ASA stalling ?

[Troppo]

The other issue is….why?

Why would you waste your time putting shit on somebody’s bike?

As I said to one of the worst offenders….I don’t like Harleys. Do I go on HD forums and make a twat of myself?

Aahh, no….

 

[Dougie Danger]

Any ASA owners had their bike stall ?

Yes. Had one out on dem. Whilst following traffic up a slight hill at about 35mph with the gearbox in auto. Pulled out to overtake, wacked the throttle open and the engine stalled. Unfortunately I don’t think you can do a rolling start and I had to stop and pull the front brake on before I could restart it. I consider it put me in a dangerous situation with all the traffic slamming on their brakes behind me. Mentioned it to the dealer and they didn’t seem that bothered.

 

[pbbanks]

Yes. Had one out on dem. Whilst following traffic up a slight hill at about 35mph with the gearbox in auto. Pulled out to overtake, wacked the throttle open and the engine stalled. Unfortunately I don’t think you can do a rolling start and I had to stop and pull the front brake on before I could restart it. I consider it put me in a dangerous situation with all the traffic slamming on their brakes behind me. Mentioned it to the dealer and they didn’t seem that bothered.

What did the auto do when the engine stalled, what gear was it in or did it go into neutral. If it stayed in gear and the engine stalled didn't the bike just stop dead, but you say you had to stop ??. Don't quite understand how it did it.

I know the auto on mine sometimes doesn't seem to change down as soon as I think it should when you get to a steep uphill. Its close to starting to labour the engine and I just override it and change down. Guess it can't see ahead and know that the hill is getting steeper so it can't anticipate that it needs to change down.

 

[Dougie Danger]

What did the auto do when the engine stalled, what gear was it in or did it go into neutral. If it stayed in gear and the engine stalled didn't the bike just stop dead, but you say you had to stop ??. Don't quite understand how it did it.

I know the auto on mine sometimes doesn't seem to change down as soon as I think it should when you get to a steep uphill. It’s close to starting to labour the engine and I just override it and change down. Guess it can't see ahead and know that the hill is getting steeper so it can't anticipate that it needs to change down.

Hi. I remember thinking it being in a too high gear and labouring the engine but assumed with it being automatic it would change down automatically but It stalled and went into neutral and being totally unfamiliar with the bike I didn’t know how to restart it whilst it was coasting. As far as I still understand it isn’t possible to restart when still moving but maybe I’m wrong. Trouble is with going up hill it didn’t coast for more than a few seconds and with traffic behind me and nowhere to go it wasn’t a great experience. It obviously isn’t fool proof yet but I guess it’s an issue that will hopefully get sorted. Might even be a simple software update. With a gearbox that supposedly learns and improves from the rider I’m guessing a demo bike having had lots of different riders is never going to be at its best and show off how good it actually is or could be. Personally I think the gearbox needs to be more responsive and not labour the engine as much. It was getting still staying in top gear at 38mph, reluctant to change down which made the bike feel underpowered. I realise you can change the gears manually and you could argue you have the best of both worlds but personally I feel BMW still have a way to go yet. I was hoping with having a touch of arthritis in my left hand the auto box would be the answer but as it is I’ll just keep riding mine for a period of time and use the quick shifter more.

 

[pbbanks]

Hi. I remember thinking it being in a too high gear and labouring the engine but assumed with it being automatic it would change down automatically but It stalled and went into neutral and being totally unfamiliar with the bike I didn’t know how to restart it whilst it was coasting. As far as I still understand it isn’t possible to restart when still moving but maybe I’m wrong. Trouble is with going up hill it didn’t coast for more than a few seconds and with traffic behind me and nowhere to go it wasn’t a great experience. It obviously isn’t fool proof yet but I guess it’s an issue that will hopefully get sorted. Might even be a simple software update. With a gearbox that supposedly learns and improves from the rider I’m guessing a demo bike having had lots of different riders is never going to be at its best and show off how good it actually is or could be. Personally I think the gearbox needs to be more responsive and not labour the engine as much. It was getting still staying in top gear at 38mph, reluctant to change down which made the bike feel underpowered. I realise you can change the gears manually and you could argue you have the best of both worlds but personally I feel BMW still have a way to go yet. I was hoping with having a touch of arthritis in my left hand the auto box would be the answer but as it is I’ll just keep riding mine for a period of time and use the quick shifter more.

A bit of a concern, I'll have to make sure I change down going up hills if I think it's leaving it too long.
There is a "software enhancement" to do with ASA & mine had the update last week. It was to fix an issue with the ASA changing to neutral itself after setting off from 1st gear, I haven't experienced the problem but others on here have.

With your problem it wouldn't have let you start the engine again while coasting as the brake lever has to be held before the starter will work.
Does sound like some more work needs to be done by BMW.

