HEX ezCAN Installation Guide

HEX ezCAN R1200 LC for BMW motorcycles

This is a step-by-step guide to installing the HEX ezCAN R1200 LC (Generation 1 and Generation 2) on BMW R1200 LC & R1250 motorcycles.

IMPORTANT: This installation guide is only applicable to the BMW motorcycle models listed below.
If you are purchasing a HEX ezCAN for, or installing a HEX ezCAN on a BMW that is not in the model list below, refer to the HEX ezCAN for BMW Installation Guides main page for the model on which you want to install an ezCAN.

HEX ezCAN R1200 LC for BMW motorcycles packaging (from April 2024 onward):

The following bikes are supported:

  • R1200GS LC (2012-2018, model code K50)
  • R1200GS Adventure LC (2013-2018, model code K51)
  • R1200RT LC (2014-2018, model code K52)
  • R1200R LC (2014-2018, model code K53)
  • R1200RS LC (2014-2018, model code K54)
  • R1250GS (2019-2023, model code K50)
  • R1250GS Adventure LC (2019-2023, model code K51)
  • R1250RT (2018-2024, model code K52)
  • R1250R (2018-2024, model code K53)
  • R1250RS (2018-2024, model code K54)

HEX ezCAN installation kit contents:

  • 1x HEX ezCAN device (black body, BMW RDC-type connector)
  • 1x MicroUSB-to-USB C cable with included USB C-to-USB A adaptor
  • 20x cable ties
  • 4x 2-wire stub connectors (Black/Orange wiring)
  • 4x 1-wire terminal wires (Orange)
  • 4x rubber blanking seals
  • 3x power-circuit blanking plugs

HEX ezCAN R1200 LC for BMW motorcycles packaging (prior to April 2024):

The following bikes are supported:

  • R1200GS LC (2012-2018, model code K50)
  • R1200GS Adventure LC (2013-2018, model code K51)
  • R1200RT LC (2014-2018, model code K52)
  • R1200R LC (2014-2018, model code K53)
  • R1200RS LC (2014-2018, model code K54)
  • R1250GS (2019-2023, model code K50)
  • R1250GS Adventure LC (2019-2023, model code K51)
  • R1250RT (2018-2024, model code K52)
  • R1250R (2018-2024, model code K53)
  • R1250RS (2018-2024, model code K54)

HEX ezCAN installation kit contents (prior to April 2024):

  • 1x HEX ezCAN device (silver body, BMW RDC-type connector)
  • 1x MicroUSB-to-USB A cable
  • 2x Velcro strips
  • 2x power-circuit blanking plugs
  • 4x cable ties
  • 4x 2-wire stub connectors (Black/Orange wiring)
  • 4x 1-terminal wires (Orange)
  • 4x rubber blanking seals

IMPORTANT: Generation I HEX ezCANs are no longer in production. All HEX ezCANs currently in production are Generation II.

Generation l 3-wire HEX ezCAN (55mm / 2,2″ silver main body; white packaging carton):

Generation l 2-wire HEX ezCAN (55mm / 2,2″ black main body; white packaging carton):

Step 1

Download, Install & Configure the Software

This is a good time to:

  • Unbox the HEX ezCAN.
  • Decide what and how many accessories you will be installing, and their requirements. Must some accessories be connected in a specific manner and/or to specific power circuits? As an example, low-powered ‘smart’ accessories must typically be installed on the ezBUS (White) power circuit.
  • Read the Installing for Life section of the HEX ezCAN User Manual (downloadable from here), and evaluate your planned installation according to the guidelines in that section.
  • Register your HEX ezCAN (All you need to do to register the ezCAN is connect it to your computer using the supplied USB cable, meaning you can do it at the comfort of your desk.)

Step 2

Locate the RDC (Tyre Pressure Monitoring) Connector and Battery

On BMW R1200 LC and R1250 models (K5x), the HEX ezCAN is controlled through the bike’s RDC (tyre-pressure monitoring system) connector, whether or not the bike is equipped with the optional RDC system.

