I’ve tried various communicators in the past, such as the Chatterbox and the Collett, but now after using an Autocom, I could never go back to using those.  This is a top notch system. 

I went with Autocom’s top-of-the-line Super Pro AVi Duo system so that I wouldn’t have to worry about upgrading later.  It comes with everything you need to communicate with a passenger, cables for a cell phone, music player, and GPS, and has tons of features. 

After shopping around, I found the best price at Kahuna Cycles; and even though they are in Canada I received the system VERY quickly; within a few days of ordering.

Very quick and easy installation. Here’s the unit itself, sitting on padding and strapped in the tail of the bike.  When we use the iPod, it plugs into its input and is placed behind the unit where the passenger’s headset lead is shown coiled.  We control it with an iJet wireless controller.

Here’s the ground wire running to the battery’s negative terminal, and the power wire running to the tail light for switched “clean” power.

When not in use, the passenger and rider headset leads are coiled up and stored under their respective seats.

When in use, the leads come out in convenient locations.

This Autocom model comes with a noise sensor that goes inside your helmet to automatically adjust the VOX level based on the amount of ambient noise. Very cool, and works perfectly. Here’s where it goes.

Microphone and Speaker

I used one of the included clips on my helmet (not really what it is designed for) so that I could keep the lead from dangling when I’m not using the Autocom.

Mounted and wired in my PPC-6700 Smartphone also.  Works great, and people I talk to say they didn’t even know I was on the bike.

Continuing my tradition with Bagster, my tank cover and Medea tank bag arrived today.  The Medea is much improved over past Bagster bags that I’ve had; lots of storage compartments now instead of just a large open area.

And, as usual, I immediately installed a Powerlet PowerMate Tank Bag Kit to supply power to the interior of tank bag. (to charge cell phones, iPod, etc.)

Here’s the Powerlet connection I previously installed on my steering stem, supplying power to the tank bag and the GPS.

My boots were already starting to mar up the frame around the footpegs, so I ordered a set of frame protectors from Bike-Quip, and they arrived today.  They seem very durable and were very easy to install. Great product, and great customer service!

When the weather is nice, a lot of bikes gather at Michael’s Bar & Grill in Chapel Hill, NC on Sundays.  My friend Charles had never been there, so we decided to go today.

Heading out on the XX. This was the first time I had ridden it in over a month, and it took a little while to get used to it again. I don’t remember the footpegs being that far up and back.

I met up with Charles at 9am, and we headed toward Chapel Hill, taking the scenic route by Jordan Lake.

Various bikes at Michael’s.

6 Cylinder Honda something…

Trip Stats.

The Givi topcase on the ST1300 was shortlived.  The Hondaline topcase matches the bike and the side cases; the Givi looked out of place. 

I ordered it from CruiserBackrest.com on Wednesday, and it was at my door Monday. Quality and fit/finish is great, just as is expected from Honda.  I’ll let the pictures tell the rest…