Alarm and on-board computer questions.

[BenGS]

Hi chaps,

Brought my new F800GS today of a chap on here. Really happy with it had family come round to see it and took it out for 30 mins ish before dark to get a feel of it. Quick question before i have a good look through manuals. The bike has the standard factor fitted alarm and immobiliser which i have heard very good reviews from. In the book when you press the left button via fob it should flash indicators once and sound audibly. Mine is set to flash once of the indicators. I proceeded to set the alarm off to see what it sounds like etc and when i go to press the second button via fob i get a beep and indicators. So it must have the ability of doing the sound. Any ideas? Would like it to beep so i know its set etc while walking away. Also do you know if you can make it set itself?

Another question (sorry) what are the displays in the on-board computer. Break down of what each one does. Mine is on the >114 it says with a full tank of fuel so sort of unsure why it says only 114. Apart from that i cant work out any other modes on the computer. Its a 2008 model for reference.

Look forward to your responses.

Regards

Ben

 

[Sooty09]

The button on the left bar changes the mode.
You are set on tank range, 114+, it dose not indicate until below this. Note the indication is a rough guide, do not assume you have fuel to 0. Many people have run out with 20+ miles shown. Look to fuel up every 180 until you get to know your bike.
Fuel consumption mode, this gives a spot fuel usage indication. It can show 35 mpg accelerating into wind with a cool engine. It can also show 199 mpg on a small decline with no throttle. Its a good indication to help you ride economically.
Average fuel consumption, this is very accurate on our two bikes, the F650 showing 76MPG my F800 usually shows 72 but for some reason with the cold weather and commuting I'm down to 67.
Average speed, no use for this at all, mine shows 27 mph.
Note all these averages can be reset to zero by keeping your thumb on the mode button for 10 sec or so.
The final mode is temperature in degC. Our 650 shows the temp with the ignition on, for some reason my 2009 F800 needs the engine running before it displays.
Its all a bit of a gimmick, nothing really useful yet when I test rode a GS1200 the first thing I noticed was the basic display lacking the spot fuel consumption.

Note 1 , my friend has a late 2011 F800GS, the distance to empty function has been deleted.
Note 2, The BMW info sheets still say the trip computer has an oil warning indicator for low oil level. I am convinced this is not so, I have never had a low oil level to prove one way or another so I recommend a regular dip stick check.

 

[mark2jag]

The button on the left bar changes the mode.
You are set on tank range, 114+, it dose not indicate until below this. Note the indication is a rough guide, do not assume you have fuel to 0. Many people have run out with 20+ miles shown. Look to fuel up every 180 until you get to know your bike.
Fuel consumption mode, this gives a spot fuel usage indication. It can show 35 mpg accelerating into wind with a cool engine. It can also show 199 mpg on a small decline with no throttle. Its a good indication to help you ride economically.
Average fuel consumption, this is very accurate on our two bikes, the F650 showing 76MPG my F800 usually shows 72 but for some reason with the cold weather and commuting I'm down to 67.
Average speed, no use for this at all, mine shows 27 mph.
Note all these averages can be reset to zero by keeping your thumb on the mode button for 10 sec or so.
The final mode is temperature in degC. Our 650 shows the temp with the ignition on, for some reason my 2009 F800 needs the engine running before it displays.
Its all a bit of a gimmick, nothing really useful yet when I test rode a GS1200 the first thing I noticed was the basic display lacking the spot fuel consumption.

Note, my friend has a late 2011 F800GS, the distance to empty function has been deleted.

Well on my 08 model F650GS its averaging at 51 M.P.G.!

I do ride it gently though , so I'm a bit surpriised it's that low....

 

[BenGS]

Any ideas on alarm? So is there no trip ;/ trying to work this out as how am i supposed to record mileage in terms of fuel with no trip. I thought the average fuel would be like say 180> as that's how much you usually get to tank not 114 ;/ Hmm worth resting everything?

 

[Sooty09]

51mpg!!!!!!

The group I ride with have 5 F800 engined bikes, 3 800GS and 2 650s. One rides like he stole it and gets 57 mpg. All the rest of us get 65-75 mpg on rural back roads.
I did a BMW run recently out which pushed me harder than usual and I still got 60+
I have also manage 100 miles on one gallon on the F650 (to prove a point but never again)
The worst I have ever recorded was on the A1, full luggage into a strong headwind and pushing 70 mph+ and still managed 50+ mpg
Our 65-75 average is not based on a few thousand a year, all the bikes have clocked up over 25000 each over the last two years.

BenGS the trip is not part of the computer. The display on your speedo alternates Trip1 Trip2 Total mileage by pressing the small button between speedo and rev counter. Keep it pressed to set the selected trip to zero.
Dont rely on the ditance to zero, as I stated it only count down after 114 or so to empty. It never inicates the range on a full tank.

 

[Neatbyname]

Any ideas on alarm? So is there no trip ;/ trying to work this out as how am i supposed to record mileage in terms of fuel with no trip. I thought the average fuel would be like say 180> as that's how much you usually get to tank not 114 ;/ Hmm worth resting everything?

Sorry, can't help you with the alarm -- I have the manual only in Italian!

There is a trip (or two, can't remember just now) -- I think it is the top button alongside the display that cycles between the various options (stop watch, trip). Press and hold it down should reset to zero.

Or maybe it's the bottom button....

Might be a good time to read the manual!

I would be interested to see how you get on with the alarm.

