ASA comment

[Beerman]

I waited to comment on ASA until I had 1,000 miles on the clock. This is not a full review of the bike - there are many elsewhere better than I could write.

I have read many reviews and watched YouTube videos which say that ASA is clunky, uncomfortable. While this was true when the bike was new, it is not my experience overall. As the bike has broken in, and I have learned to anticipate the gear changes, it has become as smooth as a manual change, and perhaps smoother. I suspect that initial reservations are due to the fact the bike changes gear without inputs: the rider isn't used to it, and doesn't expect it. It's brilliant, and downshifting on braking into a corner is fantastic.

I am an experienced rider and have ridden from one end of the continent to the other : mine is not the observation of a 'newbie'.

Furthermore, some of the developments I poked fun at I really appreciate: adaptive cruise control and blind spot alerts being two examples.

We all have our own perspectives, but this is mine - I'm glad I bought the ASA version, and would do so again.

 

[RallyeGS]

Yup, my experience mirrors that of yours with ASA and all the new gadgets on my GSA.

 

[jetjock]

I find the ASA really good and learns from the amount of throttle you are applying at the time . If you suddenly change your mind and change the throttle just as it’s decided to change gear it can be a little clunky . Generally it is a good system . Having said that I tend to ride it in manual as I like the control. Auto or Drive as they call it is useful around town when there tends to be lots of gear changes

 

[Troppo]

I agree with all the posters above.

It is superb in traffic and especially if you are first in line at lights. No faffing about with the clutch. It gets off the line really well.

 

[howdoo]

Conversely, I think it's very poor.

Abrupt changes at the wrong times.

In manual mode it makes a great quick shifter.

 

[jetjock]

Conversely, I think it's very poor.

Abrupt changes at the wrong times.

In manual mode it makes a great quick shifter.

I took the bike out for a ride earlier . Yes Drive is the smoothest at a totally constant throttle but still has a slight deceleration as it does it . It’s not as smooth as as say an automatic car . I haven’t ridden any other ASA or DSG motorcycle to compare . In manual the gear change is smoother with a slight clonk and is as smoother or smoother than a bike with a conventional gearbox and a quick shifter

 

[botus]

It’s not as smooth as as say an automatic car . I haven’t ridden any other ASA or DSG motorcycle to compare .

because its a normal manual gearbox... the automation is of the clutch and gear changes not the fundamental design of the box

 

[JoeBiff]

Abrupt changes at the wrong times.

Any specific times you’ve noticed this?
All the time?
Or, only at downshift in ECO, for example?
What ‘mode’ do you normally use?
I’m interested at such a sweeping statement, as I find mine generally acceptable.

…. Yes Drive is the smoothest at a totally constant throttle but still has a slight deceleration as it does it . It’s not as smooth as as say an automatic car .

You should try running 600hp through an auto ZF gearbox, under an open throttle. Abrupt and brutal are two words I’d use to describe them. Just as you’d expect

 

[botus]

You should try running 600hp through an auto ZF gearbox, under an open throttle. Abrupt and brutal are two words I’d use to describe them. Just as you’d expect

as that helps the box to last - a slush box gliding in and out silky smooth will soon self destruct

the higher the engine output the higher the pressure on the clutches goes up - up until the crims post warranty flash the car reducing line pressure at x torque rating to encourage the thing to go wrong - my 335d was perfect then an i-level opened up the clutches "to protect the drive-line" dropping the original max limit spec of 525nm down to 475nm just as engine tuners were doing the exact opposite pushing output above 700nm and the gearbox nor drive-line ever flinched

"after BMW improved the car" on full take off you'd get a shreik and a graunch like something nasty was going wrong - little did I know back then, grown ups were working on a fix

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[JoeBiff]

Bored Stiff

Thanks, but /yawn

 

[cuffmeister]

Conversely, I think it's very poor.

Abrupt changes at the wrong times.

In manual mode it makes a great quick shifter.

A sweeping statement but tend to agree. Took a demo GSA ASA out, expecting good things and really wanted to like it. First impressions were good when just pootling around. It's when you start to push the speed or negotiate something other than straightforward that it gets either harsh with the changes or 'confused' as to what gear it wants. For example, slip road off a main road, slight bend, 100 meters straight then stop. Normally select 3rd, hold 3rd. Not the ASA, it was up and down the box 5 times in 100 meters! Gear changes when pushing on- get a neck brace.
Now I do accept that the bike was new but it was disappointing. Manual mode was nice and smooth but only as smooth as a standard manual so why bother.
I guess it all depends what you want and what type of rider you are. In a previous life I've completed a number of advanced car/bike courses and refreshers, one of the main factors is to be in the correct gear for the circs, unfortunately ASA was in the incorrect gear most of the time. Not a slagging off, just my view. It's an OK system but that is all it is, an electronic system. You cannot beat the mark 1 eyeball for information gathering and hazard perception. Thought the bike was really good though and could be tempted to chop my 1250 in for one- obviously the manual version !

 

[Mzokk]

I took one out for a test ride. I’d pay not to have it. It’s too rough. Same for the system on the Yamaha Tracer GT+ but being a triple it’s smoother than the BMW. Honda DCT is way smoother than both even in its early versions on the VFR1200.

 

[jetjock]

ASA . It does get used to you , and you to it .

 

[JoeBiff]

For example, slip road off a main road, slight bend, 100 meters straight then stop. Normally select 3rd, hold 3rd. Not the ASA, it was up and down the box 5 times in 100 meters! Gear changes when pushing on- get a neck brace.

In all my (lots and lots of) ASA miles, I’ve only been able to confuse the gearbox by intentionally throttling on/off, and dabbing the brakes at the same time. The gearbox has never ‘hunted’ as you describe, thankfully.
I’d say you’ve tested a dud.

 

[pbbanks]

ASA . It does get used to you , and you to it .

Yep, I agree entirely, you have to work with it and not expect it to know what you are thinking. If it hasn't changed down, or up when you think it should have, just changed gear with the lever, it goes back to Auto after a few seconds.

 

[IrishGaucho]

I'm not an ASA owner but my experience throughout a full day test was that in manual mode was fantastic, incredibly smooth shifts and handy in traffic.

Did not like it in auto mode, surely you can get used to it with mode seat time but it definitely wasn't something seemless. That demo bike had a few thousand kms on it too, so it was well broken in.

So I was pleasently surprised by it but then again, I'm a clutch kind of guy still

 

[GS TRV]

I thought it was awful and way too clunky when you opened the throttle with any enthusiasm.
I had a DCT Crosstourer from 10 years ago which was much smoother.