08 1200gsa power mods

[mechcanico lee]

Hello i have just bought a 1200 gsa 58 plate , great brakes, good suspension and good road manners, i was a little disapointed in the engines power it has flat areas in its range probably lean areas for euro emmisions and an that.

My last bike was a suzuki vstrom 1000 and the engine seemed much more eager to rev and grunty maybe its just how the boxer engines feel .........i dont know its the first beemer i have had .

What would be the best performace mods to do to increse the power and response of the engine........power commander ? exhaust ?

Any ideas would be appreciated...oh yeah and ideas that dont cost the earth

 

[walkingpictures]

Hello i have just bought a 1200 gsa 58 plate , great brakes, good suspension and good road manners, i was a little disapointed in the engines power it has flat areas in its range probably lean areas for euro emmisions and an that.

Will second that,have some flat spots around 4grand,guess it is emmisions crap kicking in,maybe an exhaust change will cure it?For sure the experts on here will advise!!!

Enjoy the bike

Kimbo

 

[SilverFish]

I'd give it at least a few thousand miles before you start looking for extra power. Personally, I wouldnt start until I've put in well over 10,000 miles - but thats just me.

Boxer engines get better with age - in particular easier to rev and gain a little bit more poke the more miles you put on them. (As well as more fuel efficient too, but where's the fun in that? )

Case in point - my 07 1200GSA is noticeable more eager and will quite happily lift the front wheel at 80mph off the crest of a hill.*

I rode a loan 1100GS a few years back which had 100,000 miles on it - it was no doubt a better engine that my 1150GS with 'only' 50,000 miles on it.

I think a few extra HP can be gleaned out of it though, and replacement header pipes in particular will lift some of those flat spots, then see how deep your pockets are. The most common combination is Remus Headers and an Akrapovic Exhaust.

Have fun trying!

Mike

*And thats with ASC too.

 

[elefantmanshawn]

The only real answer is wait,wait for the powercommander v to arrive on our shores and it will fill all the gaps in fueling,you've got to accept that the BMW is a different beast to any japper,its air cooled and relatively antique in design,but with some fettling like a de-cat,good filtration and a snorkle chop all combined with a real fuel map it'll kick ass!

 

[elefantmanshawn]

just though do you hit the rainhill stoops round about around 7.45 am?

 

[Pukmeister]

What it lacks in grunt it makes up for in other ways. More bottom end stomp than most other bikes on the road up to 4000RPM, it just doesn't feel exciting in its delivery.

With longer term ownership, you'll recalibrate your senses and realise that although it doesn't feel quick, it's funny how slow other traffic can seem.

Or you could buy an 1198S......

 

[Rich ZX12R]

Hello i have just bought a 1200 gsa 58 plate , great brakes, good suspension and good road manners, i was a little disapointed in the engines power it has flat areas in its range probably lean areas for euro emmisions and an that.

My last bike was a suzuki vstrom 1000 and the engine seemed much more eager to rev and grunty maybe its just how the boxer engines feel .........i dont know its the first beemer i have had .

What would be the best performace mods to do to increse the power and response of the engine........power commander ? exhaust ?

Any ideas would be appreciated...oh yeah and ideas that dont cost the earth

Remus Headers with no cat and Akropovic end can from new on my '08 GSA, Not a flat spot in sight. However leave the baffle in the can otherwise it will bog down.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Hello i have just bought a 1200 gsa 58 plate , great brakes, good suspension and good road manners, i was a little disapointed in the engines power it has flat areas in its range probably lean areas for euro emmisions and an that.

My last bike was a suzuki vstrom 1000 and the engine seemed much more eager to rev and grunty maybe its just how the boxer engines feel .........i dont know its the first beemer i have had .

What would be the best performace mods to do to increse the power and response of the engine........power commander ? exhaust ?

Any ideas would be appreciated...oh yeah and ideas that dont cost the earth

Definately headers will do the trick for a bit more power. Nice set of Keihans should do sir nicely

You get much more midrange and snappier throttle response. I`m told though that you should either retain the OEM end can or get a good baffled end can because the engines on the latest 1200`s run very lean. The Power Commander will sort all that out but may cost a we bit.

 

[patzx12]

I would recomend a BOS full system. Fowlers of Bristol are the importers.
My 04 GS goes like a rocket compared to my GSA with standard headers and Reamus end can + DB killer out.

 

[karlp]

maybe i can help.

I have both '58 Vstrom 1000 and '09 GSA.
The Vstrom is a quicker bike and in my opinion more capable at higher speeds, however the GSA is definately a better bike.

The GSA will pull away at almost any rpm - even down to 2000 in top and is a dream to ride in the twisties

The Vstrom I have has Arrow exhausts and a power commander and been on a dyno.

To pull away in top gear you have to drop down about two gears to even get moving.

On a recent ride out with me on my GSA and others on sportsbikes, Vstroms etc -=the joke was Ohh a slow ride today as karl has his GSA.

I am sure there are many in this site that will leave me behind

Get familiar with the bike first and I am sure you will soon realise that it is much more capable than it looks.

The only thing it will not do is outrun a Vstrom on the motorway.

 

[RickG]

As the others say, at least ditch the cat by changing the headers. The original box is not that restrictive and so headers alone will make a significant difference, as will 20,000+ miles.

As also pointed out, the GS/A is not about point and squirt performance. It's ability to keep up with, and often embarass, sportier bike riders is due partly to it's good road manners which would flatter your granny's riding ability but also the commanding view of the road ahead. On rough, bendy back roads where sport's bike riders are having their eyeballs rattled out and peering hopefully around the back of cars for a glimpse of the next safe overtake, the GS/A pilot can momentarily distract themselves from contemplating the meaning of life and chuff past slower vehicles having prepared the overtake months in advance thanks to a view of the road normally only enjoyed by the likes of wandering albatross.

