Stupid stupid BMW controls

[andy1200]

Personally, I think BMW controls for the indicators are great, but I've been using them a long time.

I never use the self-cancel since it stays on longer than I need.

I'd agree the horn's a bit hit and miss in the heat of the moment, but on a bike if it's a heated moment it's not the horn you need anyway.

The switch I don't like is for the headlight dip/main beam. I find it too high up for when I want to use the clutch at the same time.

My 2 cents

Andy

 

[GuidoT]

You get used to the indicator switches after a while. But it's then a pain moving back to a normal setup. I wouldn't mind if they were better rather than just different. After a year on my GS I still have to think which way the switch goes to flash the lights and I allways press the horn the wrong way. I certainly miss being able to sound the LOUD horn and flash the lights at the same time that I could do on my OLD Guzzi.

--Guido

 

[Dolphin]

May as well get used to them, because after owning a GS, I can't see reason to switch back to a bike with 'normal' switch gear.

 

[kiwiAdventure]

Now I know why so many people live at the top of the world and leave us down under to the free open spaces and summer.

 

[Vampire]

Now I know why so many people live at the top of the world and leave us down under to the free open spaces and summer.

Amen to that.
And it ain't just motorcycles that have interesting controls.
Cars built for left-hand drive have the indicators and wiper stalks on the wrong side when converted to right hand drive.
So if you are like me and drive different cars in different countries, you just train your brain to manage the controls, gear shift, etc depending on the car you are driving.
I regularly ride both my R1200GS and F650 Dakar, and don't seem to have a problem adapting to whichever machine I'm riding at the time.
That said, don't Harley's have similar indicators to BMW, or was that just some earlier models?

 

[Dolphin]

Didn't know Harley made a bike that was rideable, so makes no difference...



*Runs & hides from leather clad tatooed monsters *

 

[Flaps]

Re: Re: Re: carry one monkey

I'll grant you that, its good for roundabouts. I just think that the right hand is overworked, with brake throttle, right indicator + indicator cancel.

I agree. I love to control my horn with my left hand.

 

[TheJoker]

BMW indicators are cr*p

IMFO, the BMW system is utter cr*p. I've expressed this in the thread below, and many more have.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13105

There's not a journey I make where my thumbs aren't operating as well as they could with a single-switch-system. Especially when doing quick overtakes (keyword "quick", some BMW riders might want to look it up )

If I'm not indicating, I'm cancelling, if I'm not cancelling I'm beeping, if I'm not beeping I'm indicating the wrong way...

Especially dangerous when you've overtaken a car, and you need to slow down behind the next one and change down; brake, blip-throttle AND cancel with one hand - Crazy!

I've got £100 to the one who can fix a standard indicator switch onto my bike.

"you get used to it" Heard abused wives "get used to it" too...

 

[Russ]

Re: Re: Re: carry one monkey

LOL

I think you should make a warranty claim to BMW stating that the user is faulty and request a replacement under warranty or a full refund

I'll grant you that, its good for roundabouts. I just think that the right hand is overworked, with brake throttle, right indicator + indicator cancel.

Sure I'll be into it soon.

The horn is annoying me, I like to give people a piece of my mind whilst commuting through london................I'm almost silenced apart from the odd vicious left indicate with appropriate hand signal (not to be found in highway code )

Yes i did this for a few weeks when people cut me up i would also give them a vigourous left indicate as opposed to the horn (i resorted back to the good old fashioned wing mirror smack or boot in door for a while )

It took me 5 minutes to get used to the indicators when i first test rode the GS, then took me another 5 minutes to stop trying to thumb the starter on my VFR on the way back from the dealers! The horn was the only thing that kept on throwing me for a few weeks, as i hardly used it, but once i had worked out in my mind (i.e. reprogrammed myself from jap mode) where it was, the times i have used it in anger, i've managed to get it right! You just have to be good at spatial awareness. Try sitting on the bike and practiscing finding it with your eyes closed if you are struggling to get it right.

The indicators are brilliant, so logical, go left hit the left switch, go right and a flick of the thumb on the right switch and a quick flick of the cancel button, so easy, for those that are good with spatial orientation.

