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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | TowJam posted a list of questions earlier this month and one of them kind of slid under the radar. It has to do with the CANbus system that the Vision is reported to have. If you Google CANbus or CAN bus you will get sucked into MIT level discussions in a hurry. BMW's have had the system for a few years now and it is state of the art, high tech. The problem is that it limits what you can do yourself. BMW owners learned that you can't just add a set of Hyperlights (or any other type of flashing brake lights) to your wiring. It screws up the ABS system and sends a bunch of fault codes to the black boxes. I think Hyperlights has a patch now but the point is that this is a new set-up for Victory and motorcycle guys like to "farkle". Does anyone out there have any experience with CANbus that can explain it in plain english? Is this system a big deal or not?
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Iron Butt
Posts: 810
| SongFan,
I have not knowingly used CANbus, but took a quick google.
At the lowest level, CANbus is a way for multipe micro-controllers/computers to talk to each other. It is a specification of how information is passed between multiple micro-controllers (e.g. how to wiggle the string between the 2 tin cans so the kids can talk back and forth when playing telephone). It was developed to run in an electrically noisy environment (such as cars) to eliminate interference with the communications (like how a high power CB linear will screw up a Off-Air television signal). Different wire configurations can be used to implement CANbus, but twisted pair wire offers the best noise rejection.
The protocol specification defines things like transmission rates (how fast the micro-controllers can talk), interference detection, how long a micro-controller can talk in a single sentance, how data is passed, encryption, etc. Once everyone plays by the rules, everyone can talk. Once someone violates the rules, communications break down or slow down.
Applications are built on top of this low level protocol. The applications are the users of this network of micro-controllers. I have not reviewed the applications specific to the motorcycle industry. Hopefully someone else can shed some more light on these motorcycle related applications.
HTH,
TIm
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 21
D/FW Texas | I got the answer to my canbus question when I spend some time at the Vision demo ride - getting a close look at the bike and reading through the owners manual.
Long story short... As compared to BMW's canbus implementation, the Vision's canbus is a "hybrid". That is, there is still a conventional, fused, wiring harness for the Vision's electrical system - the canbus appears to be limited to engine management. The good news is that this will make adding accessories no different from any other bike. On the other hand, with BMW's system, you usually end up having to bypass the canbus system and wire directly to the battery (or installing a junction box).
So in other words, the Vision has the best of both worlds.
But to be honest, I don't usually accessorize my bikes too heavily - I've owned 4 canbus-quipped beemers and never had a problem with the system. I actually prefer doing away with the fuses. But that's just me.... |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | Thanks for the input. I'll probably replace the rear side reflectors with LED strips and install a Stebel air horn and just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to cause more problems than it was worth. Also plan on some amber wrap around LED's for the front fork. Stuff like this makes me think of Lone Ranger's post in the Rider's Background thread... "It wasn't broken, so I fixed it till it was." Cracked me up.
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 21
D/FW Texas | TowJam - 2007-09-21 5:57 PM
I got the answer to my canbus question when I spend some time at the Vision demo ride - ...
What I meant to say was that I spent some time at the Vision demo. (Getting to sit down with the owners manual was useful. However, it exposed some flies in the ointment around routine maintenance - but that's a subject for a different thread.) |
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CANbus Electrical System