The R1200R bucks a BMW trend

[websterize]

Images copyright BMW Motorrad

[Ric]

Gaaaa....it's about time !.....gezzzzzz......

[hoonu]

Hah! I was at the shop today looking at a new OHC 12R, and was so used to seeing the "old" switchgear that I didn't realize they hadn't changed to the "new" type.

[Rolando33]

I'm glad they did not change it!!! Too many winers haven't figured out what to do with the right thumb, but I can tell them where to stick it!

[Rolando33]

I do like that muli-controller twist dial on the K1600GT though. Very well thought out!

[kidtwist]

I've gotten to where I definitely prefer the traditional BMW way. It's a simple tap with the right or left thumb instead of having to slide that button.

[dbrick]

I've gotten to where I definitely prefer the traditional BMW way.

I like 'em too.

But things have not always been "traditonal:"

From the mid-50s until 1969, BMW had single up-and-down or left-and-right rotary switches for turn signals.
From 1970 to 1995, Airheads had a single moves-left-and-right turn signal switch just like current Japanese bikes.
From 1983 to 2005, K bikes had the idiosyncratic left-right buttons with separate cancel.
From 1994 to 2005, Oilheads had the idiosyncratic left-right buttons with separate cancel.
From 2005 to 2010, Hexheads continued with the idiosyncratic left-right buttons with
This year, Camheads (except the R12R) go back to the left-and-right single switch.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[waynemathews]

I've gotten to where I definitely prefer the traditional BMW way.

I like 'em too.

But things have not always been "traditonal:"

From the mid-50s until 1969, BMW had single up-and-down or left-and-right rotary switches for turn signals.
From 1970 to 1995, Airheads had a single moves-left-and-right turn signal switch just like current Japanese bikes.
From 1983 to 2005, K bikes had the idiosyncratic left-right buttons with separate cancel.
From 1994 to 2005, Oilheads had the idiosyncratic left-right buttons with separate cancel.
From 2005 to 2010, Hexheads continued with the idiosyncratic left-right buttons with
This year, Camheads (except the R12R) go back to the left-and-right single switch.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Up until 9/78, airheads had an up/down switch under the right thumb for the turn signals that was functionally equivalent to the pre '70 (/2) bikes. The 70's version works quite well, though the switch on the /2 bikes has a even better feel. The audible turn signal beeper on the 70s bikes is rather irritating, but goes away in neutral or with the clutch pulled.

[dbrick]

Thanks for the correction, Wayne. I plead misguided enthusiasm: the only significant hands-on experience I had with Airheads was four years with an R65 in the early 80s.

[Ric]

I'm glad they did not change it!!! Too many winers haven't figured out what to do with the right thumb, but I can tell them where to stick it!

Wow !

Oh..and I assume you mean "Whinner"......just for the record.

And it really isn't whinning, it's getting use to something different. Something that is possiibly the most moronic piece of engineering on the planet since the dawn of time.

Having grown up with the jap style switch I can tell you that the BMW way is the weirdest, strangest, oddest, piece of engineering nonsense I've ever come across. You have to be a moron of an engineer to use 3 (thats THREE) seperate switches to accommplish a task where one would do. And what kind of engineer decides that since he's using THREE switches why not put two at the right hand and one at the left hand....after all, there's so many to deal with. And after all that, this completely lost engineering team thinks, since we have THREE switches to operate what is basically a single function, and we've put the buttons over here and over there, lets also give them next to ZERO tactical feel...yeah...that should work well in designing the most worthless piece of crap in all history !

Oh wait......lets put turning off the winkers on the throttle hand......BRILLIANT !!!...... after all, since he's busy using the throttle to keep from being hit from the rear through that yield sign, the rider can wait until it turns off on it's own...yeah...that cell phone talking car on the right, about to pull out just after the right hand turn won't think the bike is turning into the parking lot just because his right blinker is still on......OH WAIT...WHATS THAT BIKER DOING....oh...he must be a new BMW owner, he's clearly struggling to locate the turn signal off switch before that car pulls out. Well....he's an idiot, he could just use the same energy to find the switch to blow his horn.....Dohhhh !

There....there's some "Whinning" for ya.......but just having some fun needling all of you long time Beemers. And relaying what it's like to be new to BMW after 50 years of Japan.