It takes time, but persist and it will come right

 

[JayGee]

OK it's quite early but I'm already in the mood for a minor rant.
imho BMW controls are CRAP and potentially dangerous for riders switching between conventional, universally standard controls and BMWs (love to be different) controls.
OK I've got used to them but trying to cancel the indicators when accelerating out of a corner is very awkward. The self cancel is a real pain in the arse, it cancels too soon on motorway exits and fast roundabouts so you end up not indicating just at the crucial time. I now cancel indicators just before a turn and put them on again just to ensure they are on when I make the turn, then I cancel after the turn. OK I could just give less notice and indicate later but that's not exactly helpful or safe. It would be better if another stab at the indicator switch reset the cancel distance but it doesn't.
Don't BMW know the japs have invented a really ergonomic idicator system.... oh yes they put it on the F650!
Don't BMW realise that only idiotic, useless riders need self cancelling indicators.

So GREAT bike shame about the indicators.

 

[Taff]

The timing of this thread is uncanny. I have only been riding a 1150 for 2 months (after a Dakar) and only on last Sundays rideout, I thought to myself that the controls could be easier - to the extent that when I got home, I sat on the bike in the drive for a minute picking signals at random - the neighbours must have thought I'd lost it. BMW stubborness? I don't think so - after all the set up on the Dakar is different, and to my mind at least easier.

The biggest problem I find is that after indicating and turning, trying to cancel the indicators just feels un-natural, when you are accelarating. I may just have small fingers (stop sniggering at the back please ) so I suppose I will just have to get used to it. There were only 2 things better on the Dakar than the Adventure. The controls were easier and just felt more natural, and the other was the mirrors. Yes, the controls are workable, but you need more concentration and the way I see it, when on a bike, there are plenty of other things to concentrate on without adding one more thing to the list.

 

[oddball]

When you first get on a bm after conventional switch gear bike, the bm feels wrong.

The more you ride the more used to it you get and the self cancel wotsit works a treat. Im in favour of keeping the odd switch gear, its all part of the character for me.

I have more problem jumping in & out of the two mitsubishi's I own. My L200 has the indicators on the right and the Pinin has them on the left - its a japanees thing aparently. Im often truning left with the window wipers in the Pinin!

 

[njgt]

........ The only thing that I am still annoyed about is the indicator cancel switch. This really should not be on the right hand side,.......

David

It is

 

[TheJoker]

It is

But maybe his right-hand isn't... ?

 

[Russ]

It is

hmmmmm! spatial awareness anyone?

 

[Detox]

I presume you went for a test ride?

 

[Kropotkin]

But maybe his right-hand isn't... ?

Correct. My Right Hand Side is actual situated on the left. Which is confusing for everybody.

 

[Russ]

Correct. My Right Hand Side is actual situated on the left. Which is confusing for everybody.

Its such a nuisance when that happens isn't it

BUt going back to your point, i don't think i agree, the cancel button is in the right place, if you follow the IPSGA method in Roadcraft, because all your signalling will be done before you approach the junction and once you have completed the manuovere and opened the throttle to accelerate away your thumb is in easy reach of the cancel button (assuming auto cancel hasn't saved you the effort!)

 

[Kropotkin]

because all your signalling will be done before you approach the junction and once you have completed the manuovere and opened the throttle to accelerate away your thumb is in easy reach of the cancel button

Ahh, but there's the difficulty, as you open the throttle, you rotate your wrist DOWN, moving your thumb FURTHER AWAY from the cancel button. Better to have it on the left, where your left thumb is stuck firmly in position.

 

[Den]

Personally, I think BMW controls for the indicators are great, but I've been using them a long time.

I never use the self-cancel since it stays on longer than I need.

I'd agree the horn's a bit hit and miss in the heat of the moment, but on a bike if it's a heated moment it's not the horn you need anyway.

The switch I don't like is for the headlight dip/main beam. I find it too high up for when I want to use the clutch at the same time.

My 2 cents

Andy

Agree 1000000%