diff --git a/modules/angular2/router.ts b/modules/angular2/router.ts
index 641794b2da..6304478ebc 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/router.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/router.ts
@@ -29,15 +29,15 @@ import {RouterLink} from './src/router/router_link';
 import {RouteRegistry} from './src/router/route_registry';
 import {Location} from './src/router/location';
 import {bind, OpaqueToken, Binding} from './core';
-import {CONST_EXPR, Type} from './src/core/facade/lang';
+import {CONST_EXPR} from './src/core/facade/lang';
+import {ApplicationRef} from './src/core/application_ref';
+import {BaseException} from 'angular2/src/core/facade/exceptions';
+
 
 /**
  * Token used to bind the component with the top-level {@link RouteConfig}s for the
  * application.
  *
- * You can use the {@link routerBindings} function in your {@link bootstrap} bindings to
- * simplify setting up these bindings.
- *
  * ## Example ([live demo](http://plnkr.co/edit/iRUP8B5OUbxCWQ3AcIDm))
  *
  * ```
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ import {CONST_EXPR, Type} from './src/core/facade/lang';
  * import {
  *   ROUTER_DIRECTIVES,
  *   ROUTER_BINDINGS,
- *   ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT,
  *   RouteConfig
  * } from 'angular2/router';
  *
@@ -58,10 +57,7 @@ import {CONST_EXPR, Type} from './src/core/facade/lang';
  *   // ...
  * }
  *
- * bootstrap(AppCmp, [
- *   ROUTER_BINDINGS,
- *   bind(ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT).toValue(AppCmp)
- * ]);
+ * bootstrap(AppCmp, [ROUTER_BINDINGS]);
  * ```
  */
 export const ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT: OpaqueToken =
@@ -76,7 +72,7 @@ export const ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT: OpaqueToken =
  *
  * ```
  * import {Component, View} from 'angular2/angular2';
- * import {ROUTER_DIRECTIVES, routerBindings, RouteConfig} from 'angular2/router';
+ * import {ROUTER_DIRECTIVES, ROUTER_BINDINGS, RouteConfig} from 'angular2/router';
  *
  * @Component({...})
  * @View({directives: [ROUTER_DIRECTIVES]})
@@ -87,7 +83,7 @@ export const ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT: OpaqueToken =
  *    // ...
  * }
  *
- * bootstrap(AppCmp, [routerBindings(AppCmp)]);
+ * bootstrap(AppCmp, ROUTER_BINDINGS);
  * ```
  */
 export const ROUTER_DIRECTIVES: any[] = CONST_EXPR([RouterOutlet, RouterLink]);
@@ -95,11 +91,6 @@ export const ROUTER_DIRECTIVES: any[] = CONST_EXPR([RouterOutlet, RouterLink]);
 /**
  * A list of {@link Binding}s. To use the router, you must add this to your application.
  *
- * Note that you also need to bind to {@link ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT}.
- *
- * You can use the {@link routerBindings} function in your {@link bootstrap} bindings to
- * simplify setting up these bindings.
- *
  * ## Example ([live demo](http://plnkr.co/edit/iRUP8B5OUbxCWQ3AcIDm))
  *
  * ```
@@ -107,7 +98,6 @@ export const ROUTER_DIRECTIVES: any[] = CONST_EXPR([RouterOutlet, RouterLink]);
  * import {
  *   ROUTER_DIRECTIVES,
  *   ROUTER_BINDINGS,
- *   ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT,
  *   RouteConfig
  * } from 'angular2/router';
  *
@@ -120,50 +110,30 @@ export const ROUTER_DIRECTIVES: any[] = CONST_EXPR([RouterOutlet, RouterLink]);
  *   // ...
  * }
  *
- * bootstrap(AppCmp, [
- *   ROUTER_BINDINGS,
- *   bind(ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT).toValue(AppCmp)
- * ]);
+ * bootstrap(AppCmp, [ROUTER_BINDINGS]);
  * ```
  */
 export const ROUTER_BINDINGS: any[] = CONST_EXPR([
   RouteRegistry,
   CONST_EXPR(new Binding(LocationStrategy, {toClass: PathLocationStrategy})),
   Location,
-  CONST_EXPR(
-      new Binding(Router,
-                  {
-                    toFactory: routerFactory,
-                    deps: CONST_EXPR([RouteRegistry, Location, ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT])
-                  }))
+  CONST_EXPR(new Binding(Router,
+                         {
+                           toFactory: routerFactory,
+                           deps: CONST_EXPR([RouteRegistry, Location, ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT])
+                         })),
+  CONST_EXPR(new Binding(
+      ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT,
+      {toFactory: routerPrimaryComponentFactory, deps: CONST_EXPR([ApplicationRef])}))
 ]);
 
 function routerFactory(registry, location, primaryComponent) {
   return new RootRouter(registry, location, primaryComponent);
 }
 
