Indicator switch conversion

[(RIP) Miff]

Hi there.
Being new to BMWs (I hope to have a 1200gs soon), I really want to know if anybody has changed those daft indicator switches for "conventional" ones??

I remember a company in the early 90's did a conversion using Suzuki switch gear.

Now that the K series bikes use a conventional switch, would K switchgear fit and work???

It MUST be possible, as it's only switches and wires......

 

[D6]

easier to use a kissan indicator unit, the switches are moulded round the brake an clutch cyls etc, itd be a long job

 

[GreatScott]

why would you want to change them? They take about 5 minutes to get used to and then you'll wonder why all bikes aren't built this way. Did you see this week's MCN ? The test drivers there thought it better not to indicate in traffic than use them !! No wonder people "think" they won't like them with journos whinging on about the unfamilar. I think they are instinctive and I like my bike a bit different to all the rice burners we see buzzing about. IMHO I think BM took a step backwards with the K1300 indicators and I hope they never do it with the GS. I'm going to have to lie down

 

[D6]

i personally hate them,had mine 3year an still cant get used to it. the kissan converts em to on/off on the same button, much better,
3 switches for indicators is mad, i think the whole switch layout is a bit crap personally , all down to taste.

 

[Schtum]

And that's why the engineers at BMW have finally given in and fitted Japaneasy switchgear.....

Give it long enough and everything defaults to the lowest common denominator in today's world where people want things to be easy so that they can get their quick fix....

 

[(RIP) Miff]

why would you want to change them? They take about 5 minutes to get used to and then you'll wonder why all bikes aren't built this way.

I had a test ride for just under 100 miles. I hoped to get used to them in the quoted "10 minutes sir" that it should take me.

I know the journo's bang on about them, but I'm not a big fan of them (journos), as if it's older than 12 months, it's old hat and useless. God know's what they'd make of my 10 year old ZZR600


Anyway, the indicators.... Turning left would mean I hit the horn button. This is fine on a BOAT where you use the horn as an indicator. Turning right, and cancelling, would only work if my hand was in the correct position. Which it never was, if I had the throttle open. I ended up giving hand signals (although I don't know if drivers quite understood my "Can't stop, can't reach the ground" signals).

My old Suzuki RG250 had ONE switch to do indicators AND high/low beam + flash.

It makes no sense to have to use a switch with the throttle hand bearing in mind you may also be braking at the same time.

 

[elevensies]

you want to try my indicators on my old r60/7
its single unit on the rhs with a rocker switch, up for left, down for right.

i just wish it had the normal left hand and right hand switches, so dont think bmw have only just come up with the single switch idea for the k1300, they also used a standard jap switch gear on the f650gs!!!!

 

[Beemerman59]

I had a test ride for just under 100 miles. I hoped to get used to them in the quoted "10 minutes sir" that it should take me.

I know the journo's bang on about them, but I'm not a big fan of them (journos), as if it's older than 12 months, it's old hat and useless. God know's what they'd make of my 10 year old ZZR600


Anyway, the indicators.... Turning left would mean I hit the horn button. This is fine on a BOAT where you use the horn as an indicator. Turning right, and cancelling, would only work if my hand was in the correct position. Which it never was, if I had the throttle open. I ended up giving hand signals (although I don't know if drivers quite understood my "Can't stop, can't reach the ground" signals).

My old Suzuki RG250 had ONE switch to do indicators AND high/low beam + flash.

It makes no sense to have to use a switch with the throttle hand bearing in mind you may also be braking at the same time.

One man's poison is anothers fine wine. I prefer the current GS layout, same as I have on my K11. Left for left and right for right. If you can't be bothered to turn them off they self cancel. My throttle hand can multi task no problem, go, stop and indicate all at the same time. I tried the new 13GT and hated the new type. But I remember being OK with them on my CB900FA back in 1980. Just get used to them and don't let journo's influence you.

 

[chad]

After i got rid of my first GS i never really got on well with the japo style switch's. Now im back on a GS the switch gear feels natural, bmw just sold out when they changed them on the new K series bikes

 

[elevensies]

Chad, bmw had the single unit indicator switches fitted years before the k13.

FFS people think that this is all bmw have ever done!!!!!!!!!
Christ, even hardly davidsuns have double switches like ours!

 

[Stewart H]

The two/three button GS system is second nature to me, it took the ride home to get the hang of it, I put Muffs on it soon after purchase and the only one I had a problem remembering was the horn, mind you I dont use that a lot.
This thread ran for pages over on the pipe n slippers forum
Stewart

 

[elevensies]

The two/three button GS system is second nature to me, it took the ride home to get the hang of it, I put Muffs on it soon after purchase and the only one I had a problem remembering was the horn, mind you I dont use that a lot.
This thread ran for pages over on the pipe n slippers forum
Stewart

how true its easy

its a mind thing

 

[JJH]

I ride a gsa its my 4th bmw I do not like the switches if there so good why has no other manufactour copied them? JJH

 

[elevensies]

Christ, even hardly davidsuns have double switches like ours!

mm well here you go!!!!!!!!

 

[g.s.john]

why would you want to change them? They take about 5 minutes to get used to and then you'll wonder why all bikes aren't built this way. Did you see this week's MCN ? The test drivers there thought it better not to indicate in traffic than use them !! No wonder people "think" they won't like them with journos whinging on about the unfamilar. I think they are instinctive and I like my bike a bit different to all the rice burners we see buzzing about. IMHO I think BM took a step backwards with the K1300 indicators and I hope they never do it with the GS. I'm going to have to lie down

Are them journo's a bit thick 'better not to indicate in traffic' mind you when you look at the feckin toilet roll they work for 'how to do better stoppie's' and all that bollox, them cnut's have got about as much idea about motorcycling as my @rse has snake catching

 

[chad]

Christ, even hardly davidsuns have double switches like ours!

tis true but they are not as good

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I wonder just how many of us have gone for the horn and hit the left indicator instead?

Using the indicators should be a very natural operation to perform. BMW have made a simple function harder than it should be!

 

[(RIP) Miff]

I got on better with them on my 2nd test ride on Sunday. I want to get used to them, I really do. They aren't as bad as some journos make out. It's just I've NEVER used them before.

The missus has a japanese car, and the indicators are on the RIGHT HAND stalk. Now THAT makes perfect sense.

I have learnt that there is a way of turning the headlight OFF by using the indicator buttons. This came from an Amercian forum, so don't know if it'll work with a UK bike. I'll find out soon, as I HATE using headlights in the daytime (as long as the weather is good, obviously) as I think it's dangerous. So the indicators may stay as BMW intended......

I'm sure THAT will start another discussion... LOL LOL

 

[Deleted account 211028001]

Had my gs 3 months, now its natural to use the indicator switches, BUT the bl**dy horn is a pain as it is not something I use frequently

 

[Davy F]

I wonder just how many of us have gone for the horn and hit the left indicator instead?

That would be me too........