new controls for R1200GS

[dsd]

I made a mod on a R1200GS for someone who has a left arm amputation below his elbow (basically no hand) and thought that you guys might be interested to read a little bit about it on my blog, http://blog.engineersimplicity.com

Basically I made a system that allowed all the left hand controls (left indicator, horn, brights/dim) to be controlled with the right hand controls (right indicator, indicator cancel).

I've got some pictures of the mods that he has already done. He moved the clutch over to the right hand, and put in a place to attach his prosthesis to.

Here is a direct link to the article, Creating controls for a BMW R1200GS

Let me know what you think! Either here or directly on the blog.

Thanks, Duncan

 

[North]

That's a great thing that you did.

 

[Aidan1150]

Very clever adaptation of the electronics.

Well done.

 

[dsd]

Thanks guys! Appreciate that

 

[Psycho]

just goes to show there are still some great engineers out there 10/10

 

[dsd]

just goes to show there are still some great engineers out there 10/10

Awww...now you're just making me blush

If any of you guys have ideas for electronic mods or further add-ons then let me know and I can try to see what is possible. I've also got a close relationship with the guys from Hex Microsystems, who have just released the GS-911 diagnostic tool, so we can work together on some things too.

 

[Yoda]

Brilliant. 11/10.

 

[Big Lee]

Well impressed

 

[PJ1200]

Excellent. Well done

 

[brassmonkey001]

Nice work DSD

 

[GSPeP]

Nice job

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Hey, great Engineering!
You da man!!!

 

[dsd]

Thanks for all the positive feedback! I really appreciate it You guys rock

 

[GSwadd]

Awww...now you're just making me blush

If any of you guys have ideas for electronic mods or further add-ons then let me know and I can try to see what is possible.

Any chance your electrickery friends might be able to work out how to fool the trip computer into showing distance to empty at will and not just when on reserve?

 

[ECM]

Hi Duncan

Nice work!

I know a guy in my home town with the same issue: Hand amputation. He has got a R1200GSA modified in (as far as I can see) pretty much the same way.
And he is not riding it gently. In fact. He was hard to shake loose on the Zandvoort racing cirquit last sommer

If you want to, you can send me an email and try to get you to in touch.

Greetz!

 

[dsd]

Any chance your electrickery friends might be able to work out how to fool the trip computer into showing distance to empty at will and not just when on reserve?

Hmmm, I'll look into it. I'm guessing at some point the fuel sensor says to the controller that it is getting low. Just got to make the controller think the fuel is always low.

 

[dsd]

Any chance your electrickery friends might be able to work out how to fool the trip computer into showing distance to empty at will and not just when on reserve?

I've had a look at the wiring diagrams (get them from www.r1200gs.info), but it seems like there is only the fuel level sensor. From the diagram it looks like the sensor is essentially a variable resistor which feeds directly into the control unit.

There are two things that you could try to see what the reaction is.

1. Try disconnecting the fuel sensor and see what the bike says, does it think the tank is empty/full, or does it just give you an error
2. Try shorting out the fuel sensor. Disconnect it first and see what happens if you short the terminals together, again empty/full? error?

I suspect that the value the controller expects to see from the sensor is neither totally open or totally closed, so the above two options will probably result in some sort of error.

I think the controller just waits until it reaches a certain value and then starts giving the range indication. I wonder if you couldn't access that information via the CAN bus connector (with something like the GS-911)? I'm going to see Stephan tomorrow so I'll ask him about that.

 

[Bigtwin]

Hats off to you Sir - very neat job.

 

[GSwadd]

I think the controller just waits until it reaches a certain value and then starts giving the range indication. I wonder if you couldn't access that information via the CAN bus connector (with something like the GS-911)? I'm going to see Stephan tomorrow so I'll ask him about that.

I'm suspecting that's what it is too. Once the fuel level sensor reaches a certain level the controller says 'reserve time' and shows distance to empty worked off fuel consumption for every 10km or so. Thinking it would need the software to be fooled, as it would have to think it's on reserve, but still know how much fuel you really have. Just would be handy from full as sometimes fuel stops that are open can be few and far between here in QLD. Anyone know if the optional trip computer can be retro fitted after, as a plug-in module, or is it contained in the gauge panel?

 

[davecwmotorcycles]

The on-board computer - BMW-speak for trip computer - can't be retro-fitted according to BMW. We've tried, and we failed. Sorry.

Dave.