-/**
- * A list of {@link Binding}s. To use the router, you must add these bindings to
- * your application.
- *
- * ## Example ([live demo](http://plnkr.co/edit/iRUP8B5OUbxCWQ3AcIDm))
- *
- * ```
- * import {Component, View} from 'angular2/angular2';
- * import {ROUTER_DIRECTIVES, routerBindings, RouteConfig} from 'angular2/router';
- *
- * @Component({...})
- * @View({directives: [ROUTER_DIRECTIVES]})
- * @RouteConfig([
- *  {...},
- * ])
- * class AppCmp {
- *   // ...
- * }
- *
- * bootstrap(AppCmp, [routerBindings(AppCmp)]);
- * ```
- */
-export function routerBindings(primaryComponent: Type): Array<any> {
-  return [ROUTER_BINDINGS, bind(ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT).toValue(primaryComponent)];
+function routerPrimaryComponentFactory(app) {
+  if (app.componentTypes.length == 0) {
+    throw new BaseException("Bootstrap at least one component before injecting Router.");
+  }
+  return app.componentTypes[0];
 }
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/core/application_ref.ts b/modules/angular2/src/core/application_ref.ts
index 3b318fee3a..ae5df71de6 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/core/application_ref.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/core/application_ref.ts
@@ -230,9 +230,10 @@ export class PlatformRef_ extends PlatformRef {
 
   private _initApp(zone: NgZone, bindings: Array<Type | Binding | any[]>): ApplicationRef {
     var injector: Injector;
+    var app: ApplicationRef;
     zone.run(() => {
       bindings.push(bind(NgZone).toValue(zone));
-      bindings.push(bind(ApplicationRef).toValue(this));
+      bindings.push(bind(ApplicationRef).toFactory((): ApplicationRef => app, []));
 
       var exceptionHandler;
       try {
@@ -247,7 +248,7 @@ export class PlatformRef_ extends PlatformRef {
         }
       }
     });
-    var app = new ApplicationRef_(this, zone, injector);
+    app = new ApplicationRef_(this, zone, injector);
     this._applications.push(app);
     return app;
   }
@@ -312,11 +313,17 @@ export abstract class ApplicationRef {
    * Dispose of this application and all of its components.
    */
   abstract dispose(): void;
+
+  /**
+   * Get a list of component types registered to this application.
+   */
+  get componentTypes(): Type[] { return unimplemented(); };
 }
 
 export class ApplicationRef_ extends ApplicationRef {
   private _bootstrapListeners: Function[] = [];
   private _rootComponents: ComponentRef[] = [];
+  private _rootComponentTypes: Type[] = [];
 
