Trip Preparation (The Bike Continued)

Today I changed the air cleaner.  Its the first time I did it myself.  When I bought the bike in 2007, the Honda Dealer offered me free service for three years.  Since I knew the price for him to check and adjust the valves was about the same as the deal he was offering I took him up on it.   So until February 2010, I had free service.  That was about 40,000 miles.  So, I must admit I had not changed the air filter since then.  Here it what it looked like

 



The air cleaner was much dirtier than I expected so I will have to change it more often.  I had to take one of the handle bars off to pull the tank up to get to the air filter housing.  That required the removal of some other stuff.  So after I put it all back together I took a picture of the electronics.

 

One the far upper left is the radar detector.  Below it is the CB Radio.  Just below the CB Radio is the switch for the auxiliary driving lights (can never have to much light on the road).  If fact when I use them and turn them off when a car approaches its much like going from day to night for a second of two.

In center is the GPS and on the upper right is the XM antenna.  Most of the electronics I need to control are activate by the left hand since the throttle is on the right hand grip.  There is a lock for the throttle but its only really useful if you need the right hand for something for a second or two.

The ST is a Sport Tourer and does not come with a lot extras you might find on a "touring" bike so you have to add them your self.  One I have not added is cruise control.  I have the unit just never got around to installing it. 

All the electronics are powered from the bike battery.  To make this a little easier a power distribution panel has been installed in the tail of the bike.  Its powered through a relay that is energized when the bike's ignition is on.  This also supplies power to a connector for heated jacket liners.

This is what it looks like.

 Its pulled up and away from its normal resting spot and the auxiliary relay is on the left.  The Autocom is just visible just below the distribution panel.  It has a couple of controls on it to adjust volume for each person on the bike and to set the voice operated (VOX) trigger point.  Without the VOX you would have constant wind noise in the microphones mounted at the front of the helmet.

All that is missing is a Heads Up Display (HUD) which may be here in the near future. 

Well that's it.  Its almost ready.  Just have to finish packing all the stuff.