Only problem I have is it refusing to go into first gear, usually after a stop. No error messages or anything, I keep trying pressing the gear lever down but nothing happens. I have to switch the engine off via the ignition and switch it back on & start the engine again, it will then go into first gear.
This happens maybe once in every 3 stops.
The software enhancement hasn't fixed my problem.

 

[BusterDan]

Hi everyone, my first post and unfortunately it's due to my GS ASA being broken....

My dealer/BMW are on the case and I think the outcome will come good in the end.... I'll update once things are clearer. By the problem has been diagnosed as a fault clutch seal, the whole actuator and seal would need to be replaced.

 

[zoltan]

By the problem has been diagnosed as a fault clutch seal, the whole actuator and seal would need to be replaced.

On brand new bike? Wow...Did the bike function in Manual mode at all?

 

[gateway77]

I would hope that if someone at Customer Service - BMW Motorrad Head Office (Germany) sees this video they would be pulling out all stops to get this issue corrected and also make sure that this customer is suitably compensated. So I would try and get an email address to send this on beyond the local dealer.

 

[BusterDan]

BMW Motorrad UK are fully aware and so far seem to be doing everything they can to resolve the issue and make things right for me quickly.

The bike had been fine until the about 60 miles after the running in service was completed. On the first day the problem occurred I was able to leave home but shortly after I was unable to pull away, the bike juddered forwards and stalled. After about 30 minutes of trying the issue corrected itself and I then (initially carefully) rode the bike for another 60 miles. Absolutely no problem the bike was running like a dream.

Then last weekend it was the first chance I had to use the bike again but this time I had the camera on the bike and well as they say, a picture (video) paints a thousand words.

 

[BusterDan]

Re. Manual or Drive mode, neither made any difference, I thought it may have been the handbrake assist at first, and there did appear to be drive to the rear wheel... it was just at the point when you would expect the biting point to come in on a traditional clutch that the bike would judder and stall.

When the bike was working correctly... Drive but especially Manual mode were awesome... I really think the system is great when it works as intended.

 

[stever1]

On a hi(gh) ….

So who has left then ?

 

[clutchspring]

That video was truly shocking and I feel for the rider , on the plus point the battery held out .
Hope you get it sorted very soon

 

[BusterDan]

That video was truly shocking and I feel for the rider , on the plus point the battery held out .
Hope you get it sorted very soon

...haha the battery held out.... that is very true but then it is the AGM battery rather than the Lithium one.

 

[Tall Lad]

It happened to me yesterday. I was coming home from a weekend in Paignton, we rode on loads and loads of steep hills for the whole weekend. On the way home, stopped at traffic lights on a steep hill and used hill hold, lights changed I tried to pull away and the bike stalled. I was in manual mode. I restarted and pulled away successfully second time. Didn't happen again for the next 230 miles home? And hadn't happened in the previous 1,400 miles?

 

[BusterDan]

So a bit of an update...

So far BMW have essentially said nothing to me and I have nothing in writing but this problem was caused by a faulty seal. I have been told it is not the first ASA bike to suffer the same issue and the only fix is to replace the actuator that also includes the seal. I am not sure if this is a costly fix but considering my bike had only covered 695 miles it is safe to say that this seal was never seated properly or it has failed by design after a very short time (luckily). My bike issue was nit software related and also not linked to the Handbrake assistance (you notice in my video that despite changing HSC, it had no effect and the bike was still able to freewheel in Neutral).

My dealer Vines - Guildford have been excellent throughout..... BMW I think have downplayed this but nonetheless I am now getting a new non-ASA bike (luckily there was one virtually the same as my Trophy, Forged wheels, but it also has the rider assistance radar pack).

I loved ASA, I really did think it was a game changer, and commended BMW for innovating. I enjoyed the flexibility and ease it gave me, plus I could still ride the bike how I wanted in Manual mode.

But as it stands in this current iteration, development lifecycle and based on the feedback and research I have seen/done. My view is that ASA is not currently fit for purpose and in extreme circumstances like mine, it could be downright dangerous. For those owners that already have ASA bikes I hope you get many years of trouble free use from them, but sadly I think failure of these actuator seals likely unless BMW get on top of this immediately.

By the way my ASA bike was built in February 2025

 

[tw99]

Recall on the way, perhaps ?

 

[pbbanks]

So a bit of an update...

So far BMW have essentially said nothing to me and I have nothing in writing but this problem was caused by a faulty seal. I have been told it is not the first ASA bike to suffer the same issue and the only fix is to replace the actuator that also includes the seal. I am not sure if this is a costly fix but considering my bike had only covered 695 miles it is safe to say that this seal was never seated properly or it has failed by design after a very short time (luckily). My bike issue was nit software related and also not linked to the Handbrake assistance (you notice in my video that despite changing HSC, it had no effect and the bike was still able to freewheel in Neutral).

