Indicator switch

[Deleted account 251212001]

Bit of a shame they have changed them, i am now riding a non bmw and i can say the bmw setup with the paddles was a lot easier and more natural after a week or two adjusting.

On the s1000rr with angled bars it maybe makes sense to go the jap way, on the gs with its wide flat bars it doesnt, but keeps those journos and new to the marque happy.

 

[Beangreen]

did BMW give us any indication this was going to happen??...

 

[wheelnut]

I like the two/three switch arrangement, left for left and right for right. Its the cancel button that annoys me. Why could it not be on the left hand side. I dont want to be moving my hand around the throttle, when all i want is smooth acceleration. And if i need to use the horn, chances are i will be off the throttle.

You don't need to move your hand round, you just move your thumb.

 

[wheelnut]

I would agree with that plus the left switch/horn is in the wrong place. It's not the first time I have given a swift toot with the left indicator.

The horn isn't in the wrong place, it's in the same place as the the indicator cancel switch on the opposite bar and you find that ok. It's just that we don't press the horn very often so the muscle memory to find it quickly isn't there.

 

[D6]

i never got used to 3 switches, much better the new style,

 

[Yellow Peril]

i never got used to 3 switches, much better the new style,

Wouldn't buy a paddle shift car then, and to be honest that goes for anyone who thinks the jap system is better.

 

[EggChaser]

Don't HD still use a switch on each bar (which perhaps make more sense than both the Single left switch 'Jap' setup and the BMW 3 switch systems)

 

[jasperthehorse]

cancelling

I have to confess that i wasnt told that the indicators actually self cancelled!!
In theory the switch on each side makes sense i guess.
It was the cancelling switch that got me frustrated.

 

[snerkler]

Well I had a test ride on the Triumph Explorer today which has the 'traditional' switchgear and I have to say I hated it. It took me a while to get used to BMW when I first bought my GS, but once used to it it makes sense, and much easier to use imo. The switches were in exactly the right position meaning you didn't have to move you thumb in order to press them. Traditional switch gear isn't in as convenient position imo.

 

[Nutty]

Well I had a test ride on the Triumph Explorer today which has the 'traditional' switchgear and I have to say I hated it. It took me a while to get used to BMW when I first bought my GS, but once used to it it makes sense, and much easier to use imo. The switches were in exactly the right position meaning you didn't have to move you thumb in order to press them. Traditional switch gear isn't in as convenient position imo.

You in the market for a new bike then Toby?

 

[snerkler]

You in the market for a new bike then Toby?

I'd love one. Trouble is I put a lot of the money from the sale of my bike towards a new car so need to convince my wife that a bike is more important than a new kitchen Also, my arm's still dodgy so would only be able to use the bike very infrequently which doesn't do my negotiations with a my wife any good. This was the reason I got rid of my GSA in the first place so the situation hasn't changed, other than the fact that before I couldn't justify to myself keeping the bike and paying insurance etc whereas I now realise that was a mistake and even if I can only do a 1000 miles or so per year that's enough to warrant having a bike. Just need to convince the wife and save some pennies.

 

[Nutty]

I'd love one. Trouble is I put a lot of the money from the sale of my bike towards a new car so need to convince my wife that a bike is more important than a new kitchen Also, my arm's still dodgy so would only be able to use the bike very infrequently which doesn't do my negotiations with a my wife any good. This was the reason I got rid of my GSA in the first place so the situation hasn't changed, other than the fact that before I couldn't justify to myself keeping the bike and paying insurance etc whereas I now realise that was a mistake and even if I can only do a 1000 miles or so per year that's enough to warrant having a bike. Just need to convince the wife and save some pennies.

I'll talk to her for you. I have this convincing the wife lark mastered!

 

[snerkler]

I'll talk to her for you. I have this convincing the wife lark mastered!

 

[Roberto]

I test rode a new RT a few months with the 'jap' configuration on it. I get on fine with that- I have it on another bike- but I prefer the good old BM left button/right button config so am sad to see it go.

What really stood out was just how cheap and nasty the 'new' switch gear felt

 

[jasperthehorse]

explorer?

Well I had a test ride on the Triumph Explorer today which has the 'traditional' switchgear and I have to say I hated it. It took me a while to get used to BMW when I first bought my GS, but once used to it it makes sense, and much easier to use imo. The switches were in exactly the right position meaning you didn't have to move you thumb in order to press them. Traditional switch gear isn't in as convenient position imo.

Ah!!
Be honest mate. Quite how did you rate the explorer?
Im a triumph man so when i rode the explorer i thought it was a better bike than the gs. Engine, steering, equipment etc, etc...
However.....
I cant quite put my finger on it but theres just something about he gs.
Driving me bloody nuts trying to decide.

 

[snerkler]

Ah!!
Be honest mate. Quite how did you rate the explorer?
Im a triumph man so when i rode the explorer i thought it was a better bike than the gs. Engine, steering, equipment etc, etc...
However.....
I cant quite put my finger on it but theres just something about he gs.
Driving me bloody nuts trying to decide.

See my review here .

The GS/A is the bike that's got under my skin the most. I've had a variety of bikes, superbikes, sports tourers, adventure and naked. I've respected them all greatly, and thought they were all excellent bikes but none got under my skin in the same way. Why the GS/A does this I don't know, on paper it doesn't make sense. It's the slowest and heaviest bike I've ever owned with relatively low bhp, but the more I rode it the more I loved it. On the twisties it just flowed, my riding had never been so smooth and enjoyable. It didn't give me the same adrenalin rush as say my gixxer thou, but boy was it fun

 

[(RIP) Miff]

I test rode a new RT a few months with the 'jap' configuration on it. I get on fine with that- I have it on another bike- but I prefer the good old BM left button/right button config so am sad to see it go.

What really stood out was just how cheap and nasty the 'new' switch gear felt

My 2005, 34k 1200gs right indicator button is playing up. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

My 1999, 32k Japanese Kawasaki ZZR600 switches all work perfectly fine.

Seems the old BMW switchgear isn't that good anyway.

 

[D6]

Wouldn't buy a paddle shift car then, and to be honest that goes for anyone who thinks the jap system is better.

i have a paddle shift car, its sound, nothing like bm indicators?????is there a seperate switch for neutral on a paddle car?cars are cars , bikes are bikes..

the harley set up i can cope with, it was the cancel i couldn't get to grips with,
also i own a few bikes and prefered a normal style switch as it takes less thinking (for me) i alleviated my problem with a kissan ind unit, so i never had to cancel anymore

 

[Bendy toy]

Wouldn't buy a paddle shift car then, and to be honest that goes for anyone who thinks the jap system is better.

My old Mum had an automatic Fiat Panda which was basically a selespeed without the paddles. TBH it was great to use though not without a few quirks. Like it defaults to idling in gear rather than neutral (so wears the clutch release bearing). And going from neutral to drive is flippin slow while it (yet again) resets itself. But otherwise it was a great bit of kit.

I very nearly bought the car when she stopped driving but it was just a bit too small for my needs.

 

[REGS12]

Hooray at last! I will now be able to toot someone rather than flashing them with my, wait-------------left indicator.