   constructor(private _platform: PlatformRef_, private _zone: NgZone, private _injector: Injector) {
     super();
@@ -334,6 +341,7 @@ export class ApplicationRef_ extends ApplicationRef {
         componentBindings.push(bindings);
       }
       var exceptionHandler = this._injector.get(ExceptionHandler);
+      this._rootComponentTypes.push(componentType);
       try {
         var injector: Injector = this._injector.resolveAndCreateChild(componentBindings);
         var compRefToken: Promise<ComponentRef> = injector.get(APP_COMPONENT_REF_PROMISE);
@@ -369,4 +377,6 @@ export class ApplicationRef_ extends ApplicationRef {
     this._rootComponents.forEach((ref) => ref.dispose());
     this._platform._applicationDisposed(this);
   }
+
+  get componentTypes(): any[] { return this._rootComponentTypes; }
 }
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/router/hash_location_strategy.ts b/modules/angular2/src/router/hash_location_strategy.ts
index d94e5c81dc..64d0293fd0 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/router/hash_location_strategy.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/router/hash_location_strategy.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import {EventListener, History, Location} from 'angular2/src/core/facade/browser
  * import {Component, View} from 'angular2/angular2';
  * import {
  *   ROUTER_DIRECTIVES,
- *   routerBindings,
+ *   ROUTER_BINDINGS,
  *   RouteConfig,
  *   Location
  * } from 'angular2/router';
@@ -34,9 +34,7 @@ import {EventListener, History, Location} from 'angular2/src/core/facade/browser
  *   }
  * }
  *
- * bootstrap(AppCmp, [
- *   routerBindings(AppCmp)
- * ]);
+ * bootstrap(AppCmp, [ROUTER_BINDINGS]);
  * ```
  */
 @Injectable()
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/router/instruction.ts b/modules/angular2/src/router/instruction.ts
index 21b870025e..6dea78b319 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/router/instruction.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/router/instruction.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import {Url} from './url_parser';
  *
  * ```
  * import {bootstrap, Component, View} from 'angular2/angular2';
- * import {Router, ROUTER_DIRECTIVES, routerBindings, RouteConfig} from 'angular2/router';
+ * import {Router, ROUTER_DIRECTIVES, ROUTER_BINDINGS, RouteConfig} from 'angular2/router';
  *
  * @Component({...})
  * @View({directives: [ROUTER_DIRECTIVES]})
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import {Url} from './url_parser';
  *   }
  * }
  *
- * bootstrap(AppCmp, routerBindings(AppCmp));
+ * bootstrap(AppCmp, ROUTER_BINDINGS);
  * ```
  */
 export class RouteParams {
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ export class RouteParams {
  *
  * ```
  * import {bootstrap, Component, View} from 'angular2/angular2';
- * import {Router, ROUTER_DIRECTIVES, routerBindings, RouteConfig} from 'angular2/router';
+ * import {Router, ROUTER_DIRECTIVES, ROUTER_BINDINGS, RouteConfig} from 'angular2/router';
  *
  * @Component({...})
  * @View({directives: [ROUTER_DIRECTIVES]})
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ export class RouteParams {
  *   }
  * }
  *
- * bootstrap(AppCmp, routerBindings(AppCmp));
+ * bootstrap(AppCmp, ROUTER_BINDINGS);
  * ```
  */
 export class Instruction {
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/router/location.ts b/modules/angular2/src/router/location.ts
index daac5103f1..0fc166b286 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/router/location.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/router/location.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import {OpaqueToken, Injectable, Optional, Inject} from 'angular2/src/core/di';
  *
  * ```
  * import {Component, View} from 'angular2/angular2';
- * import {ROUTER_DIRECTIVES, routerBindings, RouteConfig} from 'angular2/router';
+ * import {ROUTER_DIRECTIVES, ROUTER_BINDINGS, RouteConfig} from 'angular2/router';
  *
  * @Component({...})
  * @View({directives: [ROUTER_DIRECTIVES]})
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import {OpaqueToken, Injectable, Optional, Inject} from 'angular2/src/core/di';
  * }
  *
  * bootstrap(AppCmp, [
- *   routerBindings(AppCmp),
+ *   ROUTER_BINDINGS,
  *   PathLocationStrategy,
  *   bind(APP_BASE_HREF).toValue('/my/app')
  * ]);
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ export const APP_BASE_HREF: OpaqueToken = CONST_EXPR(new OpaqueToken('appBaseHre
  * import {Component, View} from 'angular2/angular2';
  * import {
  *   ROUTER_DIRECTIVES,
- *   routerBindings,
+ *   ROUTER_BINDINGS,
  *   RouteConfig,
  *   Location
  * } from 'angular2/router';
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ export const APP_BASE_HREF: OpaqueToken = CONST_EXPR(new OpaqueToken('appBaseHre
  *   }
  * }
  *
- * bootstrap(AppCmp, [routerBindings(AppCmp)]);
+ * bootstrap(AppCmp, [ROUTER_BINDINGS]);
  * ```
  */
 @Injectable()
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/router/path_location_strategy.ts b/modules/angular2/src/router/path_location_strategy.ts
index f57a8ed5c6..766c62e05a 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/router/path_location_strategy.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/router/path_location_strategy.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import {LocationStrategy} from './location_strategy';
  * browser's URL.
  *
  * `PathLocationStrategy` is the default binding for {@link LocationStrategy}
- * provided in {@link routerBindings} and {@link ROUTER_BINDINGS}.
+ * provided in {@link ROUTER_BINDINGS}.
  *
  * If you're using `PathLocationStrategy`, you must provide a binding for
  * {@link APP_BASE_HREF} to a string representing the URL prefix that should
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import {LocationStrategy} from './location_strategy';
  * import {
  *   APP_BASE_HREF
  *   ROUTER_DIRECTIVES,
- *   routerBindings,
+ *   ROUTER_BINDINGS,
  *   RouteConfig,
  *   Location
  * } from 'angular2/router';
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ import {LocationStrategy} from './location_strategy';
  * }
  *
  * bootstrap(AppCmp, [
- *   routerBindings(AppCmp), // includes binding to PathLocationStrategy
+ *   ROUTER_BINDINGS, // includes binding to PathLocationStrategy
  *   bind(APP_BASE_HREF).toValue('/my/app')
  * ]);
  * ```
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/public_api_spec.ts b/modules/angular2/test/public_api_spec.ts
index 2f095e006f..66c3e54e46 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/public_api_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/public_api_spec.ts
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ var NG_API = [
   'ApplicationRef:js',
   'ApplicationRef.injector:js',
   'ApplicationRef.zone:js',
+  'ApplicationRef.componentTypes:js',
   /*
   Abstract methods
   'ApplicationRef.bootstrap()',
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/router/route_config_spec.ts b/modules/angular2/test/router/route_config_spec.ts
index a709edc504..2655ba690c 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/router/route_config_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/router/route_config_spec.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import {Type} from 'angular2/src/core/facade/lang';
 
