Turn Signal Cancel Timing

[Rob F.]

When I turn left or right, the time my turn signals cancel on my '08 R1200RT varies. Anyone know why? Can this timing be changed?

[ShovelStrokeEd]

It is based on distance traveled, not time. Not sure about hexheads but it was 200 meters on the oilheads, or something like that. I doubt it can be changed.

[Ken H.]

Can this timing be changed?

No.

[johnlt]

It is based on distance traveled, not time. Not sure about hexheads but it was 200 meters on the oilheads, or something like that. I doubt it can be changed.

Ed, I didn't think oilheads had self cancelling turn signals. I thought the 05 hex heads were the first. Am I wrong?

[ShovelStrokeEd]

My '04 GS Adventure had them, the '02 1100S didn't. I don't remember whether my '00 RT did or didn't, my '94 RS doesn't nor did my '86 K100. My '99 K12RS didn't.

 

It was kinda spotty.

[johnlt]

That is kind of spotty. My 03 RT did not have them.

[Don_Eilenberger]

Very spotty - my '04 RS didn't have them until I put in the Kisan module. AFAIK - none of our local club members' R1150GS's have them.

[TestPilot]

My '89 K100RS had them. They were based on time or distance, whichever occurred last.

[MNCruiser]

04 C has them

00 RT does not

[Rob F.]

Ed,

 

Can you explain what you mean by the turn singals cancelling after 200 yards? Is this after you make the turn? If so, this is not happening to me. This is exactly the problem I am talking about. On some turns, the lights will take longer than on other turns to turn off. I communte to work and after some turns, the lights turn off right away and on others it takes quite a while for them to go off.

[MNCruiser]

It does not sense the bike turning, it only tracks the distance from the time you initiate the signal, and then shuts itself off after 200 yards.

[FrankBrown]

It is based on BOTH distance (600 ft) and/or time (10 sec), whichever comes 1st.

[johnlt]

It is based on BOTH distance (600 ft) and/or time (10 sec), whichever comes 1st.

I believe it is which every comes last because if you come to a stop, they will stay on indefinately.

[beemerfan]

04 C has them

00 RT does not

That's too weird. My '00 RT had self-cancelling signals. It wasn't in the manual. I found out accidentally when I forgot to cancel the signal and it stopped anyway.

[ShovelStrokeEd]

Nothing to do with the turn. 200 yards after the switch is activated. You can start the counter over by hitting the switch again. This will reset it even before it turns off. Some consider it a feature, some consider it a PITA. I'm in the latter group.

[MNCruiser]

Some consider it a feature, some consider it a PITA. I'm in the latter group.

 

I'm in the group that considers it a feature. Its comforting to know its technically impossible to be one of those guys riding for 10 miles with the blinker on.

[Rideoften]

Mine will cancel (05 R1200ST) if you sit at a light too long. You don't even have to move. My brother's 07 F800ST acts the same way.

 

Ride Safe

Rideoften

[IanW]

Nothing to do with the turn. 200 yards after the switch is activated. You can start the counter over by hitting the switch again. This will reset it even before it turns off. Some consider it a feature, some consider it a PITA. I'm in the latter group.

 

Not true, it will not re-start if you hit the switch again on the 1200RT before the time/distance is up. Also it will not cancel if the brake is applied.

Ian

[Beaky]

Nothing to do with the turn. 200 yards after the switch is activated. You can start the counter over by hitting the switch again. This will reset it even before it turns off. Some consider it a feature, some consider it a PITA. I'm in the latter group.

 

Not true, it will not re-start if you hit the switch again on the 1200RT before the time/distance is up. Also it will not cancel if the brake is applied.

Ian

 

If pressing the button did reset the timer that would be a massive improvement and make the system reasonable rather than a real PITA. I wrote to BMW tech support suggesting this improvement, got a reply but that is all

 

I know we have all forgotten to cancel an indicator at some time but it should be so infrequent that self cancelling indicators are just unnecessary. I know mine only cancel when i don't want them to and I manually cancel after each turn out of habit.

 

Maybe if a few more riders wrote to BMW they'd do something about it.

[Paul Mihalka]

It's dumb. Early K bikes had the perfect system. It canceled only after a certain distance AND after a certain time, and if you hit it while signaling it restarted the count. From there it went downhill.

[Ken H.]

Ed,

 

The algorithm used in the hexheads is different than what was used in the K bikes (and a few R bikes) prior to '05.

[johnlt]

My operator's manual on my 06 GSA says "after approximately 10 seconds or after traveling approximately 650 feet, the turn signals will automatically cancel"

 

I know for a fact that this is NOT the case on my bike. If the "or" function was a "and" function, then it would be consistant with how mine operates. I can be stopped indefinately without applying brakes and the turn signals will stay on.

[ShovelStrokeEd]

Likely the computer is programmed so as to cancel the timing function if it is not receiving speedometer pulses. Makes sense. 650 feet is roughly 200 meters so that jibes with what they have been doing all along.

 

Maybe they finally got it right?

 

Frankly, I never understood the need anyway. How hard is it to indicate and then cancel the indicator? BMW makes it very easy with their system, which I much prefer to the switches on my Guzzi, R100S, VFR and Blackbird.

 

I am rarely "that guy", as I don't have much trouble remembering that I turned on the indicator.

[marcopolo]

The manual for my '06 R12RT says:

 

"The turn indicators are canceled automatically after you have ridden for approximately 10 seconds, or covered a distance of about 200m.".

 

That's exactly how mine work. You can sit at a traffic light all day, and they will not turn off. The key in the statement above is "...after you have ridden...". Once you're moving they turn off after 10 secs, or 600 ft.

 

While I like having this feature, I only rely on it as a backup, in case I forget for whatever reason. I do, however, sometimes find I have to switch them back on when I signal well in advance for an exit off freeway.

[IanW]

The manual for my '06 R12RT says:

 

"The turn indicators are canceled automatically after you have ridden for approximately 10 seconds, or covered a distance of about 200m.".

 

That's exactly how mine work. You can sit at a traffic light all day, and they will not turn off. The key in the statement above is "...after you have ridden...". Once you're moving they turn off after 10 secs, or 600 ft.

 

While I like having this feature, I only rely on it as a backup, in case I forget for whatever reason. I do, however, sometimes find I have to switch them back on when I signal well in advance for an exit off freeway.

 

I agree, the only problem I have is the indicators switching off before I get to the turn and although I try to check and hit the switch again if necessary I find it distracting.

Ian