Enduro Gearbox

[Sam555]

Hi, about to purchase a new GS1200 Adv and wondered if someone could give me advice on whether to go for the Enduro gearbox option. I assume this is just a lower first gear (with 2nd remaining same as standard gearbox?), wondered how this actually translated to actual riding condidions i.e. do you have to change up much quicker when starting off? Many thanks, Sam

 

[Bryn]

Sam.. moved this to the 1200 section... may get answered here

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

Mine doesn't have it but I reckon it would be usefull off road and in slow traffic in town as standard first means slipping the clutch quite a bit and you need to rev it a bit when moving off.

 

[WindyChuffer]

Sam

I went through exactly this dilemma when speccing up my March 09 bike.

In short - go for the enduro box.

The enduro box only changes 1st gear, and reduces it by about 10%. I live and work in London and the difference is incredible compared to the standard box. I can filter at slow speed more smoothly and with the clutch out for significantly longer. Low speed manouevering is so much easier and less jerky (u turns, riding slower with clutch out etc).

Sure the gap between 1st and 2nd is a bit bigger but not so big that you notice it. Like any vehicle, you get used to it.

If you are planning on doing some off road, its essential. I'd argue that for town riding its essential too.

Some of this parish reckon that even the enduro box 1st gear is still a bit too high for off road use.

This is my 3rd 1200GS, and the first 2 had the standard box. I wish I'd realised the benefits of the enduro box earlier. The salesmen are generally crap, have never ridden a 1200 with an enduro box and talk a lot of made up shite about it.

Happy to talk more if you want - PM me.

Mike.

 

[LiquidLAN]

+1 on both the comments above.

I've got an 06 GSA, out before the option was available. Sadly I've not had the chance to ride a bike with it on, the 08 demo I tried for some bizzare reason was dealer spec'ed with out it on.

I believe its a free option and I can't see any reason for not going for it, a lower gear is always useful at some point.

 

[WindyChuffer]

The question should really be "should i go for a GS without the enduro box?"

Heres the thread I started on this topic earlier in the year:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175315

 

[WindyChuffer]

Sam - come along to this meeting Thurs 11th June @ Enfield. Am planning on being there with my GSA. Have a go in the carpark.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187355

 

[KAYCEE]

The GSA is "meant" to be a bike that can be used off road. So the enduro box should be off benefit. Even if you never take the bike off road, when you come to sell it the enduro box should make the bike appeal to a larger market.

Given that the enduro box is a no cost option (upgrade?) you've nought to loose.

Only issue I had when I spec'd mine was that the bike arrived with TKC tyres on it, and I had to get the dealer to change them for Tourances. Although I had spec'd the "Enduro" box, the dealer assumed that I wanted the whole "Enduro pack".

Kaycee

 

[LiquidLAN]

Dont worry too much if you do end up with TKC80s they are great on the road, the only time I ever had any issue with them was in the winter when they just never seemed to heat up and stick, but that was only one or two months.

the GSA looks great with them on, they work well, you'll just not get the tyre wear youd get from Tourance

 

[Frankh]

+1 I ordered the enduro box with road tyres. If anything 1st gear could be lower still, very glad I took the low first gear.

 

[Daffy]

I agree with all the above, I have it on my 09 GSA, if you rode it you might not realise was the enduro box but the lower first gives a bit more help on an incline when fully loaded or at very low speed in town.

Don't worry about the TKC's as they are spec'd separately and dont come automatically with the Box, TBH I wanted TKC's until someone pointed out that road tyres are dearer so it might be better to have them and replace them with a cheaper set of TKC's - anyway the road tyres are still on there.

 

[Lebo]

I am about to buy a new GSA and was not given the option of the Enduro Box. from your thread looks it is a free option to ask for, am I right?
If not, how much more do I have to pay?

 

[elefantmanshawn]

Hi lebo,its a free upgrade on the options list only for GSA's though not the GS,get it standard first is high

 

[Lebo]

Thanks a lot for that, I wounder why the sales man did not mention this to me as I have bought all the options they have to offer and more, bought all the options the sales man's personal comapny sold.
Again, thanks a lot, I have only paid a deposit but will not buy the bike without the Enduro package, especially after reading the related threads.

 

[WindyChuffer]

Nice one Lebo. Good choice.

In my experience most motorbike salesmen know nothing of off road as they predominantly sell road bikes, and cannot be arsed to learn about the products that they sell.

Just remember this too - you can order the enduro gearbox with road tyres. You don't have to take the bike with TKC80's. Choice is yours. Although as I've been finding out, the TKC80's are fine on the road - just take a bit of getting used to.

 

[Beemerman59]

Since my GSA with the enduro gearbox is my first boxer engined bike I don't know what the standard gearbox is like by comparison. I do find it very manageable at low speeds with it though.

Best BMW salesman gaff? The one who told me the GSA had a water cooled engine and wouldn't overheat in traffic.