farkle or not. That's all being who we are and that's the whole point is to do what you like to do and enjoy the sport. I love learning what people like and don't like but I usually don't question why.

I'm really sorry and if this turns this thread sour I'll just pull the thread. Sorry in advance guys.

Thanks,
Curt

[jackpine savage]

I don't think it's an issue of debate. If you want to talk about farkles, more power to you. There are plenty of people who love to outfit their bikes with as much as they can. But there are also people who just don't understand why (like myself in most cases). I didn't see any of the "anti farkle" posts above as a slam to you or anyone. I think they were meant more as a playful jab. Maybe it's not as serious as you think. Even with binary every topic does not have to be black or white. With enough bits you can describe plenty of grays too. :)
David

[crazykz]

I don't think it's an issue of debate. If you want to talk about farkles, more power to you. There are plenty of people who love to outfit their bikes with as much as they can. But there are also people who just don't understand why (like myself in most cases). I didn't see any of the "anti farkle" posts above as a slam to you or anyone. I think they were meant more as a playful jab. Maybe it's not as serious as you think. Even with binary every topic does not have to be black or white. With enough bits you can describe plenty of grays too. :)
David

Hi David, you're absolutely right and 99% of the posts I know are friendly jabbing and it's easy to tell that. Those aren't the ones that offend me. It's ones where maybe the person's humor doesn't come through well in writing that gets me and maybe that's all it is. It happens to me a lot and I'm hoping that's all it really is. It wasn't only this post but some others that rubbed me the wrong way. The thing that makes this board great is that people can joke around with each other and I don't want that to go away. Thanks for the comment. It's well appreciated.

Curt

[crinteastwood]

Curt - I wasnt trying to dis you or any other people on this forum - it wasnt intended to be like that and I do apologize for sounding like I was trying to trash everyones self expression of their bike. Dont stop the thread. Just getting cabin fever from being in the tundra for just about 6 months now - last ride was Oct 23rd and am still about 3 weeks away from safely being able to ride up here. Keep up the posts and take what I said with a lot of tongue in cheek. Lord knows that everything I do is not always what should or needs to be done - but isnt that what makes us unique? Could it be that I am Farklephobic? Might answer a lot of questions.
Mick

[crazykz]

Curt - I wasnt trying to dis you or any other people on this forum - it wasnt intended to be like that and I do apologize for sounding like I was trying to trash everyones self expression of their bike. Dont stop the thread. Just getting cabin fever from being in the tundra for just about 6 months now - last ride was Oct 23rd and am still about 3 weeks away from safely being able to ride up here. Keep up the posts and take what I said with a lot of tongue in cheek. Lord knows that everything I do is not always what should or needs to be done - but isnt that what makes us unique? Could it be that I am Farklephobic? Might answer a lot of questions.
Mick

Much appreciated. My problem is I never shut up. ;)

Curt

[blumax]

If we all had the same opinion, we would be boring.

[Marshal_Mercer]

Curt:

Maybe you have solved this problem as you have a cell 'phone connected to your bike. How do you make calls out while in motion? My Nokia will not allow voice activation through a microphone other than that built into the hand set. I could use "one touch" dialing, but want to keep my eyes on the road.

Neat set-up, by the way.

Marshal

[crazykz]

Curt:

Maybe you have solved this problem as you have a cell 'phone connected to your bike. How do you make calls out while in motion? My Nokia will not allow voice activation through a microphone other than that built into the hand set. I could use "one touch" dialing, but want to keep my eyes on the road.

Neat set-up, by the way.

Marshal

Hey Marshal, to be honest I'm in the same place you are on that and that was one reason I chose a phone that is not a clam-shell. Typically I really don't make calls when I'm riding because like you I want to keep my eyes on the road. It's more for people who want to get a hold of me. When I do make calls I use one-touch dialing or just take my time and dial slowly. Eventually I'm hoping dialing will be easier but for now being able to receive calls is my priority. I have a cheap phone though so I'm sure there are ones out there that would be easier to setup auto-dialing and voice command dialing.

Actually I take that back. I can issue voice dialing by pressing one button and stating the name. It's been a while since I've used the phone since I just got the communit on the ST. That does work well but I have yet to use it with the comm unit. I need to test the phone on the bike. The wife hates helping me test that stuff so I really don't have anyone else willing to take the time to put up with all the effort of getting it tweaked in. Hopefully I'll be able to post something on it in the future.

Thanks,
Curt