Conversion to 'normal' indicator switchgear?

King Key

King Key

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After a year of owning a 2012 1200GSA I still hate the indicator switchgear. "You'll get used to it in no time", I was told, well I haven't and don't think I'll ever like it.
So has anyone fitted conventional switchgear (by which I mean a multifunctioning single button indicator on the left hand side), maybe off another make or watercooled GSA?
 
Read the watercooled section regarding lc switchgear problems , if you want to go down that route I would suggest Japanese switchgear but bear in mind your bike has a canbus wiring system and replacement switchgear may not be compatible
 
I rewired my switchgear, so instead of the cancel on the right its now on the left, seems more natural to cancel with my L/hand and leave my right to focus on the throttle ! i still have left / right paddle to activate the indicators.

Tbh i prefer this set up to the Wc (normal switch)
 
Difficult to do because it is computer controlled and not the old indicator relay. You could rewire the indicators to a conventional system bypassing the ZF computer completely and using conventional switchgear. Your next problem depends on what options you have on the bike. You would have to work out how to incorporate the display info button and abs.
Might be possible to retain the computer control if you could find switches that slide and release again (keeping the switch closed is bound to cause issues) but you still have the problem of getting the info and abs buttons.
 
I'm guessing you might be also able to adapt the G650GS switchgear to fit, as it's also CANBUS:

bmw-bmw-g-650-gs-serto_13.jpg
 
I think modern BMW bike switches are rubbish and nothing but trouble. I wish they'd stayed with the original 'odd' switshes because I soon became used to them and never had any problems.
My 2014 GS1200LC's switches are flimsy and have a 'cheap feel to them, the starter's already been replaced and the indicator switch is loose and floppy. Several switches on my K1300s had to be replaced and I know of others who've also been let down becasue of them.
 
What a shame nobody has hacked the Canbus code. I would like to have indicator set and cancel via the on switches and ignore the indicator off switch.
 
Bendy toy said:
What a shame nobody has hacked the Canbus code. I would like to have indicator set and cancel via the on switches and ignore the indicator off switch.
Click to expand...
This has nothing to do with CANbus, the switches don't use CANbus. It is the zf computer code you want to change. There are already options avaliable that the dealer can change, for example shorten or lengthen the auto cancel distance.

On the subject of auto cancel, I don't get why people don't use this. By default it is set to 200 yards and can be increased or decreased. I never use the cancel button.

It wouldn't be difficult to intercept the switch output with an Arduino and make one push to start the indicator and say two pushes to cancel. It might even be possible to do short press and long press but that would be prone to errors. Another option might be the left button canceled the right indicator and vice versa.

There are already products out there that intercept the output for switching on aux lights and such. It would be a similar idea but you would feed directly back to the zf.

Of course none of this helps the OP who wants to completely ditch the switches and go conventional single switch.
 
Miff said:
I forget how many times I have angrily indicated left at a twat in a car :blast
Click to expand...

Or tooted as you turn left without indicating at the pedestrian that's waiting for you - tosser at play!!
 
Iv got used to mine but would prefer to be able to not only switch them off traditionaly,but also turn the headlight on & off at my will too all this bolocks it's gota be on 24/7 :blast could just run spot lights.
 
Thanks for all the replies.:)

After looking a bit closer at the design now I can see it's going to be a big headache to convert the switchgear from another bike. I was rather hoping there was a conversion already out there, but it seems there isn't. To convert the switchgear it would have to be from a model that also uses a Canbus system as the buttons are mostly mere microswitches rather than the older traditional style of latching switches. It could be done, one would have to decode the wiring output from the existing switchgear on both sides and find a bike model that has a similar amount of buttons to the existing switchgear then rewire to that model........sounds like a major pain though. Looks like I'll have to live with it or buy a watercooled......

Where's Tourtoot and Wonderlick when you need them?:D
 
If might not be as bad as it looks. Need to work out which wire does what on the bike. Then extend the new switch wires and use a mufti connection box under the petrol tank as a patch panel.
 
However I actually like the Hexhead switch gear. All except the clunky indicator cancel button and the ESA / trip info buttons needed swapping places.
 
Miff said:
I forget how many times I have angrily indicated left at a twat in a car :blast
Click to expand...

I'm just paranoid that I will one day "start" the engine on the KTM when I want to cancel the indicator. When I'm in GS mode, I don't mind the indicator switches. It's swapping from one bike to the other that is the problem.

But then again, the younger/poorer me would have been happy to cope with the terrible problem of more than one bike
 
If you struggle with different switch configurations do you really think it's wise to ride a motorbike?
 
"give it time you will get used to it" The toggle switches are brilliant, they are right there at the tips of your thumbs. The WC switch has to be reached for meaning a change of hand position for me and vital milliseconds.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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