gas mileage question

[Jim]

Well after checking out several products and ideas to get a better audio setup on my bike, I just dropped the coin for the J&M Integratr IV and their economy helmet headset. I was looking for a convenient way to listen to my Sirius, and possibly handle the audio commands of my GPS. I checked out the Mix-It2, which costs more than the Integratr and doesn't look as "finished". There is another product similar to the Mix-It2, but actually costs more and looks like something a kid would make up from Radio-Shack parts. By the time I would buy the Mix-It2, a decent earbud setup, wiring, etc., I could buy the Integratr IV and one of their economy headsets which can also be used for communication because it has a mic, and can even be used with a cell phone. It also has an input for a radar detector. Hopefully I made the right choice. I'll know once it arrives and I get to try it. It wasn't cheap, at $300 for the main unit, the headset, power cable assembly, and headset cable. If anyone has used this, please let me know. Jim

[Bob Monahan]

Jim, I've done a fair amount of research and it seems that you get free "integration" with a GPS made for a motorcycle such as the Zumo 550. That unit will integrate all your electronics and then provide their output to your helmet via BlueTooth or wires. It even will "interrupt" your music to give you GPS directions ( if you wish ) and will even work with a bike to other bike radio of your choice. I already have a Zumo 550 ( http://www.zumoforums.com/ ) and am thrilled with it but I don't have the helmet speakers and mike yet because I'm still trying to decide between BlueTooth and wires. Bluetooth has the obvious advantage of being wireless which has its obvious advantages on a motorcycle but it's expensive and doesn't transmit music as well as some would like and wired headsets are great but there's that dang wire to worry about and fiddle with. I don't care about music on my motorcycle but being wireless sounds like the way to go even if sound quality suffers slightly and there are always compatibility issues with BlueTooth and it can be a bit aggravating at times. Hope this helps.... $bob$ _____ From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jim Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008 11:14 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Integratr IV audio Well after checking out several products and ideas to get a better audio setup on my bike, I just dropped the coin for the J&M Integratr IV and their economy helmet headset. I was looking for a convenient way to listen to my Sirius, and possibly handle the audio commands of my GPS. I checked out the Mix-It2, which costs more than the Integratr and doesn't look as "finished". There is another product similar to the Mix-It2, but actually costs more and looks like something a kid would make up from Radio-Shack parts. By the time I would buy the Mix-It2, a decent earbud setup, wiring, etc., I could buy the Integratr IV and one of their economy headsets which can also be used for communication because it has a mic, and can even be used with a cell phone. It also has an input for a radar detector. Hopefully I made the right choice. I'll know once it arrives and I get to try it. It wasn't cheap, at $300 for the main unit, the headset, power cable assembly, and headset cable. If anyone has used this, please let me know. Jim [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Don Montgomery]

top posted- I have used the Integrarer iv with radar, zumo (and it's mp3 player) and cb/fsr radios and it is quite good at bringing all together. I mounted it on the outside of the tank bag as it's claimed and proven waterproof. Big on/off /volume button. Don't do phone while riding nor bluetooth. I have the wired J&M helmet gear. The J&M helmet gear somehow can amplify you appliances output where other makers does not. In the end, money well spent as I fiddled with all sorts of work arounds that didn't produce. Don M

> Well after checking out several products and ideas to get a better > audio setup on my bike, I just dropped the coin for the J&M Integratr > IV and their economy helmet headset. I was looking for a convenient > way to listen to my Sirius, and possibly handle the audio commands of > my GPS. I checked out the Mix-It2, which costs more than the Integratr > and doesn't look as "finished". There is another product similar to > the Mix-It2, but actually costs more and looks like something a kid > would make up from Radio-Shack parts. > > By the time I would buy the Mix-It2, a decent earbud setup, wiring, > etc., I could buy the Integratr IV and one of their economy headsets > which can also be used for communication because it has a mic, and can > even be used with a cell phone. It also has an input for a radar detector. > > Hopefully I made the right choice. I'll know once it arrives and I get > to try it. It wasn't cheap, at $300 for the main unit, the headset, > power cable assembly, and headset cable. If anyone has used this, > please let me know. > > Jim > > > ------------------------------------ > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650Yahoo! Groups Links > > >

[Jim]

