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General Discussion / Re: Aftermarket windscreens - AK550
« on: April 02, 2025, 08:23:59 PM »
Tell us how that works for you in the rain.
Why? Have there been bad reports about that?
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Why? Have there been bad reports about that?
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General Discussion / Re: Aftermarket windscreens - AK550
« on: April 02, 2025, 05:10:57 PM »
Well, yes, this is an old posting but I decided to add my two cents rather than start a new thread. Hopefully, this will be of some benefit to AK550 owners who are interested in an aftermarket windscreen. I first bought the Puig windscreen and it wasn't much improvement over the stock screen. Recently, I got the Givi sport touring screen and it's a huge improvement. There is a tradeoff however in that I have to look through the top of the screen, something I've never liked, but the wind protection is totally worth it (IMHO).
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General Discussion / Re: who else here would actually prefer a motorcycle over a scooter?
« on: February 21, 2025, 06:38:08 PM »
How about this...scooter for short errands and being the ultimate grocery getter but a motorcycle for longer trips and faster riding and just for the sheer pleasure of riding.
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General Discussion / Re: anxiety after 30 days not riding
« on: February 02, 2025, 01:41:01 PM »
The only thing I get nervous about these days Stig are all the crazies on our streets. The level of impatience seems way up and, of course, there is distracted driving. Sometimes I feel I'm taking my life in my hands just to go for a ride. I've told friends and family that I wish I didn't love riding because it is just so risky. OTOH, I also believe you can't stop doing things you love just because something might happen. Of course, a lot depends on where you're riding and I imagine the risk goes up with the volume of traffic. Road rage can also be of concern. A couple of years ago, in a rural area actually, I was passing a car and he swerved over to keep me from passing. I hit the brakes and fell in line behind him. Then, I got stupid and thought, surely he didn't mean to do that? I tried again to pass and he very violently swerved to force me off the road but I was able to once again brake and fall behind. Of course, that meant I was close behind and he hit his brakes, I suppose to cause me to crash into his rear. Thankfully, my brakes and response were good enough to avoid that. At the next opportunity to escape, I simply took the other fork in the road to get away from this crazy person trying to kill me. Maybe that's why we often think to say to other riders, ride safe!
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General Discussion / Re: Kymco electric push?
« on: November 07, 2024, 08:36:22 PM »Geez that is expensive.
And as for the acceleration of an electric vehicle - my son scared the daylights out of me in his Tesla. And he said his was not the more powerful sporty model.
0>60 in 3 seconds on a bike....is stupid. IMHO.
Fortunately, it is too expensive for most....
Stig
I won't argue with the stupid comment but I've had many sub 0 to 60 bikes and it's a lot of fun and very addictive.
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General Discussion / Re: 2024 AK 550i ABS (US model) GPS mounting options
« on: July 28, 2024, 02:49:48 PM »7
General Discussion / Re: 2024 AK 550i ABS (US model) GPS mounting options
« on: July 27, 2024, 07:56:14 PM »Since all of my photos that are taken with my Pixel phone are WAY TOO BIG (3-5 megabytes each) they won't directly drop into any posts here without going through the task of severely resizing them. Posts on this forum don't allow any photo to be more than 1024 KB.
Therefore I simply share a link from my Google Photos repository. That way I can also select a series of photos in one link and potentially end up with WAY more than the limit of 4 per post allowed here. On other forums I attach my pics directly and the forum software resizes as needed... or not. Those forums accept full sized photos.
As it turns out, I already have Google Photos on my Android phone. What's the process for adding a photo to a post on this site? Do I select the photo in Google Photos, click on "share" and then, click on "create link"? Any other steps? Thanks, Bob!
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General Discussion / Re: 2024 AK 550i ABS (US model) GPS mounting options
« on: July 26, 2024, 06:13:19 PM »
On second thought, I think I'll just add a 12V motorcycle fuse block. I found one pretty cheap that handles 4 circuits. As you suggested, Bob, I'll still use the wire you pointed out for the trigger. The nice thing about these fuse blocks is that they include an internal relay and provide a really neat way to connect multiple devices that come on with the ignition.
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General Discussion / Re: 2024 AK 550i ABS (US model) GPS mounting options
« on: July 26, 2024, 05:39:18 PM »I used a Posi-Tap connector off the Black/Green wire coming out the back of the fuse block for my switched 12v. But be careful. There are 2 Black/Green wires. One is coming off fuse D which is for the headlights, turn lights and horn. I think it was fuse 3 as labeled on the fuse block lid. DON'T use the other B/G wire which is fuse 1 for ABS IGN. Don't mess with anything related to ABS. I also NEVER use a tap off any factory wire to directly provide power to anything I add. Instead I use the tap for a relay trigger, and that relay gets power directly from the battery. This minimizes any load added to the factory systems. Important since the factory sizes wires only for the load they intend to put on those systems. Also, doing it this way allows me to power not only the LED light bar I added but also the Uni-Go trailer lighting as well without adding any noticeable load on the factory systems.
