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

[The Mechanic]

Now indicating.....

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

So now your using indicators again then eh!

 

[Howard Millichap]

I altered my wiring

I think the BMW system is dangerous. Especially if you ride two different makes of bike regularly.
I lost count of the number of times I wanted to blow the horn when a twat was pulling out in front of me, only to hit the left indicator button!!! So twat thinks it OK to continue to pull out!!!

I decided enough was enough. My life was in danger. I swapped the wires around in the connector blocks behind the fairing.
So now the horn is the lower button closest to my thumb. I also did the other side to match. The cancel is now the lower button.
I find this far more logical and easier to use. To cancel when you're openning the throttle you just hang your thumb out and brush the button as you twist the grip.
I firmly believe my (new) arrangement is the way BMW should have done it in the first place.

To all those that voted that it is alright. Yes you get used to it, but that doesn't make it right or a good design arrangement.

 

[MikeO]

Re: I altered my wiring

I swapped the wires around in the connector blocks behind the fairing.
So now the horn is the lower button closest to my thumb. I also did the other side to match. The cancel is now the lower button.
I find this far more logical and easier to use. To cancel when you're openning the throttle you just hang your thumb out and brush the button as you twist the grip.

Howard,

have you got any details on how to do this?(location of plugs - how to swap wires over - colour of wires etc)

Mike

 

[pegasus]

"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!!"...


The above post is spot on. Why can you not adjust the angle of the Brake/Clutch levers.......

If the angle of the levers are not set correctly the tendons to the fingers rub on the inside of the carpel tunnel (wrist) and after many 1000s of operations it can lead to RSI and carpel tunnel syndrome.

Hope the powers that be at BMW browse this site!........

 

[Finbarr]

Have to agree, I don't like the standard setup at all.

Without repeating all the stuff said by others, the one new bit of info I can add is that I find the horn also very difficult to apply for a short and friendly "oi, the lights changed, wake up!" kind of blip.

It always comes out as a longer angry sounding blast - which can often be misinterpreted as an overly aggressive gesture.

I also find myself scrabbling around trying to flash the headlight to allow someone to pull out in front, by the time I accurately find it, I've got to a point where it's no longer safe to allow them to do so, which is frustrating. I always liked the Japs idea of the left index finger operated "pass" button - nice light operation too.

I really like the idea of swapping the wires around for the horn & indicator cancel etc, so Howard, if you're listening, I'd like to hear some detail on how you did this. I'll have a bash at doing it over the weekend.

It's a very sensible arrangement in my view.

Regards,
John.

 

[Tokoloshe]

This is going to cause trouble....!!!

We ride BMW's.

By default this means that indicators and horns (hooters) are obsolete.

Agree? Disagree?

Just imagine if Volvo made bikes as well!


Enough said. Enjoy your pies.

Tok

 

[MikeO]

Re: This is going to cause trouble....!!!

We ride BMW's.

By default this means that indicators and horns (hooters) are obsolete.

Agree? Disagree?

Just imagine if Volvo made bikes as well!


Enough said. Enjoy your pies.

Tok

Back on the pie fixation again......

Mike

ps I don't agree or disagree - I have no idea what you're on about......

 

[BawdyMonk]

Re: This is going to cause trouble....!!!

We ride BMW's.

By default this means that indicators and horns (hooters) are obsolete.

Agree? Disagree?

Just imagine if Volvo made bikes as well!


Enough said. Enjoy your pies.

Tok

Did you mean this as a PM to Boundless??

 

[Dave Barrett]

"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!!"...


The above post is spot on. Why can you not adjust the angle of the Brake/Clutch levers.......

The angular position is adjustable. You need to remove the 4 screws from the switchgear blocks, (2 underneath, 1 at the front/side and one tiny screw hidden behind the mirror, (which you will also have to remove - this is secured by a 6mm allen bolt, accessible from underneath).

Remove the lower plastic part of the switchgear.

If you have hand protectors fitted, slacken both the outer (handlebar) bolt and the clamp.

By now, you will have access to the clamps. Slacken the screw and turn the whole assembly until you're happy with the position, then put everything back together again.