 import {
   ROUTER_BINDINGS,
-  ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT,
   Router,
   RouteConfig,
   APP_BASE_HREF,
@@ -57,8 +56,7 @@ export function main() {
     });
 
     it('should bootstrap an app with a hierarchy', inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
-         bootstrap(HierarchyAppCmp,
-                   [bind(ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT).toValue(HierarchyAppCmp), testBindings])
+         bootstrap(HierarchyAppCmp, testBindings)
              .then((applicationRef) => {
                var router = applicationRef.hostComponent.router;
                router.subscribe((_) => {
@@ -72,8 +70,7 @@ export function main() {
 
 
     it('should work in an app with redirects', inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
-         bootstrap(RedirectAppCmp,
-                   [bind(ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT).toValue(RedirectAppCmp), testBindings])
+         bootstrap(RedirectAppCmp, testBindings)
              .then((applicationRef) => {
                var router = applicationRef.hostComponent.router;
                router.subscribe((_) => {
@@ -87,7 +84,7 @@ export function main() {
 
 
     it('should work in an app with async components', inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
-         bootstrap(AsyncAppCmp, [bind(ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT).toValue(AsyncAppCmp), testBindings])
+         bootstrap(AsyncAppCmp, testBindings)
              .then((applicationRef) => {
                var router = applicationRef.hostComponent.router;
                router.subscribe((_) => {
@@ -102,8 +99,7 @@ export function main() {
 
     it('should work in an app with async components defined with "loader"',
        inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
-         bootstrap(ConciseAsyncAppCmp,
-                   [bind(ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT).toValue(AsyncAppCmp), testBindings])
+         bootstrap(ConciseAsyncAppCmp, testBindings)
              .then((applicationRef) => {
                var router = applicationRef.hostComponent.router;
                router.subscribe((_) => {
@@ -118,9 +114,7 @@ export function main() {
 
     it('should work in an app with a constructor component',
        inject([AsyncTestCompleter], (async) => {
-         bootstrap(
-             ExplicitConstructorAppCmp,
-             [bind(ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT).toValue(ExplicitConstructorAppCmp), testBindings])
+         bootstrap(ExplicitConstructorAppCmp, testBindings)
              .then((applicationRef) => {
                var router = applicationRef.hostComponent.router;
                router.subscribe((_) => {
@@ -136,8 +130,7 @@ export function main() {
        inject(
            [AsyncTestCompleter],
            (async) => {
-               bootstrap(WrongConfigCmp,
-                         [bind(ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT).toValue(WrongConfigCmp), testBindings])
+               bootstrap(WrongConfigCmp, testBindings)
                    .catch((e) => {
                      expect(e.originalException)
                          .toContainError(
@@ -150,9 +143,7 @@ export function main() {
        inject(
            [AsyncTestCompleter],
            (async) => {
-               bootstrap(
-                   WrongComponentTypeCmp,
-                   [bind(ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT).toValue(WrongComponentTypeCmp), testBindings])
+               bootstrap(WrongComponentTypeCmp, testBindings)
                    .catch((e) => {
                      expect(e.originalException)
                          .toContainError(
@@ -165,8 +156,7 @@ export function main() {
        inject(
            [AsyncTestCompleter],
            (async) => {
-               bootstrap(BadAliasCmp,
-                         [bind(ROUTER_PRIMARY_COMPONENT).toValue(BadAliasCmp), testBindings])
+               bootstrap(BadAliasCmp, testBindings)
                    .catch((e) => {
                      expect(e.originalException)
                          .toContainError(
diff --git a/modules/examples/src/routing/index.ts b/modules/examples/src/routing/index.ts
index a7a86a4ef1..11fbecb0dc 100644
--- a/modules/examples/src/routing/index.ts
+++ b/modules/examples/src/routing/index.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 import {InboxApp} from './inbox-app';
 import {bind} from 'angular2/angular2';
 import {bootstrap} from 'angular2/bootstrap';
-import {routerBindings, HashLocationStrategy, LocationStrategy} from 'angular2/router';
+import {ROUTER_BINDINGS, HashLocationStrategy, LocationStrategy} from 'angular2/router';
 
 import {reflector} from 'angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection';
 import {ReflectionCapabilities} from 'angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection_capabilities';
 
 export function main() {
   reflector.reflectionCapabilities = new ReflectionCapabilities();
-  bootstrap(InboxApp,
-            [routerBindings(InboxApp), bind(LocationStrategy).toClass(HashLocationStrategy)]);
+  bootstrap(InboxApp, [ROUTER_BINDINGS, bind(LocationStrategy).toClass(HashLocationStrategy)]);
 }