ASC- gimmick or help

[dave hendy]

Has anyone got a new bike with ASC or has ridden a demo with it fitted? Is it worth the £215 extra or is it just a gimmick I am a firm believer in ABS and am sure it has saved me from at least one certain accident in wet conditions, so I have no problem paying for it again . I also believe stability control is a major asset on a car! But don't really understand its use on a bike and am not sure if it could be more of a nuisance

So I would like to hear other peoples comments before I order my new GS

 

[SpyInTheCamp]

No idea, but £215 sounds cheap.

How does it actually work?

And, is it possible to switch it off?

Kai

 

[dave hendy]

There is a basic explanation on it on the BMW motorad website. It says you can switch it off even while riding. I would like to find a better explanation myself.

 

[Schtum]

How does it actually work?

Without actually knowing, I'd imagine that it uses the ABS sensors to measure the difference between front and rear wheel speeds. When that exceeds a given figure it will progressively cut the spark and / or fuelling to the engine to reduce power, regardless of what the rider's doing with the throttle at the time.

 

[jetjock]

Without actually knowing, I'd imagine that it uses the ABS sensors to measure the difference between front and rear wheel speeds. When that exceeds a given figure it will progressively cut the spark and / or fuelling to the engine to reduce power, regardless of what the rider's doing with the throttle at the time.

I think it brakes the rear wheel .

Waste of time if you ask me.
I do get wheel spin on mine in the wet but i do have to provoke it .
It's all part of the fun with riding in the rain

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

More electrical shite to go wrong...............

Do you need it?

Have you needed it on any of your previous bikes?


If not, why waste another £215

 

[cookie]

bmw couldn't pay me enough to have it.






ok, they probably could

 

[GSmonkey]

If I remember, somewhere on the BMW release notes it says that this is NOT a traction control system, i.e. won't stop a highside. If this is the case, what's the point??

 

[Foto John]

If you can read German there's a good explanation of ASC on this German 1200GS website http://www.r1200gs.de/newsbmw060706.html.

If you can't read German here's a Babblefish translation which I cut, copied and pasted, take a look here:

HTH.

 

[Peter Reilly]

I have a new 1200GS coming in three weeks with ASC and tyre pressure control. Will let you know how I get on. Personally I do not regard wheelspin on wet London roads while going to work as fun, but maybe I'm strange.

 

[dave hendy]

I have a new 1200GS coming in three weeks with ASC and tyre pressure control. Will let you know how I get on. Personally I do not regard wheelspin on wet London roads while going to work as fun, but maybe I'm strange.

Hi Peter

Have you got your new bike yet? I need to order my new bike within the next week to get it for Easter and I still don't know what to do about ASC I can't find any one who has a bike with it or has ridden one. If you have yours I would be interested in your thoughts

 

[dave b]

I have a new 1200GS coming in three weeks with ASC and tyre pressure control. Will let you know how I get on. Personally I do not regard wheelspin on wet London roads while going to work as fun, but maybe I'm strange.

I was told i can't have tyre pressure control on my 12gsa cos bwm can't fit it to spoked wheels?? what gives ?

 

[Peter Reilly]

Have taken delivery of my 2007 GS with ASC and tyre pressure control. The ASC system works by first retarding the ignition and then by cutting power completely when it detects wheel spin. It does not activate the brakes like car ESP does.
It has three modes: On, Offroad and Off. I presume the Offroad mode allows more spin before kicking in. It defaults to On when you start the bike.
So, does it work? Er, not sure yet. The obvious thing is to give my brand new bike full throttle at low speed on a wet road. This goes against all my instincts and I have so far failed to muster the appropriate courage. Must try harder.
ASC is completely unnoticeable when not activated, so the only downside to having it is the fairly modest cost.
Mine was the first bike Vines had seen with ASC so they have no experience either.
Will post more info when either my courage proves adequate or my riding skill proves inadequate.

 

[Fanum]

More electrical shite to go wrong...............

Do you need it?

Have you needed it on any of your previous bikes?


If not, why waste another £215

I bet you said exactly the same thing when they got rid of points and condensers Johnny

gnnn new fangled rubbish gnnnn progress gnnn grrr what was wrong with tungsten bulbs they lit up didn't they gnnnnn grrrr humbug

 

[ROLLINSDAN]

More electrical shite to go wrong...............

Do you need it?

Have you needed it on any of your previous bikes?


If not, why waste another £215

Somebody must need it, otherwise BMW Motorrad sales & marketing would not list it as a feature

Very similar to Bosch's ESP........ That's such a pointless feature that it's never taken off either

 

[cookie]

I bet you said exactly the same thing when they got rid of points and condensers Johnny

i did

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

Forget about ABS, ASC, tyres that pump themselves up etc - what you want is BUS. BUS renders the rider impervious to danger and harm by completely isolating the rider physically from the motorcycle. You don't have to worry about dangerous manoeuvres like speeding up a bit, slowing down a bit, and going in a different direction etc. The only downside is that you have to choose one of a pre-defined set of destinations, but at least you'll get there in one piece

 

[beemerboy9]

If I remember, somewhere on the BMW release notes it says that this is NOT a traction control system, i.e. won't stop a highside. If this is the case, what's the point??

According to BMW, the system is there to stop rear wheel breakaway when accelerating in a straight line on wet, icy or rapidly changing surfaces.
It does not operate quicly enough to prevent loss of traction if one overdraws on the grip available from the tyres when cornering and braking/acceleration. Such ASC systems can only get better, so it is a start.
Moto GP bikes have a very much more developed and sophisticated traction control system.
I wouldn't bother on a Boxer - might possibly be tempted on a K-bike.

 

[Peter Reilly]

Well, I managed to get my ASC to activate on the way home from work. 20mph, first gear, wet road and sudden full throttle. The yellow warning light came on but I couldn't actually feel the engine power being cut. The bike just accelerated and there was no sensation of traction being lost. I will be the first to admit that this is not a scientific test but the system does appear to work.
I do not intend to test the system while cornering but rather like ABS it is there as a safety aid rather than as a performance enhancer. As someone who rides all year round on London roads, I like the idea of ASC as a backup if I overdo it in while accelerating in the wet.
BTW my bike has the new Bridgestone Battle Wing tyres, which seem to have very good wet grip. It took several attempts to get the yellow light on.

 

[dave hendy]

Well, I managed to get my ASC to activate on the way home from work. 20mph, first gear, wet road and sudden full throttle. The yellow warning light came on but I couldn't actually feel the engine power being cut. The bike just accelerated and there was no sensation of traction being lost. I will be the first to admit that this is not a scientific test but the system does appear to work.
I do not intend to test the system while cornering but rather like ABS it is there as a safety aid rather than as a performance enhancer. As someone who rides all year round on London roads, I like the idea of ASC as a backup if I overdo it in while accelerating in the wet.
BTW my bike has the new Bridgestone Battle Wing tyres, which seem to have very good wet grip. It took several attempts to get the yellow light on.

Thanks for the info, thats the sort of info I need. I think I will probably go for it