On board computer... is it worth it?

[Rhinoman]

I have been looking at trying to pick up a 800gs but I cant find out what information (if any) is displayed with out the on board computer fitted to see if it is worth it.

Is there still a fuel and temp gauge?

 

[ILMV]

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7354812&postcount=2

Ignore the tyre pressures... you have to have another option for that.

 

[Rhinoman]

thanks exacty what i was looking for!

 

[Sooty09]

Well worth £90. It will not be easy to retro fit and it probably costs BMW more not to fit it to all bikes, The left hand bar switch is different.
The functions are fairly accurate and useful. The fuel gauge is only an indicator and you need to set your trip meters to ensure you have enough fuel. The temperature gauge is useful and works fairly well.
The functions are
1) Current fuel consumption.
2) Average fuel consumption (69mpg on my 800, 74 mpg on wifes 650 works out when checked at refueling.
3) Distance to go on current fuel level ( Can be a bit odd at times)
4) Average speed (Tried all sorts but seems to always come back to 33 mph)
5) Ambient air temp,

The real useful function though is the gear indicator.

 

[Buz]

When I purchased my 650GS back in April I wasnt looking for Tyre Pressure Monitor but the bike came with it already fitted. TBH i'm glad it's on there. On the way to work I had a 'lump' of glass enter the rear tyre. The last mile of my commute the warning light came on and it showed I had lost 0.8 Bar in that mile. The fact I knew about this before getting off the bike at work meant I could get the RAC out during the day to temp plug and get me home. If i didnt have this fitted I wouldnt have known until I came out of work at 5.30 that night and probably had a long wait for the recovery chap, I would have been well pi55ed off.

The dealer told me the alarm is needed to pick up the info from the monitors but I dont know how true that is

 

[Richie3264]

Well worth £90. It will not be easy to retro fit and it probably costs BMW more not to fit it to all bikes, The left hand bar switch is different.
The functions are fairly accurate and useful. The fuel gauge is only an indicator and you need to set your trip meters to ensure you have enough fuel. The temperature gauge is useful and works fairly well.
The functions are
1) Current fuel consumption.
2) Average fuel consumption (69mpg on my 800, 74 mpg on wifes 650 works out when checked at refueling.
3) Distance to go on current fuel level ( Can be a bit odd at times)
4) Average speed (Tried all sorts but seems to always come back to 33 mph)
5) Ambient air temp,

The real useful function though is the gear indicator.

+1

worth it me thinks, sooner have it than not

 

[MikeMike]

On my 658 I have the tire pressure monitor option and I don't have the alarm.
Maybe the dealer wants to sell both?

 

[Deleted account AWRT]

for a bike that has a inaccurate fuel gauge i would of rather spent the money on other accessories.

 

[Dave Ett]

They're not all inaccurate, I find mine is spot on actually.

 

[fykka]

Bought my bike second hand without an OBC. Once I found out that the fuel warning light gave me roughly 60km of range, I'm not bothered about it. Used to using a trip. If you get a flat, you get a flat. Checking tyre pressure yourself is a good habit.

 

[macpherson]

I have the OBC on my 800GS, and would choose it every time. The temp guage, range left and fuel guage are invaluable, and seem to be pretty accurate. Fuel consumption figures and average speed are nice to have, but not essential.

Can't get close to 69 mpg, more like mid 50's. I may work out the figures manually sometime to check the accuracy of the OBC, but it could equally be the fault of the fantastic roads I commute on round the Salisbury Plain...

Regarding the tyre pressure sensors, I was told by the dealership that there were none for the 800GS. Were they wrong, or is it because of the tubed tyres, hence the 800GS can't, but the 650GS can have them?

 

[santrix]

Just make sure the fuel sensor unit has been replaced under recall/warranty... mine seems spot on now... infact the old one seemed 'spot on' too untill it ran dry with 21 miles showing remaining and 188 on the trip... Might have been 'making progress' at the time....

 

[GS Biker]

Mine has the OBC and I find the temp useful over and above the fuel stats. Also knowing what gear I am in comes in handy every now and again.

 

[GunZenBomZ]

Yes (get onboard computer), my fuel gauge use to count down from 178miles to around 30 miles then the fuel light pops on. Now it is only reliable to tell me when i'm near 30miles fuel left. But the average fuel info etc are interesting (actually very useful) to slightly change your speed & style of riding too achieve better bang for bucks.

Plus you get to say "Has it got onboard computer?" To annoy those that haven't got one if that's your thing..

 

[everywherevirtually]

for a bike that has a inaccurate fuel gauge i would of rather spent the money on other accessories.

Have you not had the update yet? Mine is bang on now. Warning light comes one and clock is at zero when there is 1litre left

The computer is well worth it. Wouldn't be without it.

 

[Deleted account AWRT]

Yep, I carry a 1 litre fuel bottle with me at all times for peace of mind and regularly see -0 on the OBC and regularly go about 20 miles beyond the -0.

 

[dogman]

If you dont have it you lose half the screen including the gear indicator! Fit it.

 

[v8legend]

By BMW standards, it's really cheap, and probably a 'must have' accessory when buying secondhand. Also quite useful. I rode mine to 1 mile left, and got .45 litres more fuel in the bike than BMW says it takes. Outside temp, and ice warning are also useful. There's also a lap timer function. When you'll use that I don't know.

 

[GunZenBomZ]

Ignore the tyre pressures... you have to have another option for that.

Yes, what he said.

Read up & noticed I've already added a comment, do'h