A question from my son

**jafagsx250** · 10th May 2017, 06:50

Originally Posted by Oakie

Really enjoying mine. Very nice in traffic and will pootle along nicely on the open road. Bit of a gentleman's bike with the upright riding position and de-tuned engine for torque lower down but I'm an aging gentleman so it suits me down to the ground.

Sounds good. I will put it on the list of bikes to consider.

**SuperMac** · 10th May 2017, 08:50

Originally Posted by Blackbird

My 1985 BMW K100 RS had them. Now here's the interesting thing.... I'm given to understand that BMW had the wiring loom set up for hazard lights but never got round to installing an actual switch! Mine had one when I bought it second hand in 1993 which I assumed was standard. Apparently not, given what I've since read so assume the original owner fitted one. Why BMW left it off is a mystery. Anyone know the reason?

IIRC my 1981 R65 had a blanking piece in the moulded cover around the ignition switch & clocks, and the switch was a plug-in extra.

At the same time, the R100RT had them as standard while they were an at-cost extra on the R80RT - as the saying went: its tòugh to justify a higher price for the 'bigger' bike when all you get is bigger holes in the engine

**Viking01** · 10th May 2017, 09:37

An interesting question, so I quickly surveyed a couple of my riding friends to
advise as well.

2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 - Yes
2014 KTM 1190 Adventure - No (or he can't find it) --> Amend that: It's a Yes (he found it; don't ask)
2008 Honda VFR800 - No (and I had to go and check) --> Amend that: It's also a Yes (pointed out by
another VFR rider - that's embarrassing)

Our V-Strom friend did advise that being H&S focused, it was one of the features
paramount on his shopping list when he bought the machine. Yeh, right.

**Blackbird** · 10th May 2017, 12:14

Originally Posted by BMWST?

this is just a pic of the web. I waited for the RS to come out.I bought one brand new for about 13000. I know that i had heated grips put on at a later date with the BMW switch, and i know i didnt have foglights,but i am sure there was a hazard light switch there too.There were switch blanks there

Originally Posted by SuperMac

IIRC my 1981 R65 had a blanking piece in the moulded cover around the ignition switch & clocks, and the switch was a plug-in extra.

At the same time, the R100RT had them as standard while they were an at-cost extra on the R80RT - as the saying went: its tòugh to justify a higher price for the 'bigger' bike when all you get is bigger holes in the engine

I found a poor quality photo of my old K100RS and zooming in, it looks like it had a flasher switch and two blanking plates for other switches. I know a UK-based friend who had one had 3 blanking plates so perhaps which market they were destined for also has a bearing. SuperMac's point about models is also valid. I'm picking that the K100 RT had the lot as standard. I've still got a lot of affection for my RS - great performance and reliability from a bike over 3 decades old!

**Moi** · 10th May 2017, 12:43

2001 Honda - No
2009 Piaggio - Yes

**Gremlin** · 10th May 2017, 19:35

Originally Posted by Viking01

2014 KTM 1190 Adventure - No (or he can't find it)

Mate has a 2014 1190 Adv R, pretty sure he has them...

**flashg** · 10th May 2017, 20:27

2012 Yamaha 450 = No
2014 Beta RR300 = No
Both road worthy.

**pete-blen** · 10th May 2017, 20:36

TTR250 & XT660R both have them..
The funny thing with the XT.. the button is on the
front of the switch block.. if the block it angled slightly
up the clutch lever hits it when pulled....
I had half the dam bike apart trying find a short in the wireing
till I found it....
high beam stoped flashing ever time I pulled the clutch...

..

**Viking01** · 11th May 2017, 11:10

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Mate has a 2014 1190 Adv R, pretty sure he has them...

Gremlin,
You are absolutely correct. He looked in his manual, and then realised "ah ha, so that is
what that button is for". And caught some friendly feedback from us as a consequence.

Though he's not the only one. Another VFR rider contacted me this morning to say that
his 07 model VFR has a switch, between the Kill Switch and the Starter button. So I went
out to the garage to have another look. And Yes, there is a tiny black switch on the right
hand switch block in exactly the position described, with a tiny little white triangle.

B@#$%&*, that's embarrassing.

Guess I'll get some feedback as well. Sorry, have to go - Incoming ...

**Old Steve** · 11th May 2017, 16:55

2006 Hyosung GV250
2010 Suzuki Boulevard M50
2006 Honda ST 1100
2012 Suzuki Boulevard M50

all have then on the left hand switch block

Although you are only supposed to use your right hand indicator when passing between vehicles (lane filtering - and only to the left of the white lane marker and the right hand side of the vehicle in the lane) I always use my hazard lights because I consider I'm a hazard that other vehicles should be aware of.