Indicators

[BlueBoxer]

After owning an FJR1300 for 3 years, and finding it so much easier to keep clean, I wanted another shaft drive bike for the daily commute. Most shaft drive bikes are either cruisers or tourers, which I didn't fancy. Then I saw an R1100S, and it seemed so right.

The gearbox is a lot better than I expect, there's generally no clunk when I select first, and gear changes are perfect. The bike is light, and easy to get out of the garage. I'm not sure about the power, it delivers it in such a different way than the FJR, it feels a lot slower, but I'm not sure. It vibrates , but nowhere near as bad as a R1150RT I test rode a while back.

I'm slowly getting used to the different way it delivers things, but the indicators

I'm closing the trottle trying to cancel the buggers, beeping the horn before turning left. My right thumb moves around when I open/close the trottle, so I find I'm taking my eyes off the road looking for the buttons.

How long does it take to get used to this Any tips to speed this up

[Me-109]

I didn't find the indicator buttons too bad, but having them fixed in place by the switchgear that rotates with the levers and not separately does irk a little.

I still find the horn incredibly hard to find in an emergency (when you most need it) but indicators are pretty easy to use in quite a short time. I like the fact that they are quite soft-touch, requiring only a light touch to operate on or off.

[BockingBandit]

Well BlueBoxer,... you only notice that you'v got acustomed to the 'BMW Indicators' when you jump on your mates bike, ...... and start pressing the starter button before every right turn and the indicator 'cancel' toggle for every left, .. it just sort of happens.
It's different..enjoy it.

[Lightrunner]

I know what you mean.... took me 2-3 months before it was intuitive after 8-9 years on conventional switch gear. Even now I tend to double tap the right indicator and I have yet to hit the horn when I needed/wanted to.

[Gromit]

I first rode a 'funny switchgear' BM back in 1983 when the K100 was released. Thought it was a strange, but rather good idea back then.

Got my first R1100R in 1998 and took about 5 mins to get used to the 3-button system. It's a great set-up which I find much more intuitive than the daft 'one switch does all' system used on lesser bikes.

I love it.

[Dog Tyred]

I know what you mean, I have trouble finding the main beam flasher without having to look down at the handle bar. A mate of mine has just bought an F800 after a number of jap bikes. First thing he moaned about was the indicator switch gear

"don't worry" says I, "it takes but a few rides to get used to it and in the end you'll wonder why the japs (and everybody else) does it wrong"

Now, if only they had put the cancel button on the left hand side...........

[RoLoo]

...strange thing is ; on the RT and 'old' S I can find the on/off indicator buttons blindly, but on the new S I also have to look if I want to turn an indicator off ; it just feels as if the buttons are in a different position...

...big plus on the 'old' S ; the indicators stop by them self after a few meters of seconds (don't know for sure how it works) ; on the RT I have to switch it off myself...

[BlueBoxer]

Thanks for the replies by the sound of things, I'll just have to get used to it and then jump on almost any other bike, and forget it all

Other than the indicators, the other differences are much easier to get used to

Steve

[RiceBurner]

don't try to "prod" the buttons, instead just flick at them - they're pretty snesitive and you don't need to be positive.

[andrew s]

Indicators, what are they, do people use them.

I think the indicators are far better than the Jap bikes and find them a lot easier to use. As regards the throttle, don't grip it tightly and just move the thumb over too cancel the indicators.

Andrew