Whilst competant and on-road rapid in daily real-life riding, the GS\A is not a sports bike and will inevitably get blitzed by anything moderately quick where top end and modern levels of handling matter.

 

[Pukmeister]

Whilst competant and on-road rapid in daily real-life riding, the GS\A is not a sports bike and will inevitably get blitzed by anything moderately quick where top end and modern levels of handling matter.

True on track maybe but on the road however it depends on many factors and not just the bikes.

Most of the roads I enjoy aren't really suitable for anything thats totally sports focussed, but the GS excels at them.

 

[RickG]

True on track maybe but on the road however it depends on many factors and not just the bikes.

Most of the roads I enjoy aren't really suitable for anything thats totally sports focussed, but the GS excels at them.

That's really the point I was trying to make. The biggest factor is however the rider as there are few modern bikes that can't out perform the average Joe and the latter may find the GS/A easier to ride at a faster pace than a sports bike simply due to the vision and grunty engine. However, if you do push a GS/A too hard it'll start to get a bit rushed and flustered but this is usually at speeds well above the legal limit. An experienced rider on 'A' roads would find a modern sports bike more capable in these circumstances

On the road, where speed is controlled by the many factors you mention, most people ride within their ability and subject to the road conditions which contribute to a rate of progress they feel comfortable with and hence, as you imply, it's not sensible to compare the virtues of one bike to another based simply on the speed it's being ridden.

The GS/A is a great all rounder but it'll never win a TT and only people like Nick Saunders are bold enough to go around the world on a R1.

Horses for courses

 

[mechcanico lee]

some good views there , looks like headers and de cat are the way to go then power commander to fuel it up a bit, am not loooking for it to go like a missile a have already owned 2 hayabusas, i just feel that the engines is capable of alot more, the manufactures are nailed down now with emmission reg stuff and they try to get the best economy out of the engine possible but that does leave "holes" in the overall map of the fueling.

Am very happy with how the bike feels suspension, brakes , balance ect. it would be more of a peach with a better engine map.
A shall see how it goes with a few more miles before i do anything to it
thanks for the feedback
Lee

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Yeah Lee, makes sense to me.

The engine really loosens up after 5,000 miles with a noticeable difference all the way to 15/20,000.

My experience has been, as already stated by several on here, that the biggest gains are from removing the Cat - after that improved fuelling has been the icing on the cake, what 'holes' were left are now completely gone.

Here's a link with lots stuff.

Oh, and don't forget the appallingly long travel throttle, took me ages to realise that a big 2nd handful made a big difference

Andres

 

[PrayingMantide81]

This morning i went to my dealer who except from being a great mechanic,he doesn't have the BMW dealer attitude and propably everyone knows what i mean...My main question after posts i read here etc.. was if i had to do anything else now that i ditched the cat and akro end can..The first thing he told me is that first i have too fill and empty my tank at least 10-15 times until the sensors realize that the cat is gone,a PC he told me is not necessary cause the improvement will be minor the bike won't have any problem and that its clearly up to me if i have to spend more money for a slight difference..my relief was that the engine won't have any problem so maybe i'll add a PC when i actually want to!

 

[wadham]

This morning i went to my dealer w.The first thing he told me is that first i have too fill and empty my tank at least 10-15 times until the sensors realize that the cat is gone,

If that is the case, how does the bike adjust its fueling when at very high altitude to cope with reduced air pressure etc. Surely the sensors BMW fitted adjust for changes in the air fuel mixture all the time with constant monitoring.
Removing the cat would lean it out and it compensates right away. Mine did on way home last night with new BOS headers on it, much snappier engine.

 

[BiG DoM]

This morning i went to my dealer who except from being a great mechanic,he doesn't have the BMW dealer attitude and propably everyone knows what i mean...My main question after posts i read here etc.. was if i had to do anything else now that i ditched the cat and akro end can..The first thing he told me is that first i have too fill and empty my tank at least 10-15 times until the sensors realize that the cat is gone,a PC he told me is not necessary cause the improvement will be minor the bike won't have any problem and that its clearly up to me if i have to spend more money for a slight difference..my relief was that the engine won't have any problem so maybe i'll add a PC when i actually want to!

Must say this is the biggest bunch of bollocks I have heard in a long time - what is this dude smoking ... sure he does not have the attitude of a BMW mechanic ... nor the brain cells IMHO.

 

[PrayingMantide81]

Must say this is the biggest bunch of bollocks I have heard in a long time - what is this dude smoking ... sure he does not have the attitude of a BMW mechanic ... nor the brain cells IMHO.

Well sorry man but thats what he told me if its bullshit or not i don't know..what is your opinion?

 

[mechcanico lee]

This morning i went to my dealer who except from being a great mechanic,he doesn't have the BMW dealer attitude and propably everyone knows what i mean...My main question after posts i read here etc.. was if i had to do anything else now that i ditched the cat and akro end can..The first thing he told me is that first i have too fill and empty my tank at least 10-15 times until the sensors realize that the cat is gone,a PC he told me is not necessary cause the improvement will be minor the bike won't have any problem and that its clearly up to me if i have to spend more money for a slight difference..my relief was that the engine won't have any problem so maybe i'll add a PC when i actually want to!

Doesnt sound like good info there praying mantide, am a car mechcanic myself and the adaptive re learn for car ecms is normally bout 8 miles driving cycle before the long term fuel trim re learns to any new changes, a wouldnt of thought bike ecms where much different.

It would be good to hear from a member who has just tryed a power commander on the 2008 gsa without any other mods to see if it improves the holes in the map