This still doesn't solve the Sh!te position of the horn switch, but does allow good (at least in my opinion) positioning of the indicator switches and levers.

 

[Finbarr]

Made the mod - it's great!

After reading Howards post about swapping the horn and left indicator switches, and the right and cancel switches - I set about to do this on Saturday...

On a 2003 1150 GS the wires all meet up under the tank.
After tracing the lines down the handlebars and finding the correct wire block, I was surprised to learn that the wire block completely disassembles without any cutting of wires or other bodging.

It did take a few minutes of trial and error to get the correct wires, but on both sides the wires you need are adjacent to each other (laterally, not vertically) so once you find one, the other is one of the wires either side.

After re-assembling it all it took about 5 minutes to get used to the new arrangement - it's great!

I rode to work this morning and was delighted to find that without unduly concentrating I didn't hit the wrong switch once. I also needed the horn as someone pulled accross into my lane and my frantic stabbing at the left switch gear produced an immediate blast on the horn!

I'm well chuffed - it's a great mod - easy to reverse if you don't get on with it, but I'm keeping mine this way - it's brill.

Cheers,
Finbarr.

 

[MikeO]

Finbarr,

Can you detail the colours of the wires to swap please?

Mike

 

[(RIP) maverick]

Play more games

You know that PS2 and x-box thingies you buy your kids for pressies, play with it. Give you suberb hand co-ordination

Personally I still hit the horn from time to time but hey it's sorts of keeps you aware and those unsuspected motorists around you too! I will rather complain about having to lean over the handlebars to switch my heated grips or emergency indicators on my 1100GS Surely that can't be safe if your jacket's sleeve get stuck on your GPS mounting or something to that effect

 

[franco]

Re: Play more games

I will rather complain about having to lean over the handlebars to switch my heated grips or emergency indicators on my 1100GS Surely that can't be safe if your jacket's sleeve get stuck on your GPS mounting or something to that effect

That's one big improvement I notice since changing the 1100 for the Adv (I presume it's the same on the 1150GS), that the hazard switches, ABS, and heated grips are all nicely positioned on the handlebar switches now. Funnily enough, I put it in for the first service yesterday, and gave me a loaner F650...Bloody indicators!! I tooted three people whilst trying to indicate left to overtake..!! Just as well it sounded like a duck farting, so couldn't have been misconstrued as agression...

 

[Rusty]

Never have a problem

I have only owned a BM so wouldn't know what the fuss is about, only had "normal" switch gear on my test bike & that only lasted a few days - been riding a GS ever since!

Stop complaining & just ride the damned thing!

 

[bmwjack]

I think the 1150 indicator system is a pain, my other BMW has the conventional setup.
I would be happier if you cancelled the indicator with the same button that you activate with, not that stupid grey button on the rht side.

 

[Finbarr]

Mike O - sorry for the delay in replying - work keeps getting in the way!

Yes, it is colour coded, and you'd think I'd have written down the colours, eh?

Well I didn't. However, my wiring diagram shows that on the left, it's a blue/brown wire and next to it a brown/yellow. This seems to gel with my memory.

However, on the right, the wiring diagram says its blue/yellow and next to it a brown/white, but this doesn't sound so familiar - but then my memory is crap...

The key is that the wires sit next to each other, so this does limit the combinations you need to try - also, due to the design, switching the wires over is a doddle - so it won't take long to get right.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Finbarr.

 

[cookie]

the bmw indicator system is shite.

it's all very well going on about switching between hire cars etc. but how many hire cars have SEPERATE switches for right & left?

it was all sorted out nicely years ago, but bmw have to think up something that's "better". you'd think they were french, not german

 

[cookie]

the bmw indicator system is shite.

/B]

i think "shite" was prolly a bit strong.

just not as good as the system everybody else* uses would be a better description.

not counting those ergo numpties at harley.

 

[Rob Farmer]

I don't see what the fuss is about. I like the switchgear and find it easier to use than 'Normal' indicators. My mate hated it when he first got his 1100 Sport but after a couple of days he now prefers it.

 

[enabb]

2d worth

Nowt up wi em, hit the horn button a couple of times by mistake when I first got me beauty, but now we just gel