Cancelling Indicators [Idea...]

[TheJoker]

But the one thing that really irks me is, if BMW think that this switch arrangement is so damned good, why don't they adopt it on the 650s (which have conventional switchgear)?

...Coz the 650 is aimed at real people who have other choices of bikes to choose from...?!???

I'm sure there's riders out there who would not have bought the 650 if it would be too quirky, whereas the GS range thrives on being weird... the 1200 least weird to date...

I've got a marked £100 to anyone who makes a replacement (OEM looking) switchgear set - I can't stand the BMW stuff, even the Hardly Movingsome two-button-toggle-system is better, thing is tho, that on a HD you never get up to any speed that might need swift operation of indicators... Maybe you didn't on the < 1150 either, but I certainly need swift indicator action on the 1200...

 

[kiwiAdventure]

I think the 1200 cancelling indicators are great.

 

[Dreamer]

Touratech solution to BMW indicators

What is really needed is you push switch to indicate and push same switch to cancel,that would be better than any other bike to date.Probably not that hard to devise for the technically minded.

What, like this? ....

"Sophisticated upgrade for your BMW indicator system. With the Flash Back LC you will no longer have to press the indicator reset button. Simply keep the (left or right) indicator button pressed when getting round turns (more than 0.5 seconds). When releasing the button, the indicator is reset automatically. This is particularly helpful when riding on the motorway or getting around roundabouts. By pressing the indicator button once shortly, the indicator will go on as usual and can be decativated with the reset button.In addition to the above function, you can deactivate the indicator by pressing the relevant indicator button twice shortly . A huge gain in comfort! No expensive installation, no electrical knowledge necessary. The small unit, fitted with a processor and other components, is simply placed between the indicator unit relay connectors."

Good old Touratech! Flash Back LC 01-011-2002-0

They also do an all-singing all-dancing computerised version, but you'll need a serious reason for getting it... and a second mortgage!

 

[JayGee]

Re: Touratech solution to BMW indicators

What, like this? ....

"Sophisticated upgrade for your BMW indicator system. With the Flash Back LC you will no longer have to press the indicator reset button. Simply keep the (left or right) indicator button pressed when getting round turns (more than 0.5 seconds). When releasing the button, the indicator is reset automatically. This is particularly helpful when riding on the motorway or getting around roundabouts. By pressing the indicator button once shortly, the indicator will go on as usual and can be decativated with the reset button.In addition to the above function, you can deactivate the indicator by pressing the relevant indicator button twice shortly . A huge gain in comfort! No expensive installation, no electrical knowledge necessary. The small unit, fitted with a processor and other components, is simply placed between the indicator unit relay connectors."

Good old Touratech! Flash Back LC 01-011-2002-0

They also do an all-singing all-dancing computerised version, but you'll need a serious reason for getting it... and a second mortgage!

I liked the sound of this but when I enquired about fitting it to the 1200 Touratech UK told me it would not fit, must be the CANbus wiring loom thingy I guess.

 

[unbalanced]

I dont know if this has progessed anywhere as I am a newbee. I like the paddle (I prefer it to any other indicators I have seen), but dislike the cancel. As someone earlier pointed out, its the upward movement of the thumb that causes the problem.
What about if the paddle was pressed a second time, it would cancel. A black box can watch for this:

Paddle clicked.

If indicator off then switch on.
If indicator on then switch off.

Its quite basic and will require you to click the same paddle to cancel or if you change indicators on a traffic island, you would switch them off in error.

Can someone point me to a wiring diagram for the indicators and cancel?

Its not the same as the clutch lever idea, bit probably simpler to install. Might eat these words later.

 

[swebb]

What is really needed is you push switch to indicate and push same switch to cancel,that would be better than any other bike to date.Probably not that hard to devise for the technically minded.

They say the simple ideas are the best... and i think in this idea you have it!!

By far the best alternative i've heard to date.

I for one love the indicators on each side, but like others detest the cancellation button where it is... your solution would IMO be just about as perfect as you could get!!!!

Come on BMW.... do some of that engineering Sh!t and develop this superb idea !!!!!

 

[Gas'd Off]

I`ve reversed the "on/off - on/horn" setup and find it to be much a more natural arrangement. I heartily recommend doing it(easy job) When you are slowing to make a turn you are rolling off the throttle, leaving your hand flexible and so pressing upward to turn on the indicator is easy. When you accelerate away after your "turn" you are twisting the grip downward and can also hit the cancel button easily. As for the left hand, now I can actually use the horn when I need it!

I`ve been wanting to use that tigger smiley for ages, just an urge, you know........mmmmmmmmmm beer..........zzzzzzzz

 

[unbalanced]

Good idea Lukate.

I will go and have a maul next week - no bike till Thursday, and its certainly cheaper!

If enough people show interest in the double click though, I wouldn't mind making some up.

 

[ktmmark]

[. Just because BMW is the only manufacturer to use this system

Well dont tell every one, but test rode a harley vrod last saturday & they have the same type indicator but you press again to cancel

 

[Stella]

Your probably right Greg but I live in hope or maybe BMW will stop being such Bloody Minded W**kers and adopt the universal de-facto standard instead. They don't need such quirky stuff to sell their bikes. Not a view popular with long term beemer riders but then BMW are not after a niche market any more.