 

[thomo57]

Hi chaps,

Brought my new F800GS today of a chap on here. Really happy with it had family come round to see it and took it out for 30 mins ish before dark to get a feel of it. Quick question before i have a good look through manuals. The bike has the standard factor fitted alarm and immobiliser which i have heard very good reviews from. In the book when you press the left button via fob it should flash indicators once and sound audibly. Mine is set to flash once of the indicators. I proceeded to set the alarm off to see what it sounds like etc and when i go to press the second button via fob i get a beep and indicators. So it must have the ability of doing the sound. Any ideas? Would like it to beep so i know its set etc while walking away. Also do you know if you can make it set itself?

Another question (sorry) what are the displays in the on-board computer. Break down of what each one does. Mine is on the >114 it says with a full tank of fuel so sort of unsure why it says only 114. Apart from that i cant work out any other modes on the computer. Its a 2008 model for reference.

Look forward to your responses.

Regards

Ben

Ben
When you turn the alarm on, does the red rev limiter LED, on your clock, flash?
If the alarm has been installed and the canbus system 'told' it's there, the LED will flash, if it does'nt, it might have been fitted as an after market unit and the canbus doesn't know it's there!
You can program the alarm to self alarm, after a time delay, but to be honest it's a bit of a pain, as you need to put it back to manual arming, via remote, before it goes in for service!
hope this helps...

 

[HTB1]

Factory Fitted Alarm

Hi chaps,

Brought my new F800GS today of a chap on here. Really happy with it had family come round to see it and took it out for 30 mins ish before dark to get a feel of it. Quick question before i have a good look through manuals. The bike has the standard factor fitted alarm and immobiliser which i have heard very good reviews from. In the book when you press the left button via fob it should flash indicators once and sound audibly. Mine is set to flash once of the indicators. I proceeded to set the alarm off to see what it sounds like etc and when i go to press the second button via fob i get a beep and indicators. So it must have the ability of doing the sound. Any ideas? Would like it to beep so i know its set etc while walking away. Also do you know if you can make it set itself?

Another question (sorry) what are the displays in the on-board computer. Break down of what each one does. Mine is on the >114 it says with a full tank of fuel so sort of unsure why it says only 114. Apart from that i cant work out any other modes on the computer. Its a 2008 model for reference.

Look forward to your responses.

Regards

Ben

Ben, When you press Button 1 (ribbed button) once the alarm is set - indicators flash twice and alarm tone sounds (if programmed to do so). If you press button 1 again you deactivate the motion sensor (eg for maintainance or transportation)the indicators flash 3 times and the alarm sounds also 3 times. To deactivate press button 2 once the alarm is deactivated - indicators flash once and one alarm tone. The alarm can also be programmed to come on 30 seconds after the ignition is switched off. If you decide to activate the alarm more than 1 minute after switching off the ignition you must hold button 1 for longer than 1 second. The telltale light should flash slowly. (0.1 sec on 0.9 sec off) When activated the alarm sounds for 26 seconds then again after 12 seconds. To programme the alarm - 1. Switch the alarm off. 2 Ignition on. 3 Press button 1 three times - one acoustic ack. 4 Switch ignition off within 10 seconds. 5 Press button 2 three times - 1 acoustic ack. 6 Switch ignition on within 10 seconds - 3 acoustic ack. You are now in programming mode. The number of times the telltale light flashes tells you which of the following steps you are at - An alarm tone sounds as confirmation when you press button 1, wheeas an acknowledgement tone sounds when you press button 2. the telltale stops flashing and 4 ack tones are sounded when you complete the final programming step. Step 1 Beep as confirmation after activation or deactivation Button 1 for ON Button 2 for OFF. Step 2 Not used press 1 or 2. Step 3 type of alarm sound 1 for swelling 2 for intermittent. Step 4 Automatic activation of alarm when ignition is switched off 1 ON 2 OFF. Programming is cancelled by switching off the ignition before the final step or if more than 30 secs elaspe between steps. Programming is saved by switching off the ignition after step 4 of after 30 secs of completing 4. 4 ack tones indicate you have exited programming. There is a 27 page booklet on the alarm which should be available from dealers. HTH Harry

 

[BenGS]

Yikes that's confusing. Its going in tomorrow for restricter kit to be fitted so will ask them if they wouldn't mind setting the noise so i know its active. The light does flash on the dash (programmed and fitted by BMW) not some dodgy company. Apart from that i have read the manual now checked everything and now know what is what. Apart from the range is a nightmare :O

Cheers Ben

 

[v8legend]

Apart from the range is a nightmare :O

Cheers Ben

I have no problem wih mine. After a few software 'updates', it no longer works out the range properly (it used to). However, showing that I can do 'greater than' 114 just after I've filled up is no problem, as I already know that. It's when your getting low that you might have a problem. When the fuel light comes on the computer automatically shows range, and the countdown then is very accurate. I've ridden down to zero a few times, and got in the full 16.5 litres.

 

[JJ_yellow]

Yikes that's confusing. Its going in tomorrow for restricter kit to be fitted so will ask them if they wouldn't mind setting the noise so i know its active. The light does flash on the dash...

Cheers Ben

I advise leaving it with the sound off - less embarrassing when trying to arrive/leave somewhere quietly. Give the bike a shake to trip the alarm if you need to check it will work when needed. One useful alarm option is to make it automatically arm after 30ish seconds (if it works like the one on my 08 1200GS). You should have been given a separate alarm manual (at least mine was separate). All alarm options are easy(ish) to adjust if you sit with your bike/fob/alarm manual for 10 minutes and press the butttons in exact Teutonic order.
Cheers