GolfHos

Let's say you were designing a motorcycle. You're looking for things (electronics, for example) to hide, in order to make the bike aesthetically pleasing. Among the places you have to hide things are: under the seat which is removed with one screw, behind two side covers both of which remove with a single allen bolt, and under the fairing, access to which requires at minimum removal of the headlight (which will need to be re-aimed upon re-installation) and can potentially involve removal of running lights and a number of hard to access locking nuts (through a 7" diameter hole and nowhere near enough room to maneuver or operate a ratchet wrench).  Some of the items you must conceal include: the ECM for the fuel-injector, electronic cruise control module, and a fuse box. Of these three items, which makes the most sense to place in an easy to access spot (under the seat, behind a side cover, etc), and which makes the least sense to place inside the fairing? (Hint: they're the same item.)

Now, take a wild guess what is involved in changing a fuse on my motorcycle. Now how easily accessible do you suppose are the FI ECM and the cruise control module, neither of which are easily serviceable by the average consumer?

 >:(

real motorcycles don't have fairings.  [sm_devil]

So you're saying I should have bought that Suzuki I was considering?

these days any manufacturer builds everything so that it is not easily serviced by the consumer. it's how the dealers make their money.  ;)

something in a soft tail is more like it.  :)

I realize that, but taking it to the dealer over a fuse seems extreme. Maybe it's just me.

Two blown fuses.  One bike.

do you have the factory repair manual for your bike? well worth the money. you can pick them up on ebay sometimes and they are a real time saver. ;)

I've got the Clymer manual, but it sort of blows because it's for MYs 1985-1999, so there's a lot of "your model may vary" in there.

Consider weather protection.  The ECM is a sealed unit, whereas the fuse box is open, by and large.  I'll ignore the cruise control module -- good God, man, it's a MOTORCYCLE, not a Coupe de Ville.

My fuses are under the seat, which is removed with a quarter-turn of the key.  The ECM is under the tank = PITA to access.

If it makes any difference, I've never turned it on and I'm not even certain it works. If I had any confidence I could remove it without messing up the electronics, I'd sell it on ebay tomorrow.

I'm not convinced that loud pipes do in fact save lives.

I believe, in fact, they do not.

Sure you would.  ::)
nice recovery though.

my vote is no. :sad3:

some might say it can instigate. Main reason I done have a bike anymore. Too scared of everyone else on the road not paying attention.