BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

My R1150R has developed condensation on the inside the tachometer glass. I'm not surprised , as it has been really wet and humid lately. It clears up on dry days , but returns when ridden in the damp.

My question. Is this common? Is the (tach) unit vented to the atmosphere?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

I just read somewhere...probably on the MOA forum...that if you have condensation in your instruments, place one of those heat pads over the instrument panel overnight on low heat.

Might be worth a try.

Are you in a really humid climate?

If the water got in via the glass seals, then a few hours in the sun will remove it. If it got in at the back of the tacho due some fast rain riding or washing with a pressure hose, then it will be harder to remove as the condensation has no escape path at the top.

Usually needs a long ride on a hot day to draw the moisture out. A heat pad will only work if the leak path is at the glass. Otherwise, you would need to run a fan and hope that enough airflow gets in to remove the moisture (unlikely). If it stays in there long enough, it may do damage to the internals or permanently stain the glass or dial face.

I'd sit it out in the sun as a best bet, or go for a long ride. I have also had success with a heat lamp, but watch the temperature so you don't start melting plastic bits (like I did on an old Jap bike).

Heating pad on the instrument panel? Sounds like a Kodak moment! I had my tach replaced free under warranty, cause I was getting moisture in there.

My bike would like a heating pad in sub zero temps.

I keep a small heater in the 'Bike Barn' for the winter to keep the temperature around 50* f. It is not warm out there but it is not cold either. We have had lows in the teens last week here in western Oregon.

I don't winterize my bike either..I take it our for jaunts between showers and storms just to keep her active. this winter I am getting a little PMS (borrowed term from BMWomen.com) ... Parked Motorcycle Syndrom.

Soon there will be warm days to evaporate all of our winter moisure issues!

Very soon!

The condensation on the glass is not good!! That soaks the watch-like internals in at least 95% humidity for very long periods. Chances are water's entering the gauge thru the push in rubber socket holes for the illumination. Maybe yours has popped out of place. You access them by removing the gawdy, retro, chrome plastic instrument case. Those rubber light sockets shrink a little with age and may not seal out a deluge of water, so I'd add an O-ring or two, electrical tape or some other gasket material to increase the diameter of each rubber light socket so you have a better chance of keeping water out in the future.

If you go with the heating pad or 40W bulb solidly suspended 1/2" above the glass, you should remove the illumination bulbs so the moisture can be expelled very quickly and more completely. I'd use the "heater" for at least 2 days, then solve the bulb socket sealing problem that I'm sure you have.

I pulled the tach loose, disconnected the back lighting bulbs, so the moisture could get out, and ran a small space heater on it for a couple of hours. It worked, the condensation is gone .

Thanks to all that replied. Your help is appreciated.

ebincia wrote:I pulled the tach loose, disconnected the back lighting bulbs, so the moisture could get out, and ran a small space heater on it for a couple of hours. It worked, the condensation is gone .

Thanks to all that replied. Your help is appreciated.

It is now April and the bike has been through many downpours with no ill effects. The removal and "dry out " method worked.

Thanks all.