My dealer Vines - Guildford have been excellent throughout..... BMW I think have downplayed this but nonetheless I am now getting a new non-ASA bike (luckily there was one virtually the same as my Trophy, Forged wheels, but it also has the rider assistance radar pack).

I loved ASA, I really did think it was a game changer, and commended BMW for innovating. I enjoyed the flexibility and ease it gave me, plus I could still ride the bike how I wanted in Manual mode.

But as it stands in this current iteration, development lifecycle and based on the feedback and research I have seen/done. My view is that ASA is not currently fit for purpose and in extreme circumstances like mine, it could be downright dangerous. For those owners that already have ASA bikes I hope you get many years of trouble free use from them, but sadly I think failure of these actuator seals likely unless BMW get on top of this immediately.

By the way my ASA bike was built in February 2025

Not sure I'm with your logic of giving up on the ASA bike because a seal failed.

You say you loved the ASA and thought it was a game changer.
Why not let them fix it and give it another go.
What will you do if the slave cylinder seal in your new manual clutch model fails??. Change to another model??.

I have an ASA 1300gs and the only problem I have is that sometimes it just doesn't go into 1st from neutral to set off. I have to turn the ignition off\on and start the engine again and it will go into 1st fine.
I have reported it to my dealer and they did a software update but it hasn't fixed it.
I'll stick with the ASA and trust that BMW will sort the problem.
ASA isn't perfect but for me the advantages out way the issues.

 

[BusterDan]

Not sure I'm with your logic of giving up on the ASA bike because a seal failed.

You say you loved the ASA and thought it was a game changer.
Why not let them fix it and give it another go.
What will you do if the slave cylinder seal in your new manual clutch model fails??. Change to another model??.

I have an ASA 1300gs and the only problem I have is that sometimes it just doesn't go into 1st from neutral to set off. I have to turn the ignition off\on and start the engine again and it will go into 1st fine.
I have reported it to my dealer and they did a software update but it hasn't fixed it.
I'll stick with the ASA and trust that BMW will sort the problem.
ASA isn't perfect but for me the advantages out way the issues.

Hi mate....

There are a few factors....

Yes the dealer could get the part in.... 10 days wait from Berlin, it would be fitted and test, all being well I'd be happy..... BUT (I'll come back to that).

I'm due to go to Wales at the end of June, so I need a bike, ideally my own bike for that.

If all went well with the repair then great.... but what if it didn't..... that's valuable time gone and also scuppered my trip. Also lets say at that point I give up on the bike and then have to order another.... that's a 3 month wait for a factory build.

But the crux of the decision was that the dealer themselves had another bike come in the same day as mine was delivered to them..... exact same symptoms although I did not ask if it was exactly the same problem. At the point the dealer was erring on the side of caution and I recommended as rejection, which I agreed with and I documented these for the dealer to pass back to BMW.

It then just so happened that a suitable bike popped up in the UK, built at the end of April, at which point things had to move quick otherwise I would have missed out on it.

From my perspective I have got virtually the same bike (Not ASA) and I am not out of pocket. The dealer with assistance from BMW is I would say doing quite well out of it and will come to sell my old ASA bike with 695 miles on at a tidy profit. But alas that is there business I just want a bike that I can own, ride and maintain for the next 5 years or so without any major issues and after this experience it really knocked my confidence in the longevity of ASA.

 

[stever1]

Not sure I'm with your logic of giving up on the ASA bike because a seal failed.

You say you loved the ASA and thought it was a game changer.
Why not let them fix it and give it another go.
What will you do if the slave cylinder seal in your new manual clutch model fails??. Change to another model??.

I have an ASA 1300gs and the only problem I have is that sometimes it just doesn't go into 1st from neutral to set off. I have to turn the ignition off\on and start the engine again and it will go into 1st fine.
I have reported it to my dealer and they did a software update but it hasn't fixed it.
I'll stick with the ASA and trust that BMW will sort the problem.
ASA isn't perfect but for me the advantages out way the issues.

I think you are a bit blinkered in your thinking. If it’s not right, and can’t be fixed fairly promptly, get rid. In your case, what good is a bike that won’t go into gear perhaps it’s time for you to get rid as well.

 

[pbbanks]

I think you are a bit blinkered in your thinking. If it’s not right, and can’t be fixed fairly promptly, get rid. In your case, what good is a bike that won’t go into gear perhaps it’s time for you to get rid as well.

Only have to switch the ignition off\on and start the engine again. It happens on average about 1 in every 6 starts. It's annoying but not the end of the world.

Not sure why you have to be so aggressive in your comment either!.
It's my bike and I'll keep it if I want to thank you.