Stupid indicator switches...........

[Satnav]

Should BMW loose their indicator switches and resort to the universally accepted idea that a complete switch on the left bar is all we need. Geeze how often have I pressed the horn to let other road users know I intend to turn left. How many times have I indicated left to give someone a bollocking. Oh and how many times have I stopped accelerating to indicate right??

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

nooooooo!!

when i was thinking about buying my GS - i was really worried about this issue as things like this have a habit of really getting to me so when i went for my test-ride i paid special attention to it. up to about maybe 10 mins into the ride i was consciously thinking about my indicating, then i got used to it and since then i haven't thought about it once! (til now!) works fine for me....

pr0ne

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

Yes, I'll second that Prone.... can't see a problem. Now Harley indicators with their self cancelling system that cancels just as you want them to stay on......

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

its strange but the biggest problem i have is with the horn button . Indicators - no problem - but I cant get to the horn button when i want to - its just in the 'wrong' place for me.

End up swearing at the bike, the cars - and everything else ~!!!AAArgh !!

Phil

 

[Spanish Bob]

I have never understood why its such an issue. people change cars all the time, or drive rental cars or whatever. I have two BMs each with different switchgear and last week when I test rode the KTM it took me a few minutes to get into the swing of it but thats all. Its one of the things that really drives me effin spare when I read magazine reviews.

+ the best all round bike ever built
- odd switchgear

s"o well give it 3 out of 5"

come on satnav a good looking girl like you should find this sort of thing easy

 

[Steptoe]

I'am with motomartin on this one; indicators i don't think about but when i want to hit the horn DOH ! when i finally do wrong person gets the UMP ! BARRRRP

 

[richie]

Been using the switches from BMW for the last 4 years. I am completely at home with them and have trouble riding friends bikes without them....

 

[roadrider]

indicators

I found riding other bikes with the switch all on the left side.
akward to use. especially with thick winter gloves on. I think BM have got it right.

John
You press left to go left and right to go right, what could be simpler????????

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I think the BMW system is by far the most logical and when I ride my Jap bikes..................the switchgear on these causes me more probs.........

 

[magee]

Three switches to do one job....what if the same system was employed on a car? I'ts not a matter of getting used to it, but if it is necessary. I'm used to it but still think it's think it's crap.

The end.

Feel better now.

 

[The Foolish Fellow]

easy to use

easier than the jap ones

 

[boundless]

Never there when you need it:-

I found my horn was a bit of a devil to play
So artfully wound
To give you a sound, a beautiful sound, so rich and round
Oh, the hours I had to spend
Before I mastered it in the end

But that was yesterday
And just today I looked in the usual place
There was the thumb but the horn itself was missing
Oh were can it have gone?
Haven't you, Hasn't anyone seen my Horn?
Oh were can it have gone?
What a blow
Now I know
I'm unable to play my Allegro.
Who swiped that horn?
I'll bet you a quid
Somebody did
For early today to my utter dismay
It had vanished away like the dew in the morn.

I've lost that horn, I know I was using it yesterday
I've lost that horn,
I've lost that horn,
Found that horn gone
There's not much hope in getting it back though I'm willing to pay a reward
I know some hearty folk whose party jokes'
Pretending to hunt with the Quorn.
Gone away - Gone away
Was it one of them took it away?
Will you kindly return that horn
Where is the devil who pinched my horn?
I shall tell the police

cadenza)
I miss it's music more and more and more
Without that horn I'm feeling sad and so forlorn

But early today to my utter dismay
It had totally vanished away

I practiced the horn and I wanted to play it but somebody took it away
I practiced the horn and was longing to play it but somebody took it away

My neighbour's asleep in his bed
I'll soon make him wish he was dead



PS I missed a bit out, apologies to Michael and Donald

 

[Bonkers]

i had to vote no cos my r80 has A normal indicator switch

 

[pragmatix]

Indicators are fine its the horn I have trouble with and as others say its a much better system than the "normal" ones.

Pete A

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

yeah you're all right about the horn thing. one thing i WOULD like BM to change - is to allow rotational adjustment on the switchgear/level units. when i've got my handlebars adjusted just right, the levers will be pointed too far down at the front - leaving the horn switch up too high at the back. now that is annoying!!

pr0ne

 

[Sid]

'Proper' single switch on the mono-pot so there's another 'no' vote.

What would be useful, judging from the hordes of GS's on the last rideout (both monopots and those other heavy ones) that ride along for miles with an indicator still twinkling away to itself, would be a "reminder" buzzer that starts up after 20, or so, flashes (it's either that or a big spike sticks up through the seat if you don't switch the indicator off after 10 minutes!!)

 

[Madmountainman]

When i first looked at the GS it was an 1100 and i didn't like the indicator switches, too bloomin small! So... i bought an 1150 with the big tonka toy specials and have no problems whatsoever, far better than the jap crap IMHO.

 

[Rabbitson]

i haven't voted as I can't make up my mind if I like them or not, on the one hand I find them very easy to use and the design suits big winter gloves better, as well as fast left right indicator changes. The big minus for me is horn switch which seems to be really awkward. I noticed that someone else noticed it earlier in this thread (so I am glad it's not just me!!) but I just feel that although the indicator activator buttons are easy to use (as they use the press action from your thumb), I find the upward thumb movement required to cancel the indicators or use the horn, a bit unnatural and more difficult to apply with any force, especially in the spontaneous emergency kind of situation that the horn needs to be used in.

I guess I'll probably get used to it like anything else though and apart from that I think it's good.

 

[(RIP) Jamie]

I cant get the horn when i want to

AAArgh !!

Phil

Me neither, everything else PWO though

 

[turbine_2]

I've got used to the indicators (only took a few days) but you're right about the horn. In fact I think that B*W should really look into the ergonomics of their switchgear.

For me personally
1. The kill switch is not designed to be caught in the event of an off although a tabbard to the right wrist works well with it.
2. The engine starter is in completely the wrong place and is not easily accessible in a rush (like when you stall it at the traffic lights). Combine this with the GS's reluctance to start without a little bit of throttle at times like this and you're in trouble.
3. I've still not got used to the combined headlamp main beam / flash switch. For some reason it's counter intuitive to me.
4. The horn is in the very worst place. If you're trying to get someone's attention in a rush you're using gross motor control rather than fine motor control, so you're grabbing at any button. You're probably also braking so you weight is shifting forward meaning the button you're most likely to press is the left indicator. Maybe if the horn and left indicator were swapped that would be a better idea.