All 650's Left Hand Switchgear Frustration!

[WinCB]

Hi All

I've been a member for a little while but life has been such that today is the first time that I've been able to spend any proper time on here since I joined.

I'll apologise in advance of this ends up as a rant but I'd really like to get the thoughts of other owners on something that is frustrating/annoying the hell out of me, namely the positioning of the turn signal and horn controls on the left hand switchgear.

I've been riding different bikes from different manufacturers pretty much every day for over 20-years and every single bike that I've ever owned (or ridden for that matter!) has had the turn signal and horn controls in the same position, i.e. horn at the bottom and turn signal above, except for my latest ride - a 2018 CB650F - which has them reversed!!! WHY???

I'd like to add that prior to getting the CB650F a couple of months ago I haven't had a new-ish bike for quite a while, so I don't know when Honda decided to do what they've done with these controls, but it would be great to know the thinking behind it.

Initially this change was quite a big issue as I kept honking whenever I wanted to make a turn but my muscle memory has now just about mastered the turn signal, however, I'm still having to 'search' for the horn button if ever I have a need to use it!!!

I'm also struggling a bit with the passing light being integrated into the high/low headlight rocker as i'm used to that being on the 'front' side of the switchgear where the index finger would generally be. Again, I find myself having to make unnatural hand movements and 'search' for this control if ever I want to flash someone.

Does anyone else share the same frustration and annoyance at these issues and wonder why the hell Honda have done it, or is it just me because I'm old and too set in my ways?

 

[Rogue]

You're not the only one who this frustrates, although after time you do start to get used to it.
My last 2 Honda's had the new switch gear and I think I read somewhere that Honda believe that this provides better ergonomics or something (I think perhaps they believe your thumb has less distance to travel to the indicator or something.
I Initially hated the change and was incorrectly hitting horn instead of indicators and visa versa. Now I am used to it and only find it a mild annoyance, although I still wish they hadn't changed it.
Under normal riding conditions I have no issue hitting the indicators 100% correctly, I guess muscle memory has adjusted to the different layout. However I do still find the horn to be a little hard to hit 100% I guess because it is used far less often so muscle memory hasn't really adapted in the same way. I also miss the separate flash/pass button/trigger switch that used to be on the switchgear.
It used to be that if someone cut you up I could instantly flash the headlight with me index finger whilst at the same time hitting the horn with me thumb. Now I tend to find that I just indicate in disgust

 

[Devilsfan]

Although I agree that the Horn/Turn Signal should be reversed once you get used to it it's not a big deal. I'll take that with a great engine and overall outstanding motorcycle!
As for the passing light...I didn't use it on my Versys and, if I had one on me 2018 CB I probably wouldn't use it on this bike either.

EVERY motorcycle I've ever owned has some "quirk". I'm still loving my Honda!

 

[miweber929]

It’s a common complaint, with a few even going so far as to replace the switchgear with a “normal” one from a VFR, I think it was. Wasn’t a direct bolt on, but a few pin moves in the wiring harness plug and it went right on.

It seems to be the Taiwan built Honda’s that have that switchgear, my former NC700X, Grom and 650F all had it and the 300s and 500s all seem like it’s the reversed one as well. As stated, you get used to it but to have to retrain the brain when swapping motorcycles is an unnecessary step we should have to do in my opinion so why Honda moved them around, I have no idea.

 

[Eaglemoto]

Yep I feel your pain. Honda did the same to their CBR500's. I guess you get used to it if the only bike you ride is a Honda, but when you own two bikes, one of which isnt a Honda it can be a bit of a pain. I still get annoyed that the traction control switch on the new 650 is where the flashing trigger switch is normally positioned.

 

[Katie]

Just in case you don't get used to it, the CBR1000RR 2011-2013 switch fits with some playing around to align the wires (same plug, different destination for each wire)

 

[ducatiman]

As the victim of early 70's Triumph right side SHIFT lever design....IMHO the difference in the Honda switch design is a relative minor inconvenience.

So get yourself an old Brit LH brake, RH shift oldie in your varied stable.....you'll see how minor this switchgear actually is.

 

[WinCB]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone - they're very much appreciated. I get that in the grand scheme of things it may not be a major issue for some, but it's also good to know that others share my frustration.