Thanks! I'm glad to hear something positive about it. As Don had mentioned, there are alternatives such as using a GPS that handles it all, but I would rather have the items separated for ease of upgrading. This way, I can swap GPS units if I choose to, try different audio devices, etc. My Sirius SL100 will handle quite a bit of recorded music as well as the radio, so MP3s are already taken care of. The Ipaq will also do MP3s. By using the Ipaq as a GPS, I also have the ability to connect to the web via wifi for sending pics home, e-mails, etc. It won't do everything perfectly, but it will do a lot of things well. I'm not too interested in using my cell phone while I ride, but I would like to at least be able to hear if I get a call, so I can decide whether to stop and call the person back or ignore it. I don't get many calls on my cell, so the few calls I would get would be important to me. I'll let others know my opinions once it comes in and I get to try it. I just hope my wife doesn't find out I bought it for a little while... Jim

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Don Montgomery" wrote: > > top posted- > > I have used the Integrarer iv with radar, zumo (and it's mp3 player) and > cb/fsr radios and it is quite good at bringing all together. I mounted it on > the outside of the tank bag as it's claimed and proven waterproof. Big > on/off /volume button. Don't do phone while riding nor bluetooth. I have the > wired J&M helmet gear. The J&M helmet gear somehow can amplify you > appliances output where other makers does not. In the end, money well spent > as I fiddled with all sorts of work arounds that didn't produce. > > Don M >

[Don Montgomery]

top posted. Walt, everything plugs into the Integrater IV which then feeds the headset & mic. You can set the gross volume to the helmit with the big wheel on the IV and adjust the relative volumes of each source with their vol. controls. The Zumo lets you regulate the vol. of mp3 to direction announcments. To hook in the radar dect. (Valentine1) you need a connector cord from J&M which has a tiny rheostat in the line, the main vol control only regulates the beeper on the unit. The CB has a mic & earphone plug which feed the IV and an FRS can use the same input as the CB, though not at the same time, to my knowledge. I usually use FSR or CB depending on the group I'm with. Hope this helps, if more Qs, send 'em in. Also, J&M folks are helpful, give them a call, too. Don M Subject: Re: Integratr IV audio Hi Don! I'm wondering how you hook up an FRS radio using the Zumo? I went to the website and cannot find what you speak of...could you lay out your set-up? Thanks! Walt [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Bob Monahan]

I'm not sure I understand why you would use the integrator IV when the Zumo 550 will do everything it does which would save you money and having one less "gadget" to worry about... I must be missing something.... $bob$ _____ From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Don Montgomery Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:10 AM To: KLR650@yahoogroupsm; Walter Bell Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Integratr IV audio top posted. Walt, everything plugs into the Integrater IV which then feeds the headset & mic. You can set the gross volume to the helmit with the big wheel on the IV and adjust the relative volumes of each source with their vol. controls. The Zumo lets you regulate the vol. of mp3 to direction announcments. To hook in the radar dect. (Valentine1) you need a connector cord from J&M which has a tiny rheostat in the line, the main vol control only regulates the beeper on the unit. The CB has a mic & earphone plug which feed the IV and an FRS can use the same input as the CB, though not at the same time, to my knowledge. I usually use FSR or CB depending on the group I'm with. Hope this helps, if more Qs, send 'em in. Also, J&M folks are helpful, give them a call, too. Don M Subject: Re: Integratr IV audio Hi Don! I'm wondering how you hook up an FRS radio using the Zumo? I went to the website and cannot find what you speak of...could you lay out your set-up? Thanks! Walt [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jim]

I don't see how the Zumo is less money. It looks to be $600+ on ebay, just for the main unit. I would still need a headset. The Zumo doesn't have any inputs that I can find in the specs, so I wouldn't be able to use my Sirius (it has XM, but I don't use XM...had it, spent more time on the phone dealing with billing issues than I spent listening to it.) In order to use the XM, a $190 antenna is required. My whole Stiletto SL100 Sirius unit cost me under $100 on ebay. The Zumo also won't work with a radar detector, or act as an intercom. The Integratr IV will let me communicate with my wife when she's with me, or hook up to a 2-way radio (such as my CB, or a FRS radio) for bike to bike communication. The Zumo leaves me stuck with only 1 option for mapping software. By using a PDA, if I decide I want to try something else, I just download it and try it. The PDA also has WiFi so I can access the web when on a trip. It has lots of other software that can come in handy. To compare the costs, the Zumo is $790 for the Zumo and XM antenna, and an estimated $150+ for a bluetooth headset. This is what I have into my setup right now: $80 SL100 $115 Ipaq, Ram mount, GPS antenna, & new battery $300 for the Integratr IV, headset, and other parts. ---------- $495 for everything (could be a lot less, I have another Sirius unit I bought off ebay for $9, works great, and came with a subscription!) Zumo would be $940, and wouldn't have as much capability. If anything goes wrong with the Zumo, its another $600 to replace it. If anything gives out on mine, I replace the part that broke. Or I can upgrade one item at a time. Jim

