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

[Deleted account W]

I fitted a Signal Minder relay.

Same switch that brings the indicator on turns it off with a second press.

Plus: They now self cancel after 8 seconds unless you've got the brakes on.

Plus: You can use them as running lights if you want.

Plus: If you hold onto the switch while indicating they flash very quick for a couple of seconds, good for motorway lane changing.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

but the signal minder won't turn the RH indicators on/off though ?

How easy would it be to fit 650 LHS switchgear to an 1100 /1150

- then use the RH indicator switch to toggle accessories on /off using another latching relay - say VW type.

 

[Deleted account W]

but the signal minder won't turn the RH indicators on/off though ?

Not sure what you mean Phil.

You switch the RH indicator on like normal then turn it off by hitting the same switch.

Not like switching both on and off from the same switch like all other bikes but more intuitive than the cancel switch BMW system.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

why is it when you first post s'thing it makes perfect sense - but the next day it doesn't ??

what i sort of meant was that i'd prefer one switch on the LHS cluster - as 99% of bikes - to turn all indicators on/off.

whereas your signal minder only turns the LHS indicators on/off with one switch. - you still need the rhs switch for he rhs indicators

which was where i was going with the 650 switchgear idea....


hows that ?

 

[Gas'd Off]

I`ve come from years of Japanese bikes and I reckon three switches is pants. Although switching the indicators on is easy, turning them off again means my hand is unable to cover the brake at the same time. That`s just stupid! As for the other side, like others, I have lost count of the times I have gone for the horn only to indicate so the car I want to hoot to thinks I`m turning and continues to pull out. Totally totally stupid! I thought that I would get used to it, 20,000 miles later and I`m still not! It is not intuitive and I`m stuck in my ways. Soooo please can anyone who is doing a horn/light - cancel light swap take some pics or tell us which colour/position wires I should be swapping.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

'sfunny - I've always found the indicator switches totally logical and easy to use. You barely need to move anything to operate them.

I usually ride with 2 fingers over the brake, 2 on the throttle and the thumb can then easily be used for the rh indicator whilst braking or on the gas. LH simpler still.

The last bike I had with a "normal" indiactor set up was a real effort.

The horn though is a pain.

For cookie, the K series had self-cancelling indicators years ago - not sure why they haven't used them on boxers before (or have they?)

Paul

 

[Markoh]

Re: 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????????

And then press the horn to cancel (occasionally)

 

[Thomas]

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.

Are you talking about an 1150? The buttons on the starter/kill button are positioned too high indeed.

On the 1100 it's positioned perfectly for me.

 

[Gas'd Off]

Found this

Sorry about picture quality

 

[Gas'd Off]

 

[Gas'd Off]

 

[Global Rider]

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.

Why, they work perfectly well.

I have bikes with both types of switch gear; the modern BMW ones and the archaic ones found on my KLR 650 and other similar bikes. I never have a problem switching between the bikes.

 

[TheJoker]

lukate, thanks for posting those images! Made my Monday morning! Untill I have to walk out to the bike and start "playing piano" with the indicator switches...

 

[Gas'd Off]

This weekend I mostly swapped my switches round, it`s the pups now. Still not as intuitive as the jap norm but much much easier. No more left indications to those wot are thinking of pulling into your chosen trajectory and being able to accelerate and cancel at the same time. Marvellous Also I can now do a friendly bip bip on the horn. Splendid
If you`ve been considering doing this too, go for it, I have definitely found it to be a worthwhile modification.
I now have the accurate-ish info on the "how to" if anyone would like basic instructions.
:sunshine

 

[artman975]

Got to agree with the majority, the indicators are ok but the horn's a pain also the headlamp flash would benifit from being on the front of the switch cluster like a Jap bike much easier to get to and you can give someone full beam and a good BAAARRRP at the same time.

 

[Big Mikey]

Theres a new medical breakthrough in japan,

Sort people are having there legs snapped &then having special stretchers atached through the bones &every day they strech the bones to gain longer legs. Maybe you could apply this to you thumbs. Cheers

 

[Timolgra]

Re: Found this

Sorry about picture quality

Irrevelent I know, but Woods of Abergele are not BMW dealers and don't deal with themin any way.

Surprised to see how overwhelming the results of this poll are yet still causes so much controvesy

Like many others though I find the horn switch positioning is very unnatural and that is far more of an issue to me.

Tim

 

[Mouse]

Or look at it this way - over 20% of people who voted are "fed up" with the indicators. That's about 100 times more people (proportionally) that had a rear drive failure on their 1200GS, yet look at the fuss that caused!

 

[Timolgra]

Or look at it this way - over 20% of people who voted are "fed up" with the indicators. That's about 100 times more people (proportionally) that had a rear drive failure on their 1200GS, yet look at the fuss that caused!

Yep flippin statistics, but I never knew there was any problems with 1200 drives, it must mean I'm reassuringly not contemplating one.

Rgards to you 'n yours Tim

 

[~Stef~]

Ive done the "wire" swap on my 1100 which has eased the indicator operation, but ive still parped the horn a few times by mistake or indicated right when trying to cancel.

Im now looking at swaping the whole set up over to a "normal" set up using either Jap,Triumph or othe B*W second hand switches.


Is it not that B*W like to be different, flat twins brick fours etc, but when the get it wrong they dont like to admit it.