I also miss the separate flash/pass button/trigger switch that used to be on the switchgear.
It used to be that if someone cut you up I could instantly flash the headlight with me index finger whilst at the same time hitting the horn with me thumb. Now I tend to find that I just indicate in disgust

This had me rolling about laughing, so thanks also for brightening up my evening.

 

[WinCB]

Just in case you don't get used to it, the CBR1000RR 2011-2013 switch fits with some playing around to align the wires (same plug, different destination for each wire)

Top tip. Many thanks for this.

 

[Avoki]

I purchased my second bike 9 days ago, a used 2013 Super Tenere and have been blowing my horn every time I want to cancel the turn signal ever since. Got really used to the CB placement of both switches now. lol

 

[Redlinerider]

It’s crazy. My first bike was a Honda with this configuration. It just feels natural to me because I have never ridden anything with the standard configuration for more than a few miles.

 

[Devilsfan]

I purchased my second bike 9 days ago, a used 2013 Super Tenere and have been blowing my horn every time I want to cancel the turn signal ever since. Got really used to the CB placement of both switches now. lol

Made me chuckle thinking about it!

Pulling out of the dealership with my brand new CB, I got to the light and went to hit the turn signal and, "BEEEEEEEP"!!! The guy in the car next to me looks at me like, "What???". Had to motion it was my fault.

I rode into the dealer on a Kawasaki and rode out a Honda!

 

[Nithesh]

First off, Honda makes their bikes in Thailand and Indonesia, not Taiwan(whole different country).

Secondly the 250-800 market is pretty much growing in Asian countries. If you've been to any Asian country you'll notice people love riding around crowded town with their fingers stuck on the horn buttons and rarely using turn signals to indicate lane changes.

So Honda decided to play a joke on such creatures by swapping their locations in a hope that they'll use the indicator more than horn. The experiment started with the 500 series bikes and is still in force on newer Thai made models.

 

[miweber929]

First off, Honda makes their bikes in Thailand and Indonesia, not Taiwan(whole different country).

Sorry, that was my fat fingered typing, I meant Thailand.

Secondly the 250-800 market is pretty much growing in Asian countries. If you've been to any Asian country you'll notice people love riding around crowded town with their fingers stuck on the horn buttons and rarely using turn signals to indicate lane changes.

So Honda decided to play a joke on such creatures by swapping their locations in a hope that they'll use the indicator more than horn. The experiment started with the 500 series bikes and is still in force on newer Thai made models.

It’s been going on longer than the 500 series, though, and looks to have started with the CRF250L in 2013. Or so I found from a quick search.

No, I’m wrong, looks like it started in 2013 on the NC700, 500 and CRF250L, basically the Thai built Honda’s.

BMW had a weird switchgear thing for a while that was signals on each side, respectively, so your left signal was on the left switchgear, the right signal was on the right. Funky.

 

[Enrico]

I still get mixed up sometimes with the horn and indicator switch. ( I even thought the battery was flat recently when the horn wouldn't sound when I was pressing the indicator switch with the bike on the stand !!!) I have to do a double take/ is it a double buff /which way round is it type of thing sometimes instead of it being an intuitive operation.

 

[skeletor]

I think the only time I've ever used a horn in any vehicle, it has been accidentally.

On this bike, I came around a corner one time and honked at a police car blocking the road right after the turn while fumbling the turn signal button.

 

[ray]

you all complain of hitting the horn by accident i wish i could hit it at all!!!!! its two far for my short thumbs (; why the hell is the tall part of the switch is away from your hand what is wrong with a uniform shaped button that all can use.

 

[baugustine]

I was laughing when I first saw this post last year, because it makes you wonder why Honda decided to buck tradition and change what seems to be a standard configuration. I have two CBRs and ride both of them regularly and have had countless “horn malfunctions” in the last two months, on both bikes. As soon as my thumb gets a muscle memory of where the switch is I change bikes and start tooting all over again! I think the controls of the high/beams, directionals and then horn make the most sense. I never like the feel of the turn signal switch on the 650F. Per the comment above by R @ray it seems like the directional travel of the switch is not in the same plane as how my thumb moves when my hand is on the grip. So much for ergonomics...

 

[Nithesh]

its to dissuade Asian riders from constant honking

 

[Teenybop1]

I've been riding my cb650r for 8weeks now & it still really annoys me .I own 3 bikes ,one being a 1978 400/4.The quality of the switches is also very poor, really let's down an otherwise well put together bike.