OBD2 sockets - lack on bikes

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Thu, 10/11/2011 - 16:54
Pete1950
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Virtually every car & van made in the last 10 years, of every make, has a standard OBD2 socket wired into the electronics network. It is pretty easy & cheap to buy an OBD2 plug so you can connect a car to your laptop by wire or bluetooth, and software to read off sensor signals etc etc. Car folk use them all the time. Just Google it.

Guess what? Motorbike manufacturers use their own proprietary sockets, plugs and software (not compatible with OBD2), which are available only to dealers and not readily available retail. So it's much more difficult/ expensive to monkey with bikes' electronics than with cars, even though most modern bikes have networks now.

In my view we should be lobbying all bike manufacturers to go over to standardised OBD2 sockets. Lots of interesting possibilities would open up if they did.

Question: Have any bike manufacturers shown any signs of providing OBD2 sockets on new models? If not, why not?

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Sat, 14/01/2012 - 17:46
#1
ChazzyB
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Re: OBD2 sockets - lack on bikes

Pete1950 wrote:
Question: Have any bike manufacturers shown any signs of providing OBD2 sockets on new models? If not, why not?

Well, my 1999 Speed Triple has an OBD2 socket...

I guess Triumph have had them since injection.

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Sun, 15/01/2012 - 11:20
#2
pittsy
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Re: OBD2 sockets - lack on bikes

I think it's a fair point and a fair question. I'm surprised more people haven't offered opinion and/or knowledge.

I admit to having very little interest in things electronic, so no knowledge either. I hadn't even read your post until it came back to the top of the pile. You suggested we google it so I did.

Presume we are talking OSB-II. This seems to be fully covered by an SAE standard. Covering everything from socket shape, pinout, protocol, the lot. It's nailed down. I'm not sure on this, but is the OSB-II standard applicable only to CanBus systems? I know my 2012 model R1200R Beemer has CanBus wiring, but it doesn't have a rectangular socket. It's a circular format, cylindrical affair.

Is the reason the same one as why there is so much confusion in areas like motorcycle weights and power outputs. That there may be no SAE or some other system taken up by the motorcycle industry? Might restricted space also be an issue on bikes?

Don't know! But I'd like to.

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Sun, 15/01/2012 - 11:27
#3
ChazzyB
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Re: OBD2 sockets - lack on bikes

Triumph use the same socket and pin-out as the VAG car group. In fact, the OBD cable I use for talking to my Triumphs was advertised for VW/Audi/Skoda use... ;-)

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Sun, 15/01/2012 - 12:15
#4
pittsy
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Re: OBD2 sockets - lack on bikes

ChazzyB, is yours the OBD-II or an earlier generation?

It seems that to say OBD-II, we are referring to a "system", in which there will be an input socket. Is that right?

Do you know if OBD-II system is limited, or even derived around, CanBus?

Cheers

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Sun, 15/01/2012 - 12:16
#5
pittsy
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Re: OBD2 sockets - lack on bikes

Sorry, I keep saying OSB when I mean OBD! Got it stuck in my head from somewhere.

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Sun, 15/01/2012 - 15:04
#6
ChazzyB
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Re: OBD2 sockets - lack on bikes

I believe the Triumph system is OBD II, and is two-way, in as much as the fuel map can be updated and other parameters tweaked. ;-)

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Sun, 15/01/2012 - 17:32
#7
Pete1950
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Re: OBD2 sockets - lack on bikes

It seems to be clear that Triumph helpfully use the OBD II standard, while BMW and Ducati unhelpfully use their own proprietary sockets and systems. What about all the other manufacturers? Surely firms that also make cars (Honda, Suzuki) could use the same standard on their bikes!

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Sun, 15/01/2012 - 22:15
#8
JAG
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Re: OBD2 sockets - lack on bikes

In regards to the OBD II found in most cars.

It is my understanding the system was standardized for almost all cars so that in the event the vehicle was involved in an emission test or road side test (example: check for codes) the technician would only require one univeral tester and plug. If I remember correctly, even the vehicle's plug location was standardized.

If motorcycles become involved, or are involved in these types of tests they may also have to follow suit as a result of government pressure.

JAG

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