BMW R1200 LC and R1250 models have a number of important differences in terms of component placement and disassembly/re-assembly procedure.
Always follow the instructions in the drop-down for the correct model below.

Step 1: Locate the RDC connector

Remove the rider and pillion seats.

On earlier R1200GS LC and R1200GS Adventure LC models, the RDC connector is easily accessible under the pillion seat, in front of the tail light (lower portion, above).

Later R1200GS / GS Adventure LC models and all R1250GS / GS Adventure models are equipped with a lean-angle sensor. Connect the HEX ezCAN to the RDC connector only (, above). Do not connect the HEX ezCAN to the lean-angle sensor connector (X, right).

Step 2: Locate the vehicle battery

Remove the triangular black trim panel on the right side of the bike, below the fuel tank, to access the battery (below).

Step 1: Locate the RDC connector

If the top box is installed, remove the top box.

Remove the rider and pillion seats.

The RDC connector is located behind the pillion seat, under the topbox mounting rack (below).

Later-model R1200RT LCs and all R1250RTs are equipped with a lean-angle sensor. Connect the HEX ezCAN to the RDC connector only (✅, below). Do not connect the ezCAN to the lean-angle sensor connector (X, below).

A typical view of the RDC connector is shown below.

Step 2: locate the vehicle battery

Remove the triangular black trim panel on the right side of the bike, below the fuel tank, to access the battery (below).

Step 1: Locate the RDC connector

Remove the rider and pillion seats.

The RDC connector is located under the pillion seat latch, between the rider and pillion seats (below).

A typical view of the RDC connector is shown below.

Step 2: Locate the vehicle battery

Remove the triangular black trim panel on the right side of the bike, below the fuel tank, to access the battery (below).

Step 1: Locate the RDC connector

Remove the rider and pillion seats.

The RDC connector is located under the pillion seat latch, between the rider and pillion seats (below).

A typical view of the RDC connector is shown below.

Step 2: Locate the vehicle battery

Remove the triangular black trim panel on the right side of the bike, below the fuel tank, to access the battery (below).

Play Video

Step 3

Plug the HEX ezCAN into the Bike's CAN-BUS

IMPORTANT: Do not connect the HEX ezCAN’s CAN-bus connectors to any part of the motorcycle other than the RDC wiring harness connector and, if applicable, the RDC module. If you do, the HEX ezCAN will not function.

In the case of BMW R1200 LC and R1250 models, it is generally advisable to install the main body of the HEX ezCAN in close proximity to the location of the BMW RDC module or RDC resistor plug.

Ensure that all HEX ezCAN wiring is routed safely and securely, in a way that does not allow it to chafe or pinch. Where needed, secure all wiring to frame tubes or other components using the cable ties supplied with the HEX ezCAN installation kit.

Play Video

Depending on whether your bike has the BMW RDC system fitted, the RDC connector will be seen in one of two configurations:

If your motorcycle does not have the BMW RDC system:
A resistor plug will be connected to the RDC connector.

  1. Connect the male HEX ezCAN CAN-bus connector to the female BMW RDC connector.
  2. Connect the BMW resistor plug to the female HEX ezCAN CAN-bus connector.


If your motorcycle has the BMW RDC system:

The RDC connector will be plugged into the RDC module.

  1. Connect the male HEX ezCAN CAN-bus connector to the female BMW RDC connector.
  2. Connect the female HEX ezCAN CAN-bus connector to the BMW RDC module.

Step 4

Connect the HEX ezCAN to the Bike's Battery

HEX ezCAN cable routing may depend on a number of factors, including your personal preference.

Ensure that the wiring is routed safely and securely, in a way that does not allow it to chafe or pinch. Where needed, secure all wiring to frame tubes or other components using the cable ties supplied with the HEX ezCAN installation kit.

WARNING: For safety reasons, always disconnect the negative battery terminal first, and re-connect it last. 

1. Start the installation by locating the main body of the HEX ezCAN in a place that allows straightforward, logical wiring runs. We recommend installing the HEX ezCAN main body in close proximity to the BMW RDC module, as this allows easier access for firmware updates and diagnostics.