If you haven't got the hand to eye co-ordination and brain power to get used to such a simple system, how the feck can you possibly walk safely let alone ride a motorcycle??

It's beyond me how incompetant some people are- it's not exactly rocket science is it!

Get off the road if you can't handle your machinery

 

[CoolCarbon]

Two types of indicator switching....Pah!

I remember, I say I remember when we had two types of Gearbox/Rear Brake pedal setups on our Fleet back in the 70s....

The old Commando had the Rear Brake Pedal on the left with the Gear change ont t'ther, going 1 up for 1st and 3 down from there...

The New Electric start (read 'Click' as it rarely turned the motor over) had the same arrangement that we now know and love...brake ont right and 1 down and 4/5/etc. up from there..

Try to remember what model your on when your in a hurry up situation, Valves meeting Pistons spring to mind....

Bm switching is fine, Now, that horn button is another matter.......

CC

 

[sixfootandstocky]

Good old Hardly Rideable better than GS again!

One switch on each side of the handlebars. Press once to switch lights on and press again to switch off. Press both at the same time and the hazard flashers come on- two switches on the HD instead of four on the BM.

HD unit incorporates an inertia sensor or something techy. It seems to be 99% accurate at leaving the indicators on or switching them off when performing manoeuvres.

Simple and very effective.


I personally like the BM switchgear and prefer it to Jap stuff. I prefer the HD indicator system to that on the BM.

Bonjour.each:

 

[Fanum]

Dunno if it's actually one, but that sounds exactly like the behaviour of a signal minder....push once on, push again off, push a few times for hazards etc etc........

 

[unbalanced]

BMW use the CANbus system which is a universal standard. Every CAN message is assigned a fixed address (identifier), which identifies the CAN message content (e.g. right indicator or indicator cancel). Shifting it about should be straight forward but it would be helpful for some technical info on the actual bike.

Ive emailed Blue Peter, I think they had it covered in Annual 3 with a toilet roll tube and two bits of string.

 

[JayGee]

If you haven't got the hand to eye co-ordination and brain power to get used to such a simple system, how the feck can you possibly walk safely let alone ride a motorcycle??

It's beyond me how incompetant some people are- it's not exactly rocket science is it!

Get off the road if you can't handle your machinery

Thanks for those considered comments, your obviously a riding god of supior intellect.
Or could it be your a complete t**t?

Just because I think the BMW switch gear is crap doesn't mean I can't use it, you should think before you write.
It's just seems to me that the standard jap switchgear is more ergonomic. You can get used to anything quite quickly but that doesn't mean its good.

 

[Howard Millichap]

I`ve reversed the "on/off - on/horn" setup and find it to be much a more natural arrangement. I heartily recommend doing it(easy job)

Exactly what I did on my 100GS. Works great and is much more logical. Also reversed the other side so that it all works the same. I got fed up with indicating left when I wanted to BLAST the horn at some moron pulling out on me!
I wonder if someone in BMW F@#ked up the wiring when they first designed it?

Also, I remember, back in the late 70's, Yamahas had a cancelling indicator set-up that worked a treat. It cancelled after 200m or 10 seconds, which ever was greater. Don't know if they still use it now.

 

[Patch]

The right side of your body is fully occupied with speed control when riding (throttle and brakes). The left side is underutilized in comparison. Asking your right hand to signal (in addition to throttle and braking) is stupid. Particularly when you left hand is doing nothing but holding on.

And there in lies your problem, you are not riding following Roadcraft.

IPSGA

Information (Take Use Give) - you should be giving your indication at this point
Position
Speed - It is now that you are braking
Gear - gear
Acceleration

The BMW switches work well if you follow the system of motorcycle control. If you find yourself confused as to what your hand should be doing, its your problem not the bikes, sorry.





this post is only 50% serious by the way

 

[JayGee]

And there in lies your problem, you are not riding following Roadcraft.

IPSGA

Information (Take Use Give) - you should be giving your indication at this point
Position
Speed - It is now that you are braking
Gear - gear
Acceleration

The BMW switches work well if you follow the system of motorcycle control. If you find yourself confused as to what your hand should be doing, its your problem not the bikes, sorry.





this post is only 50% serious by the way

Yes but acceleration is to increase speed after negotiating a hazard (such as a junction, turning etc) and its at this point you need to cancel an indicator. Twisting the wrist and flicking the thumb upwards is where the system is very un-ergonomic.
BMW indicators are like old Brit bike gears on the left, an outdated anachronism.
BMW should offer standard switchgear as an option and then we'd see how good people think it is.

 

[unbalanced]

I`ve reversed the "on/off - on/horn" setup and find it to be much a more natural arrangement. I heartily recommend doing it(easy job) When you are slowing to make a turn you are rolling off the throttle, leaving your hand flexible and so pressing upward to turn on the indicator is easy. When you accelerate away after your "turn" you are twisting the grip downward and can also hit the cancel button easily. As for the left hand, now I can actually use the horn when I need it!

Lukate had the brilliant idea of reversing horn and cancel buttons, but if I am not mistaken I think this is on the 1150gs. Does anyone have any experience of doing this on the 1200?