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Monahan" wrote: > > I'm not sure I understand why you would use the integrator IV when the Zumo > 550 will do everything it does which would save you money and having one > less "gadget" to worry about... > > > > I must be missing something.... > > > > $bob$ > > > > _____ > > From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On > Behalf Of Don Montgomery > Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:10 AM > To: KLR650@yahoogroupsm; Walter Bell > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Integratr IV audio > > > > top posted. > > Walt, everything plugs into the Integrater IV which then feeds the headset & > mic. You can set the gross volume to the helmit with the big wheel on the IV > and adjust the relative volumes of each source with their vol. controls. The > Zumo lets you regulate the vol. of mp3 to direction announcments. To hook in > the radar dect. (Valentine1) you need a connector cord from J&M which has a > tiny rheostat in the line, the main vol control only regulates the beeper on > the unit. The CB has a mic & earphone plug which feed the IV and an FRS can > use the same input as the CB, though not at the same time, to my knowledge. > I usually use FSR or CB depending on the group I'm with. > > Hope this helps, if more Qs, send 'em in. Also, J&M folks are helpful, give > them a call, too. > > Don M > Subject: Re: Integratr IV audio > > Hi Don! I'm wondering how you hook up an FRS radio using the Zumo? I went to > the website and cannot find what you speak of...could you lay out your > set-up? Thanks! Walt > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Bob Monahan]

You're right. The Zumo isn't cheap... But... If you're going to get a full featured GPS for the bike that talks to you it's about what you'd expect to pay. I might well have misunderstood but I thought someone was going to get the Zumo AND another "sound manager". I'm not familiar with a radar detector. I don't speed enough to worry about one and if you're caught with one down here they go pretty hard on you. The Zumo's main beauty is that it's fully BlueTooth capable so you can go totally wireless to your helmet and to most accessories and with a Dual Sport I would think that would be imperative. I was playing mp3 files while my Zumo was telling me where to turn and keeping track of my mileage and route for tax purposes today and I was thinking just how wonderful it is. I now intend to get a Starcom to run just about any 2 way radio I want including FRS and CB radios and I'll be set for what I want. $bob$ _____ From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jim Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 8:53 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Integratr IV audio I don't see how the Zumo is less money. It looks to be $600+ on ebay, just for the main unit. I would still need a headset. The Zumo doesn't have any inputs that I can find in the specs, so I wouldn't be able to use my Sirius (it has XM, but I don't use XM...had it, spent more time on the phone dealing with billing issues than I spent listening to it.) In order to use the XM, a $190 antenna is required. My whole Stiletto SL100 Sirius unit cost me under $100 on ebay. The Zumo also won't work with a radar detector, or act as an intercom. The Integratr IV will let me communicate with my wife when she's with me, or hook up to a 2-way radio (such as my CB, or a FRS radio) for bike to bike communication. The Zumo leaves me stuck with only 1 option for mapping software. By using a PDA, if I decide I want to try something else, I just download it and try it. The PDA also has WiFi so I can access the web when on a trip. It has lots of other software that can come in handy. To compare the costs, the Zumo is $790 for the Zumo and XM antenna, and an estimated $150+ for a bluetooth headset. This is what I have into my setup right now: $80 SL100 $115 Ipaq, Ram mount, GPS antenna, & new battery $300 for the Integratr IV, headset, and other parts. ---------- $495 for everything (could be a lot less, I have another Sirius unit I bought off ebay for $9, works great, and came with a subscription!) Zumo would be $940, and wouldn't have as much capability. If anything goes wrong with the Zumo, its another $600 to replace it. If anything gives out on mine, I replace the part that broke. Or I can upgrade one item at a time. Jim --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, "Bob Monahan" wrote:

> > I'm not sure I understand why you would use the integrator IV when

the Zumo

> 550 will do everything it does which would save you money and having one > less "gadget" to worry about... > > > > I must be missing something.... > > > > $bob$ > > > > _____ > > From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com

[mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com] On

> Behalf Of Don Montgomery > Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:10 AM > To: KLR650@yahoogroupsm; Walter Bell > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Integratr IV audio > > > > top posted. > > Walt, everything plugs into the Integrater IV which then feeds the

headset &

> mic. You can set the gross volume to the helmit with the big wheel

on the IV

> and adjust the relative volumes of each source with their vol.

controls. The

> Zumo lets you regulate the vol. of mp3 to direction announcments. To

hook in

> the radar dect. (Valentine1) you need a connector cord from J&M

which has a

> tiny rheostat in the line, the main vol control only regulates the

beeper on

> the unit. The CB has a mic & earphone plug which feed the IV and an

FRS can

> use the same input as the CB, though not at the same time, to my

knowledge.

> I usually use FSR or CB depending on the group I'm with. > > Hope this helps, if more Qs, send 'em in. Also, J&M folks are

helpful, give

> them a call, too. > > Don M > Subject: Re: Integratr IV audio > > Hi Don! I'm wondering how you hook up an FRS radio using the Zumo? I

went to

> the website and cannot find what you speak of...could you lay out your > set-up? Thanks! Walt > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Don Montgomery]

Top Post The Zumo won't "integrate" and send all these audio inputs to the helmet. The Integrator also does a good job of prioritizing what is most important, though I don't believe it is programable. I never tried the Zumo straight to the headphones and my other setup (pre-Zumo) required messing with batteries in the in line amp. Don M

> I'm not sure I understand why you would use the integrator IV when the > Zumo > 550 will do everything it does which would save you money and having one > less "gadget" to worry about... > > > > I must be missing something.... > > > > $bob$ > > > > _____ > > From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On > Behalf Of Don Montgomery > Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:10 AM > To: KLR650@yahoogroupsm; Walter Bell > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Integratr IV audio > > > > top posted. > > Walt, everything plugs into the Integrater IV which then feeds the headset > & > mic. You can set the gross volume to the helmit with the big wheel on the > IV > and adjust the relative volumes of each source with their vol. controls. > The > Zumo lets you regulate the vol. of mp3 to direction announcments. To hook > in > the radar dect. (Valentine1) you need a connector cord from J&M which has > a > tiny rheostat in the line, the main vol control only regulates the beeper > on > the unit. The CB has a mic & earphone plug which feed the IV and an FRS > can > use the same input as the CB, though not at the same time, to my > knowledge. > I usually use FSR or CB depending on the group I'm with. > > Hope this helps, if more Qs, send 'em in. Also, J&M folks are helpful, > give > them a call, too. > > Don M > Subject: Re: Integratr IV audio > > Hi Don! I'm wondering how you hook up an FRS radio using the Zumo? I went > to > the website and cannot find what you speak of...could you lay out your > set-up? Thanks! Walt > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > ------------------------------------ > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650Yahoo! Groups Links > > >

[Bill Watson]

Hardy, Gas mileage varies for the KLR because of a lot of variables. Seems like the lowest numbers we hear are around 38 mpg, and the highs are around 68 mpg. Both of these extremes are pretty rare. The center of this data set, however is where most people are: 53 plus or minus 5 mpg. I usually don't respond to the mileage posts because my numbers aren't in the 'average'. People don't believe my numbers or critique that I must not be riding hard enough. I'm the guy who has the fortune of all those variables lining up on the good side (warm weather, long drive for full warmup, 50-60 mph speeds, mid 30's for tire pressure, immediate riding after startup, smooth asphalt, steady hand, clear roads without traffic, bike loosened up from 30K miles of use, 16T sprocket, hotter thermostat, blah, blah, blah.) Tank after tank commuting to work, I hit reserve around 320-340 miles and fill back up in the 360-380 range, but it's almost a game for me. That's 65-70 mpg. I ride with like-minded friends (our last 1400 mile trip last August: I averaged 66 mpg, buddy #1 averaged 63 mpg and buddy #2 averaged 60mpg over the 1400 miles). But I see guys who have opposite conditions and they get in the high 30's. They ride it hard, put it away wet, and thouroughly enjoy the bike as well. So there really shouldn't be any mystery to it all, it pretty much makes sense. Bill Watson Phoenix, AZ www.xanga.com/watt_man __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]