2. Disconnect the negative wiring harness terminal from the negative battery pole.

3. Remove the two Torx screws securing the rear of the fuel tank (red arrows, left image below).

4. Remove the two Torx screws securing the front seat support retaining bracket (green arrows, left image below).

5. Unclip the fuse holder (blue arrow, left image below) from its retaining mount.

6. Remove the Torx screw above the bike’s positive jumper terminal (red arrow, right image above).

7. Unclip the ezCAN fuse holder lid from the fuse holder, and temporarily remove the fuse.

8. Gently lift the front seat support retaining bracket and the rear of the fuel tank by about 10 millimetres (0.4 inch). This creates enough space to slide the ezCAN power cables underneath these components.

9. Route the ezCAN fuse holder and power cables along the right rear upper main frame tube (right image above), then downwards behind the tube. Gently pressing the cable routing tray inward behind the upper frame tube creates enough space to slide the fuse holder between the tray and the tube.

10. Remove the black plastic battery retaining bracket, and unhook the rubber battery retaining strap.

11. Pull the battery free of the frame. The battery’s positive terminal will be exposed.

12. Disconnect the positive wiring harness terminal from the positive battery pole.

13. Connect the terminal on the orange ezCAN power cable, and the bike’s positive wiring harness terminal, to the positive battery pole.

14. Connect the terminal on the brown ezCAN power cable, and the bike’s negative wiring harness terminal, to the negative battery pole.

15. Tidy the CAN-bus and battery cable routing. Secure all loose cables using the cable ties included in the HEX ezCAN installation kit, making sure you have easy access to the four power circuit plugs.


Note:
 The HEX ezCAN’s status LED should be solid green for approximately a minute after connection to the battery. After this time, the HEX ezCAN enters Sleep Mode, and there will be no LED activity until the bike’s ignition is switched ON.

Play Video
HEX ezCAN Power supply cables

Step 5

Connect the Accessories, using Colour Coding

The HEX ezCAN installation kit includes four two-wire stub connectors with male connection terminals, orange power wires and black ground wires.

The following parts are also included:

  • 4x pulse-width modulation (PWM) terminal wires (orange with white tracer)
  • 4x rubber blanking seals

If the accessory to be connected to a power circuit has three wires, convert a two-wire stub connector to a three-wire connector as shown in the Connecting 3-wire LED lights section of the HEX ezCAN User Manual (downloadable from here).

If the accessory to be connected to a power circuit has two wires, seal the stub connector’s empty terminal cavity as shown in the Connecting 2-wire accessories section of the HEX ezCAN User Manual.

If any of the HEX ezCAN’s power circuits will not be used, we recommend that you connect a blanking plug to the output plug of each unused circuit.

Play Video
2-wire applications: insert a blanking seal. 3-wire applications: insert a PWM terminal wire.
4 x Terminal wires and Blanking seals
4 x Two Wire Stub Connectors

Connect the male terminal of each stub connector to the relevant female HEX ezCAN power circuit connector (below).

Connecting a 2-wire accessory to a HEX ezCAN stub connector:

  1. Connect the accessory’s ground/Earth wire (this is usually, but not always black or brown) to the ground wire of a HEX ezCAN stub connector.
  2. Connect the accessory’s power wire (this is usually, but not always red) to the 12V power wire of a HEX ezCAN stub connector.


Connecting a 3-wire accessory to a HEX ezCAN stub connector:

  1. Connect the accessory’s ground/Earth wire and power wire as described above.
  2. Connect the accessory’s PWM control wire to the dual-colour (solid colour+tracer) wire of an ezCAN stub connector.

Connecting low-power smart accessories to a HEX ezCAN stub connector:

Read the HEX ezBUS and Configuring HEX ezBUS functionality sections of the HEX ezCAN user manual (downloadable from here) for detailed information on how to use ezBUS functionality.

