What does the computer actually do?

[Ragnar]

Hi All,

Just signed up, so please be gentle!

I've decided to convert over to the dark side, having only owned sports bikes (R6s and R1s) for many years, then buying a supermoto. I'm keeping the supermoto and selling my current R1 to buy a GS or GSA (I'm a shorty but I can ride my friends GS on the lowest standard seat setting so I reckon I can ride the GSA once fitted with the lower seat option).

Anyway... Apologies if this has come up before, but I have searched this site and BMW's own. I can't find out what the On Board Computer with Oil Warning actually does (apart from, obviously, warning when your oil's low). Exactly what are BMW giving me for my hard-earned £115??

Many thanks in advance,
David.

 

[cookie]

fuel range

average speed

average fuel consumption

temp

oil check

if it does anything else, i've forgotten

probably just a free tweak of the ECU software to turn it on for bmw

pity it can't display the time + any of the above at one time really.

 

[Loiq]

it proves you spent the extra money...

 

[Ragnar]

Thanks for the info.

Just to clarify. When I rode my friends 12GS I noticed that it was showing me estimated fuel range remaining (e.g. 35 miles of fuel left). Was that the OBC doing it's thing?

Bonus question... Do you think it's worth the additional £115?

D.

 

[Deleted Member I]

35 miles fuel left is standard .. no need to pay extra.

The computer is just one more thing to break and get pissed off about on the 1200 .. but I suppose that's why we ride the 1200

 

[Loiq]

find the right bike then do the deal is the dealer really going to moan about the sale? get the puter for nowt and spent the dosh on an R2 jacket very nice

 

[mikepg]

It relieves the bordome when sitting at the lights and gives your left thumb much need exercise.

Apart from that - it does all of thoses things noted, but really quite useless.

 

[Pukmeister]

Ragnar, IMHO the standard instrumentation is just fine:

SPEEDO (MPH/KMH)
REVS
GEAR
TIME
FUEL (INCLUDING COUNTDOWN TO EMPTY)
TEMP

TOTAL MILES ODOMETER PLUS TWO TRIP ODOMETERS

What more do you need from a bike ??

If I were you I'd save my pennies and do without the computer.

Also, if you have the BMW Navigator 2 or 3, or the newer Garmin GPS units, they have all that trip computer stuff built-in except for the fuel economy /oil and temp bit, including average and max speeds, trip and total mileage etc.

 

[Seamaster]

Says No !

 

[Ragnar]

Thanks guys,

No wonder BMW don't want to tell you what the OBC actually does. For the majority of riders I would say nothing.

Thanks for the info and for (theoretically) saving me £115 and making my GSA that little bit more affordable, if you can use that term and GSA in the same sentence that is!

D.

 

[cookie]

i know it's pretty useless, but i'd miss watching the temperature guage go up as i go south & the full fuel range function is erratic, but helpful.

as Lo-Iq say's, get 'em to fit it as part of the deal.

 

[Ragnar]

Well, I'll see what my options are when I pay Wollastons a visit on Saturday, but I'm certainly not going to pay the full £115 for it. If they've got a GSA with it already specc'ed then I may entertain a small price increase, but not a lot!

Getting onto another topic really but ideal GSA spec for me seems to be (at the moment):

• Road tyres
• Alarm
• Heated grips
• Fog lights
• ABS
• Pannier fastenings for Ali Cases (Do I really need these?!?)

List price for that little lot is £11,470 according to BMW's site. Any ideas as to what I should be aiming for as a 'good deal'?

Anyway, I'll see what's available and what kind of deal I can get on Saturday.

Many thanks all,
David.

 

[cookie]

if it were me, i'd have the OBC over the fogs & fit HID burners to the main lamps.

in fact, that's what i've got

 

[Loiq]

vines has got a stack of 1200 gsa's in the new secret bit around the back about 10 ish might be more all built looking mighty fine

but it's too early in the months for a deal if you know what I mean

 

[Ragnar]

Thanks for the info. Vines is a lot nearer to me, but I was going to Wollastons as my friend bought, and is buying another GS from them. He was also told that there would be deals towards the end of the month.

Have to say, Vines didn't really seem that interested in selling me a £11K bike when I first visited them which put me off a bit. The salesman kind of had a 'couldn't be bothered either way' attitude. Maybe it was just my bad luck as they have been recommended to me before.

 

[davedyer]

If they want to shift a crated bike from their storage and its got the computer then I'm sure they'll waive the £115 if you don't show any interest in wanting it.

Bahnstormer had a 1200 with exactly the spec I wanted as well as having a chromed exhaust - which I didn't want. However, they waived the £80 extra for the option just to be able to shift the bike.

Besides, the computer does have the oil check - when warmed up and stationary the computer checks the oil level and gives an OK or CHECK on the dash.

 

[Ragnar]

Thanks for all your help and info.

I did the dealing earlier today so hopefully my new pride and joy will be here in a couple of weeks!

see: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116477

D.