► Hand Guards, handlebars, risers and levers

thanks

Was out yesterday, put another 250 miles on it and started using the technique of just trying to hit the tip of the cancel switch... not quite perfect, but a lot better so thanks for the idea Elvie & Moody. I am sure i will get more and more comfortable with this system given a little more time on the bike... but i still wonder why they put the cancel button on your throttle side! regardless, thanks.
 
Leave it!!!

...on the right bar.

I, for one, am glad the cancel switch is where it is.

A good, hard "cancel indicator" would be even worse than a good, hard "left indicator", when what I want is a good, hard "PARP!!!"

However - does anyone have a clue about the reasoning BMW used when they first decided on the 3-switch indicator system? And, if it's so superior, why it's not universal across their range? I know the F650 single has a single switch, but don't know if that's the only "oddball"...
 
hi
problem solved on the aft break lever,air in the system,bled the brakes again today,all ok.
Its been like this since it was new,but as I almost never use this brake,I did not bother with the swampy feeling befor now.
I dont know why this happened,but noticed a change of color on the breake fluid in the container,darker in the top,and normal in the bottom,can anyone explain this?Must be some contamination but from where?

fishburger
 
Grip replacement

Howdy,
I am ready to order my 800GS soon. I am very partial to a certain aftemarket rubber grip that I have had on other bikes. Can the rubber grips be replaced on the 800GS if it has heated grips? Or can they be replaced if I did not order heated grips but installed my own.
Your help would be appreciated..
Thank you,
Preston aka JR in Cashmere, WA USA
 
Welcome Preston.

This sounds like a question it might be better to put to your dealer.

Tim

Yes I intend to do that soon. I will inform the group here what the answer is as, it appears no one has attempted to change out grips as yet.
Thanks sir,
Preston
 
hehe, do not worry Billy

it took me almost 7000 km to be able to elegantly cancel the indicators on my 650 w/o inadvertently accelerating :-)

mind you, they're my first 7000 klicks ever on a motorized 2-wheeler, so I'm as happy as can be!
 
I hate the system.

Yes, I've got used to it, and the wild throttle pulls hardly happen any more- but i hate it.

The 'traditional' system of left hand control is much easier and safer IMO.
 
I hate the system.

Yes, I've got used to it, and the wild throttle pulls hardly happen any more- but i hate it.

The 'traditional' system of left hand control is much easier and safer IMO.


Same here. I own an '08 800GS, an '04 F650 Dakar and an ST1100 Honda and after 5000km on the 800GS I hate the 3-button system intensely.
On my other two bikes the traditional one-hand indicator switch is an intuitive non-issue not sending me out of roundabouts like a whacko.

The BMW 3-button system is THE most stupid and non-intuitive indicator switch system I've experienced in my 30 years of motorcycle riding. Although I'm about to get used to it after a month it's not a good design on this nervous, relatively lightweight, on/off-throttle motorcycle.

I still think it requires too much critical attention to operate both the horn button (similar shape on LH side switchgear) and and the ill-placed RH indicator cancel switch on the 800GS.

This system worked better on the R1200GS and the R1200RS I tried some time ago. Their heavier flywheel motor characteristics apparently made the 3-button flaws more tolerable and easier to get used to. IMO the jerkier throttle response makes this 3-button system a liability on the 800GS.

I seriously question the riding safety philosophy behind the 3-button design. The starboard handlebar switchgear should be kept free from non-throttle-related switches requiring the operator to loosen the grip on the throttle.
 
Undoing the handlebar clamps ?!?

I want to fit 20mm risers, but what on earth do I use on the head of the bolt clamping the handlebars? It looks what I imagine a male torx head would be. Do I really have to go and buy some tool to undo these?

It's for the F650GS but I think the F800GS is the same.

Tim
 
Got a photo of the fasteners?

Looking aat the maxbmw online fiche I'd guess an easy option would be to buy a male / female tork set. Like what I did when I got my first 1200. Not very expensive IIRC.
 
Last edited:
I want to fit 20mm risers, but what on earth do I use on the head of the bolt clamping the handlebars? It looks what I imagine a male torx head would be. Do I really have to go and buy some tool to undo these?

It's for the F650GS but I think the F800GS is the same.

Tim

Tim,

I have a set of sockets, If you let me know what size it is, I will lend you one & post it down to you - If it is the same size as a GSA12 I can work out the size - JUst PM me address!

Steve
 
I want to fit 20mm risers, but what on earth do I use on the head of the bolt clamping the handlebars? It looks what I imagine a male torx head would be. Do I really have to go and buy some tool to undo these?

It's for the F650GS but I think the F800GS is the same.

Tim

YES!!
 
Those damn indicator switches

Guess I'll have to wait some for a (for me) better indicator switch solution from Kisantech.com. In inclement weather with thick gloves I still struggle with this daft switchgear layout. I find the indicator cancel switch odd and non-intuitive to use and ditto for the horn switch. These ergonomic deficiencies are more pronounced on the F800GS due to its lighter flywheel engine character. I've now done 5000km and still hate this layout, although I'm gradually adapting. 30 years of port side one-hand usage takes some time to forget...

Here's my e-mail exchange with Kisantech about their can-bus signalMinder:

www.kisantech.com reply:
We have CAN-bus compatible pathBlazer, tailBlazer, vectraLIGHT and other
products but the signalMinder is not ready yet. It will be a few months
before it will be ready.

----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 11:42 AM
Subject: Contact from KisanTech.com


> Hi, folks.
>
> I own an 08 BMW F800GS and wonder if there is a compatible
> SignalMinder available for it?
>
> As you probably know the F800GS has the BMW Can-bus system
> and I'm unsure if there is a blinker-relay at all in this system.
>
> Best regards
> XXXXX YYYYYY
> Norway, Scandinavia
>
 
Guess I'll have to wait some for a (for me) better indicator switch solution from Kisantech.com. In inclement weather with thick gloves I still struggle with this daft switchgear layout. I find the indicator cancel switch odd and non-intuitive to use and ditto for the horn switch. These ergonomic deficiencies are more pronounced on the F800GS due to its lighter flywheel engine character. I've now done 5000km and still hate this layout, although I'm gradually adapting. 30 years of port side one-hand usage takes some time to forget...

Here's my e-mail exchange with Kisantech about their can-bus signalMinder:

www.kisantech.com reply:
We have CAN-bus compatible pathBlazer, tailBlazer, vectraLIGHT and other
products but the signalMinder is not ready yet. It will be a few months
before it will be ready.

----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 11:42 AM
Subject: Contact from KisanTech.com


> Hi, folks.
>
> I own an 08 BMW F800GS and wonder if there is a compatible
> SignalMinder available for it?
>
> As you probably know the F800GS has the BMW Can-bus system
> and I'm unsure if there is a blinker-relay at all in this system.
>
> Best regards
> XXXXX YYYYYY
> Norway, Scandinavia
>

If the SignalMinder is just to cancel the turn-signal blinkers I don't think you need it ... at least in USA models this is a standard feature. The turn blinker gets canceled after a variable amount of time based on the bike's speed......

I could be missing something ... :o

Jim
 


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