Just don't "get" indicator issue

[Greg G]

I just don't "get" the problem with the rear idicators being "cheap" and falling off. My wife and I have a pair of 2001 black R1100SLA models. In hearing certain complaints, I've looked closely at the indicators and given them a yank. They actually look quite solid and just sit there, not unlike the plastic units on most bikes. Is this just a whining thing that most folks like me don't find a problem or is the general consensus that these are somehow flawed by design. Motorcycle mirrors and directionals that yeild rather than break off are not always a bad thing.

Moreover, I've heard complaints about bizarre blinking of indicators in heavy rain and such. I had this on my K1200RS and it has nothing to do with the indicators themselves, but instead was a matter of replacing a funky relay inside - end of problem.

Any comments or opinions on this indicator issue would be appreciated as I'm just not able to find the problem.

[Bob Hancock]

My turn indicators have just sat there and blinked when I told them to for 11 months and 14,000 + miles including some all day rides in the rain. My bike lives in a garage, however....don't know if this helps with the electrical stuff or not.
Listening to the complaints of rear blinkers, I suspect it is folks bumping them when they get on and off the bike. After several iterations of this, I guess they just give up. I've managed to raise my leg high enough not to do this....I just hit the rear seat cover )
Bob Hancock
'99R11S...Mandarin/Silver touring bike

[Conrad (RAD) Sudduth]

Hi Greg

If you are lucky you will never "get" the indicator issue. If you are like me, small garage and not to bright, you will quickly understand the issue. If you bump them, moving them forward not backwards they will pop out. A phillips head screw driver puts them back the first couple of times, then they just start to hang there and you need to find another way to secure them for the tab breaks or distorts preventing them from staying in place. When this happens a strong breeze will just about dislodge them. Not a big problem, and very fixable.

Clumsy man
Rad

[Greg G]

Hi Conrad,

Thanks for clarification. It sounds like a worse-case scenario is to spend $100 and stick on a new pair of rear indicators every few years after they have been bumped enough times to render them unusable...sort of like putting new brake pads in every 12K miles.

Greg

[Kevin Maloney]

Hello Greg,

Actually it is not even that bad. BMW did a nice job designing the indicators and you can get away with just replacing the small plastic piece that supports the indicator.
They cost less than $10 each.

Regards,
Kevin

[DavidSoine]

"Knock on Wood" !!!



-ds

[dfaber]

The tail light assembly is attached by a sheet metal screw held by a plastic screw anchor. I found that the plastice screw anchor lost its grip after a while. It is easily drilled out. I replaced the whole thing with a plastic nut and bolt from the hardware store, though you could probably use metal ones just as well.