BMW indicator switchgear

For the last few months since BMW announced that for their new models they would be changing the indicator switchgear layout they have had for some years there have been some ill informed and rather silly comments made about the existing switches appearing in several publications and at least twice in MCN. Twice the word “confusing ” has been applied to this in MCN.

For those who have never ridden a BMW I should explain that there is one largish button very close to your left thumb for when you want to signal to go left and a largish button as close as it can be to your right thumb to go right.

Left hand button to go left and right hand button to go right- Is that really confusing? I think not.

In addition the fact that the system is self cancelling has been studiously ignored.
There is a third button also very close to your right thumb for manual cancelling but this is rarely needed.

In my opinion having ridden many bikes with the so called ‘standard’ system as well as a BMW I would say the BMW system is easier to operate and does away with the many bikes you see trundling down the road with their indicators merrily indicating nothing to all and sundry.

All in all I believe this is a retrograde step from BMW.