Too Much Confusion !

[markfran]

Have you ever noticed that there is a lot of confusion about how things actually work on an LT. Dealers say many different things, consumers many more. You would think that BMW would just let us in on the secrets of how our toy actually operates.

[big dog]

But that's the fun of finding out about your baby. Case in point, due to lack of riding because of a bad back, my battery was sort of flat yesterday. Had to remove it from the frame and charge her up. Then I dropped one of the terminal bolts down inside somewhere on the motor :mad: reinstalling the battery. Pulled off all the plastic for the first time and had a bit of fun trying to locate that mongrel bolt!

Now, how would a beemer dealer given you that sort of info without getting the bike back into the workshop and charging you a squillion dollars for it? :D

I love my LT! Except when you drop a bolt inside somewhere and you can't find it....... mutter, mutter, mutter, big hands won't fit, mutter.........

[TBob]

Good point- I think it would be good for the dealers to hop on a few forums once ans a while. Seems like we as end users have the most vested interest and seem to come up with quite a few good solutions to problems. I just dropped my bike off for a few warranty item and inquired about the browm wire mod and if he had here about that?, of coarse he hadn't - in fact he wasn't even aware of the antenna issue but he did call me back to say that after a call into BMW he had a good idea of what the problem may be.


Have you ever noticed that there is a lot of confusion about how things actually work on an LT. Dealers say many different things, consumers many more. You would think that BMW would just let us in on the secrets of how our toy actually operates.

[messenger13]

Have you ever noticed that there is a lot of confusion about how things actually work on an LT.And I believe that the Linked Braking System is at the top of the list! I have read so many incorrect statements on this board regarding the braking that it's frightening.

[meese]

Just remember that dealers have to know everything that BMW ever produced, while we can focus on just one model. Plus BMW is in the business of selling bikes and selling service, not giving away free information to their customers.

I agree that they could be more open about certain items, and that some dealers could be much better about learning specifics about the bikes they do sell, but in the end it's user groups like this that will be the most useful to other users.

It maybe isn't the best solution, but it's the best that we have. Personally, there are some guys here I trust more than the dealers or the factory. And I trust myself more than BMW as well, which is why I do all my own service.

[meese]

And I believe that the Linked Braking System is at the top of the list! I have read so many incorrect statements on this board regarding the braking that it's frightening.
Integral ABS Joe, not Linked. As per BMW's terminology anyway. :)

[messenger13]

Integral ABS Joe, not Linked. As per BMW's terminology anyway. :)Which is DEFINITELY a better term...but I chose 'linked" because it's more widely used. I know for a fact that there are times when my brakes are NOT "linked".

[walilisseu]

... inquired about the browm wire mod and if he had here about that?, of coarse he hadn't - in fact he wasn't even aware ...

When I asked about this I got a VERY emphatic, "... ALL wiring / specs are required by BMW to have the motorcycle operate correctly ..." :mad: in a tone that IF I did something like this mod it would void any warranty. Therefore, I've not done anything about / nor concerned myself with the "... brown wire mod / cutting ..." since.

[meese]

Which is DEFINITELY a better term...but I chose 'linked" because it's more widely used. I know for a fact that there are times when my brakes are NOT "linked".
Just razzing you Joe, and trying to catch you on posts. Plus trying to keep the issue from getting more confused. :) A decent description of the Integral ABS brakes and differences from Honda's Linked brakes can be found here (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6493&postcount=32).

[meese]

When I asked about this I got a VERY emphatic, "... ALL wiring / specs are required by BMW to have the motorcycle operate correctly ..." :mad: in a tone that IF I did something like this mod it would void any warranty. Therefore, I've not done anything about / nor concerned myself with the "... brown wire mod / cutting ..." since.
But the Brown wire was put there by the factory, so how could it "void the warranty," especially if cut and verified by a dealer? All it does is engage an alternate fuel injection map, again put there by the factory. Sounds like your dealer doesn't understand the situation, and so he's trying to put the responsibility back on you.

[messenger13]

Sounds like your dealer doesn't understand the situation, and so he's trying to put the responsibility back on you.Sounds to me like his dealer is simply . . . a moron! http://www.bigbikeworld.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif

[DaveDragon]

No shortage of those, unfortunately.

[meese]

Sounds to me like his dealer is simply . . . a moron! http://www.bigbikeworld.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif
Now I was trying to be nice about it, but I don't disagree. :)

[avonfloater]

Besides the commraderie and the rides, one of the best parts of many rallys are the tech sessions. If the rallys you attend don't have them, ask. Take what you hear with a grain of salt, but overall I've found them to be excellent.

[TBob]

My bike came with a plug so the brown wire can be unpluged. When I got the bike the PO said that when the weather gets hot I should unplug it and it will run better in the heat. I just tried it the other day just to see the difference and didn't notice any difference. So duno - maybe once it gets hot I'll be able to tell a difference.

When I asked about this I got a VERY emphatic, "... ALL wiring / specs are required by BMW to have the motorcycle operate correctly ..." :mad: in a tone that IF I did something like this mod it would void any warranty. Therefore, I've not done anything about / nor concerned myself with the "... brown wire mod / cutting ..." since.

[markfran]

Just razzing you Joe, and trying to catch you on posts. Plus trying to keep the issue from getting more confused. :) A decent description of the Integral ABS brakes and differences from Honda's Linked brakes can be found here (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6493&postcount=32).

Great post meese !

[walilisseu]

But the Brown wire was put there by the factory, so how could it "void the warranty," especially if cut and verified by a dealer? All it does is engage an alternate fuel injection map, again put there by the factory. Sounds like your dealer doesn't understand the situation, and so he's trying to put the responsibility back on you.
And possibily I don't fully understand the situation either. As you state the factory installed the wiring for a purpose, my dealer's service departments attitude is that they won't deviate from factory specs, UNLESS there is an SB out ... BTW the two SBs that were presented on this site (right now I can't remember their content / context, other than one referenced '05s particularly), I asked the service department if these were something to check out. His first response was "... how did YOU get these!?! ...". Its like they don't expect us to question / talk about our machines and head off some of the less favorable idiosyncrasies??

[meese]

Its like they don't expect us to question / talk about our machines and head off some of the less favorable idiosyncrasies??
The naïve dealers don't expect it. But fortunately we've got this site to fill in the blanks. :D

[markfran]

I have read on this site somewhere - that some dealers are cutting the wire before delivering the motorcycle.

[JATownsend]

I have read on this site somewhere - that some dealers are cutting the wire before delivering the motorcycle.
That is a bad idea. Cutting the bown wire also means you may have to use ONLY high octane gas or get some detonation in high temperature situations.

Well, if you don't know your wire has been cut then you could have a problem. Suppose only regular fuel was available - I'd rather have some low speed stumbles than risk serious detonation and possibly damage the engine. Or, at least know my choices.

[oknplm]

That's why I installed a switch when I cut the brown wire on my old 03. When it was in the off position it was set for the high octane and hotter climate. the on position put it back to the original fuel map.

May we never find the end of the road!

Perry Ridgway

oknplm