And don't even get me started on propeller torque.....

[firstforward]

I'm glad they did not change it!!! Too many winers haven't figured out what to do with the right thumb, but I can tell them where to stick it!

Wow !

Oh..and I assume you mean "Whinner"......just for the record.

And it really isn't whinning, it's getting use to something different. Something that is possiibly the most moronic piece of engineering on the planet since the dawn of time.

Having grown up with the jap style switch I can tell you that the BMW way is the weirdest, strangest, oddest, piece of engineering nonsense I've ever come across. You have to be a moron of an engineer to use 3 (thats THREE) seperate switches to accommplish a task where one would do. And what kind of engineer decides that since he's using THREE switches why not put two at the right hand and one at the left hand....after all, there's so many to deal with. And after all that, this completely lost engineering team thinks, since we have THREE switches to operate what is basically a single function, and we've put the buttons over here and over there, lets also give them next to ZERO tactical feel...yeah...that should work well in designing the most worthless piece of crap in all history !

Oh wait......lets put turning off the winkers on the throttle hand......BRILLIANT !!!...... after all, since he's busy using the throttle to keep from being hit from the rear through that yield sign, the rider can wait until it turns off on it's own...yeah...that cell phone talking car on the right, about to pull out just after the right hand turn won't think the bike is turning into the parking lot just because his right blinker is still on......OH WAIT...WHATS THAT BIKER DOING....oh...he must be a new BMW owner, he's clearly struggling to locate the turn signal off switch before that car pulls out. Well....he's an idiot, he could just use the same energy to find the switch to blow his horn.....Dohhhh !

There....there's some "Whinning" for ya.......but just having some fun needling all of you long time Beemers. And relaying what it's like to be new to BMW after 50 years of Japan.

And don't even get me started on propeller torque.....

+1

[deilenberger]

I'm glad they did not change it!!! Too many winers haven't figured out what to do with the right thumb, but I can tell them where to stick it!

Wow !

Oh..and I assume you mean "Whinner"......just for the record.

Not to be pedantic.. just for the record: I assume you mean "whiner"? http://merriam-webstercollegiate.com/thesaurus/whiner ??

[deilenberger]

.. large snippage of a quote of several messages within one another..

+1

Way to go for your 3rd posting.. Adding something valuable to the thread (not.. but then neither am I..)

[ContraMoto]

"lets put turning off the winkers on the throttle hand......BRILLIANT "

I have to say...I don't mind two turn switches. But I really do not like the off switch on the throttle side. Just after making a turn, when I am trying to move smoothly up to speed, my bike does a herky-jerky while I reach for the off switch. Would work much better on the other side, IMO.

[deilenberger]

"lets put turning off the winkers on the throttle hand......BRILLIANT "

I have to say...I don't mind two turn switches. But I really do not like the off switch on the throttle side. Just after making a turn, when I am trying to move smoothly up to speed, my bike does a herky-jerky while I reach for the off switch. Would work much better on the other side, IMO.

I usually hit mine while I'm in the turn. Once I'm in it there isn't much to do except lean the bike and watch the scenery.. Not doing any shifting/braking while turning, so it seems a good time to cancel. And once in the turn you don't need to blink..

You might try that..

[jess]

.. large snippage of a quote of several messages within one another..

+1

Way to go for your 3rd posting.. Adding something valuable to the thread (not.. but then neither am I..)

+1

Oh, wait...

[Ric]

I'm glad they did not change it!!! Too many winers haven't figured out what to do with the right thumb, but I can tell them where to stick it!

Wow !

Oh..and I assume you mean "Whinner"......just for the record.

Not to be pedantic.. just for the record: I assume you mean "whiner"? http://merriam-webstercollegiate.com/thesaurus/whiner ??

No...I meant "Whinner", as in: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Whinner

HA !!!!

[dirty red]

I give the old style switches two years max. Then they will all have the older style switches.

Dereck

[LumpyCam]

One time when i appreciate the 'old' style with left/right paddles is in the winter when I've got heavy gloves on. They don't require much dexterity or digital articulation which can be a problem with cold and thick insulation.

[bicyclist]

How about this. Hit the switch on the left bar to turn left, hit it again to cancel. Hit the switch on the right bar to turn right, hit it again to cancel. Makes eminent good sense. Who does it that way? Harley.