This is super helpful, Bob! Thanks! I do like the idea of tapping into a wire just for trigger purposes. You're pointing out one at the fuse block so that should be pretty straightforward. I may use an add-a-circuit fuse holder so I don't actually tap into any wires. In the past, I've done that and installed a solid state relay with the actual power coming straight from the battery. Of course, battery draw for a phone or gps is pretty small but still, I think this is a great way to go. Thanks again! --Ken
BTW, on this forum, what do you use for photo hosting? Or, can I just use the "insert image" button?
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General Discussion / Re: 2024 AK 550i ABS (US model) GPS mounting options
« on: July 26, 2024, 01:13:32 PM »
Thanks to suggestions offered previously, I have the GPS mount on order. I'm going with the over-the-dash style from AliExpress. My next question is this...is a connection available on the AK550 for switched 12V? If so, where is it located? I prefer not to use the USB port for this. Of course, I could run straight to the battery but that would leave power on continuously. Any ideas?
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General Discussion / Re: 2024 AK 550i ABS (US model) GPS mounting options
« on: July 19, 2024, 11:30:28 AM »
Normally, my primary use of navigation is to enter an address so it sounds like Noodoe may do that fine. It's also helpful to be able to see a map on the screen so you know where you are and can see other possible roads of interest. What about weather? Can Noodoe check weather?
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General Discussion / Re: 2024 AK 550i ABS (US model) GPS mounting options
« on: July 18, 2024, 07:43:30 PM »I've never felt the need for one on my AK since I use the Noodoe Navigation system. I like having that in the center round display and being able to keep my phone in the left glove box plugged into the USB port... out of the weather completely. I do sometimes ride 450+ miles in a day on my trips and ride in ALL kinds of weather. Rainy or sunny, hot or cold... hot as in sometimes over 100F (up to 40C) and cold as in sometimes well below zeroF (-20C or under).
Interesting possibility, Bob. I'm picking up my new '24 AK550 tomorrow...I hope. We're waiting for the shipment to arrive. I have no experience with the Noodoe system so maybe I will be able to depend on that like you're doing. if not, I have a Carpuride unit and a Garmin Zumo XT that I can mount and that's why I was asking previously about mounting options. I'll give the Noodoe a good try and see how that works out. Thanks again for your suggestions. --Ken
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General Discussion / Re: 2024 AK 550i ABS (US model) GPS mounting options
« on: July 17, 2024, 01:59:17 PM »
Yes, I need to watch out for that in the future. Actually, I may have done that twice where I posted my comments inside the quote. Thanks, Bob, for pointing that out. And BTW, over the years I've always been able to spot the small number of forum contributors that actually do most of the "heavy lifting". You appear to be one of those so thanks for that!
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General Discussion / Re: 2024 AK 550i ABS (US model) GPS mounting options
« on: July 16, 2024, 11:53:32 PM »Try this site. I've gotten GPS mounts for both my "21 X-Town GTI 300, and my new '23 People S 150i ABS from them.
https://moto-discovery.com/eshop[/quote
Thanks, Mr. Mike
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General Discussion / Re: 2024 AK 550i ABS (US model) GPS mounting options
« on: July 16, 2024, 04:53:26 PM »Personally I've had a GPS device holder on the handlebars as well as one that put the GPS just over the center handlebar clamps and also on a cross bar I added on top the dash. The absolute BEST location I've found is on top the dash. It is top center and just within your field of view without requiring you to take your eyes off the road ahead.
There are a few phone/GPS device holders available that put the holder just at the top of the dash above the instruments/gauges so as not to interfere with view of anything. Just do a search for "Kymco AK 550 phone mount" and you should get several results for that. Here is the most common one that seems to have been favored by most AK owners who want a mount.
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/For-KYMCO-AK-550-AK550-Motorcycle_1600442378034.html
Excellent info. Thanks, Bob!
I've never felt the need for one on my AK since I use the Noodoe Navigation system. I like having that in the center round display and being able to keep my phone in the left glove box plugged into the USB port... out of the weather completely. I do sometimes ride 450+ miles in a day on my trips and ride in ALL kinds of weather. Rainy or sunny, hot or cold... hot as in sometimes over 100F (up to 40C) and cold as in sometimes well below zeroF (-20C or under).
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