If you are installing ‘smart’ accessories (that is, low-power accessories capable of intelligent input and control through the HEX ezCAN’s LIN bus), note the following:

  1. Smart accessories (including the HEX ezSWITCH) must only be connected to the HEX ezCAN’s ezBUS (white) power circuit. Smart accessories will not work if connected to the red, yellow or blue circuits.
  2. The ezBUS (white) power circuit can accommodate any odd or even number of individual accessories, to a maximum of fifteen.
  3. A selection of HEX ezBUS adaptors and connectors is available, allowing you to connect smart accessories quickly and easily. See the ezBUS Accessories section of the HEX Innovate online store for details.


Read the HEX ezBUS and Configuring HEX ezBUS functionality sections of the HEX ezCAN user manual (downloadable from here) for detailed information on how to use ezBUS functionality.

Note that if the white circuit is set to ezBUS mode, its fuse trip limit is set to 15 Amps by default. If needed, ezBUS PWR functionality can be used to increase the white circuit’s current capacity to a maximum of 30 Amps in ezBUS mode. See the relevant section of the HEX ezCAN User Manual for details.

IMPORTANT: If the stub connectors included in your HEX ezCAN installation kit do not have orange power wires, but instead have colours that match the colouring of the HEX ezCAN power circuits (as seen below), always connect like-to-like (red stub connector to red power circuit, blue stub connector to blue power circuit, and so on.)

Easier Installation with the HEX ezCAN Extension Kit

The HEX ezCAN Extension Kit contains everything you need to connect front auxiliary lights, rear accessory lights and a horn to the HEX ezCAN. It also includes additional connectors that allow you to connect other accessories.

You can purchase the Extension Cable Kit here.

The HEX ezCAN Extension Kit
  • 2x 1.5m 3-core extension cables (typically used for 2-wire or 3-wire front auxiliary lights)
  • 1x 0.5m 3-core extension cable (typically used for a rear running/brake light)
  • 1x 1.5m 2-core extension cable, with spade connectors (typically used to connect air horns or other 2-wire accessories)
  • 3x female MT-3 connectors, including terminal pins and terminal seals
  • 5x male MT-3 connector kit, including terminal pins and terminal seals
  • 5x rubber blanking seals (used in cases where only two terminals are used in a 3-wire MT-3 connector)
  • 6x 20mm sections of adhesive-lined heat-shrink tubing
  • 2x 6.3mm female spade connector terminals
  • 1m cable sheathing
Adhesive lined heat shrink & 1m sheathing
Front auxiliary lights extensions
Horn extension
Brake/Accessory extension

Step 6

Test the Installation

WARNING: Test and check your installations and accessories in a safe, controlled environment before first use. Caution is advised at all times. Extra vigilance is needed when testing new features or accessories. You do so at your own risk.

DISCLAIMER: HEX Innovate is not liable for any injury or damage, howsoever caused, and all products and services are used at your own risk.

Before finalizing the HEX ezCAN installation or re-installing any components you may have removed, it is important that you test all newly installed accessories for satisfactory fitment and correct operation.

Many HEX ezCAN-powered accessories can be tested by switching the ignition ON and operating the relevant controls. Exceptions include:

  • Accessories for which you have enabled the Only on when engine running feature (examples may include Aux 1 lights, Aux 2 lights, MotoLights, and heated clothing). To test these functions, the bike’s engine must be running.
  • Some brake light functions require that the bike be moving at or above a certain speed. As examples, Flash on Emergency Stop and Flash on Rapid Engine Braking functions require deceleration of more than 21 Kilometres per hour per second.

Step 7

Complete the Installation

Complete the HEX ezCAN installation as follows:

  1. Make sure the main body of the HEX ezCAN is well-secured in a place where it is protected from pressure, heat and impact.
  2. Make sure all factory, ezCAN and accessory cables and wiring harnesses are well clear of all moving parts, and securely fastened. Where needed, use the cable ties included in the HEX ezCAN installation kit.
  3. Replace all motorcycle components and fasteners that may have been removed to facilitate the ezCAN installation.
  4. Inspect the complete installation for mistakes or problems, and fix all problems that you have noted.
  5. Test all new accessories for correct operation a second time.
  6. If you have not already done so, download the HEX ezCAN user manual from this page. Keep the manual in a safe place on your computer, tablet or phone: it contains all the information you need to operate the HEX ezCAN and adjust its functionality.

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