Enduro 1st Gear

[Matt]

Need to finalise the spec for my GS Adventure due for July delivery. Need some advice on the enduro 1st gear. Worth having or better off with standard. Bike will spend most of it's time two up, long distance touring, on the road.
Cheers,
Matt

 

[Deadskin]

enduro 1st gear.

Definately on my list
lower 1st gear ratio = 4.465 -: Std = 3.864
much better in those tricky moments

Gates

 

[londonw1]

I've got it on my adventure and having ridden both would not be without it, feels like a sensible first not overly low, but riding a standard on afterward feels like always pulling away in second.

Go for it, one of the advantages of the Adventure

 

[MikeO]

I would've specified the lower 1st on my Adv, but didn't get the option (mine was a cancelled order). I don't find the standard first a problem - I've never stalled it or felt that the clutch had to work overtime - but I think I'd probably go for it given the choice. It's never going to make your life more difficult, having it, is it?

MikeO

 

[Matt]

Sounds like I'll be going for the low first gear then. The Demo bike has it and felt ok, just wasn't sure how it compared with standard having never ridden a GS, or any BMW, before this one.

Have had the demo out three times, once for the whole weekend, dealers idea, John Clarks in Aberdeen.

 

[Paul Crawford]

Lower first gear

Go for the lower gearing every time. I had it on my 2002 Adv and it was an excellent extra. Certainly helped with the 11,000 miles i did on her (in 5 months) before selling her in Feb.

 

[dave_h]

Got it on mine mate, bloody good buy!
Go for it you wont regret it.

 

[wessie]

In normal every day use the normal 1st gear is not a problem.

There have been a couple of occasions when I would have benefitted from a lower gear as I had to rev the engine and slip the clutch to keep proper control.

The worst was on a steep, slippery ramp onto a ferry.

 

[Madmill]

I bought a Adv in Jan and recived it in late march. Lower 1st was on my shopping list but I let the salesman 'advise' me not to and wish I 'b****y' had'nt. I go to a few bike rallys through the year and was at one this last weekend and it was as shitty as ell'. I find tickover speed is 10mph and is way too high for picking your way over a crappy campsite clutch slipping like mad. Not happy!
Anybody know what tickover is with the lower 1st please, nearly everybody on GS's was stalling.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I'll agree with you on that Madmill, I was also at said rally, ankle deep in mud,constantly slipping the clutch, the normal 1st is a right pain in bottom. My fireblade (one tooth off front sprocket) is better for riding on the (flat) soggy stuff! (though I might just need to get used to the big bugga, I only had 80 miles on the clock at the time).