Experiences/views of 1200GSA with low first gear, please

RSavage

RSavage

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After my recent trip to the Alpes Maritime and the multitude of crowded hairpin bends - i.e. no space to run wide on the bends forcing the occasional clutch slip - I was wondering if I had been rash in not ordeing my GSA with the low first gear.

Has anyone who owns such a machine had cause to regret the low first gear and have they ridden a standard 1200GSA so as to be able to offer a genuine opinion on both gearbox options?

TIA

Richard
 
No regrets. On my 2nd GSA with low 1st gear. Perfect for filtering in town / low speed manouvering / off road.

If anything, it could go lower.

Sure it impacts your 0-60 time but if you are interested in that, then you are on the wrong bike.

I cant think of any reason why you would want the "normal" first gear.

Loads written up on this site on this topic.
 
+1 - agree with everything said (including that it could be lower).

Had a 'normal' gearbox before and very definate decision to order the new bike with the 'low' box.

Can't think of a single drawback and I suspect once you've ridden it a couple of times you will forget it is even there.
 
Question:

You live in Sevenoaks, a place not renowned for its mountainous hairpins.

You only noticed the (possible) need for a lower first gear ratio when strutting your funky stuff around the Alps.

Did you feel the need before you went?

If NO, then I guess that's the answer to your question.

Do you intend to ride more in Sevenoaks than the Alps?

If YES, see above.

If BMW did not offer the option (which they never used to) would you be happy with the bike, or would you be trading it in?

If YES to part one, and NO to part two, then the answer is there again.

My advice.... Keep it as it is and just get better at riding hairpins, not blaming it quite so much on the bike.
 
Absolutely no problems riding a 2 up, loaded GSA, with stock 1st, around all manner of hairpins and traffic.

Picking up a new one this week. Stock box. Now it is true that I've not ridden a GSA with low option so can't give a comparison, but I can say I've never needed excessive ( or any really) clutch slipping while riding.

If you feel you need a lower 1st on the road, apart from pulling away from a dead stop, very loaded, two up, on a very steep hill (and how often does that happen?), I suggest you're maybe doing it wrong.
 
I ride offload my 2008 GSA had standard gearbox, my 2010gsa has low 1st gear. To be honest I can't tell the difference. Makes very little difference to be fair. Just my opinion. :rob
 
Sevenoaks man ain't going off-roading (or at least not that he has told us).

He struggled on 'crowded' hairpins, with 'no space to run wide'. Quite how crowded a hairpin can be is hard to imagine but, crowded and congested they were it seems.

Now back on the flatlands of SE England, thoughts of a lower first gear ratio is troubling his mind. It won't clear the congestion, nor make the hairpins any straighter, of course.
 
Wapping said:
Question:

You live in Sevenoaks, a place not renowned for its mountainous hairpins.

You only noticed the (possible) need for a lower first gear ratio when strutting your funky stuff around the Alps.

Did you feel the need before you went?

If NO, then I guess that's the answer to your question.

Do you intend to ride more in Sevenoaks than the Alps?

If YES, see above.

If BMW did not offer the option (which they never used to) would you be happy with the bike, or would you be trading it in?

If YES to part one, and NO to part two, then the answer is there again.

My advice.... Keep it as it is and just get better at riding hairpins, not blaming it quite so much on the bike.
Click to expand...

Yes, I really wish that I hadn't been tempted by the 'you can have it next Friday' offer of a 1200GSA from Vines when replacing my 1150GS with R850GS final drive.

With a limited amount of respect, I'm not blaming it on the bike thank you very much. I just find that while cornering at dead slow speeds it is very diffcult to prevent the engine from bogging down
 
Wapping said:
Sevenoaks man ain't going off-roading (or at least not that he has told us).

He struggled on 'crowded' hairpins, with 'no space to run wide'. Quite how crowded a hairpin can be is hard to imagine but, crowded and congested they were it seems.

Now back on the flatlands of SE England, thoughts of a lower first gear ratio is troubling his mind. It won't clear the congestion, nor make the hairpins any straighter, of course.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what the limits of your imagination are, but try to imagine a hairpin on a narrow, i.e. one car width French road (with passing places) that is climbing a very steep valley side in a series of switchbacks, i.e. where the road turns back on itself such that retaining wall is shared by the road as it folds back on itself.

As for troubled thoughts: that's rather presumptious, don't you think?
 
WindyChuffer said:
No regrets. On my 2nd GSA with low 1st gear. Perfect for filtering in town / low speed manouvering / off road.

If anything, it could go lower.

Sure it impacts your 0-60 time but if you are interested in that, then you are on the wrong bike.

I cant think of any reason why you would want the "normal" first gear.

Loads written up on this site on this topic.
Click to expand...

Thanks to all who contributed on the basis of their experiences of the low first gear. I must say that I almost never regreted fitting the R850GS final drive to my 1150GS. The only regrets were experienced when trying to keep up with my chums on the autoroutes, but that was soon forgotten in the mountains.

Richard
 
I had a '06 Gsa with standard box, but when changing to a '10 Gsa I specified the Enduro box....

....it's not a decission I've regreted. :thumb2

My honest opinion is that more people would buy them with it if there were more test bikes with them fitted, rather than having to 'gamble' as to what one might be like, or how good/bad it might be.

I found there is very little difference, although I wonder if any improvement is masked by the better gearbox/clutch/engine on the 2010 motor?

I certainly don't regret the choice, it's certainly not a choice to be afraid of, it adds a slightly lower gear that's hardly noticable in normal riding, but is a little easier in the Passes.

Hope that helps. :thumb2
 
Dainese Brave said:
I had a '06 Gsa with standard box, but when changing to a '10 Gsa I specified the Enduro box....

....it's not a decission I've regreted. :thumb2

My honest opinion is that more people would buy them with it if there were more test bikes with them fitted, rather than having to 'gamble' as to what one might be like, or how good/bad it might be.

I found there is very little difference, although I wonder if any improvement is masked by the better gearbox/clutch/engine on the 2010 motor?

I certainly don't regret the choice, it's certainly not a choice to be afraid of, it adds a slightly lower gear that's hardly noticable in normal riding, but is a little easier in the Passes.

Hope that helps. :thumb2
Click to expand...

Thanks
 
RSavage said:
After my recent trip to the Alpes Maritime and the multitude of crowded hairpin bends - i.e. no space to run wide on the bends forcing the occasional clutch slip - I was wondering if I had been rash in not ordeing my GSA with the low first gear.

Has anyone who owns such a machine had cause to regret the low first gear and have they ridden a standard 1200GSA so as to be able to offer a genuine opinion on both gearbox options?

TIA

Richard
Click to expand...


:nenau Nout wrong with slipping the clutch. :rob If you're not slipping the clutch at some point during a slow maneuver you ain't riding the bike propperly.

Even loaded and with a pillion on a crowded hairpin you shouldn't have any real dificulties, assuming you're planning your lines that is ;)


Val.

PS:

I often wonder if young Wapping ever gets out on his bike :nenau what with all the time he spands on here filling in for the Devils Advocate.
 
VAL. H. said:
:nenau Nout wrong with slipping the clutch. :rob If you're not slipping the clutch at some point during a slow maneuver you ain't riding the bike propperly.

Even loaded and with a pillion on a crowded hairpin you shouldn't have any real dificulties, assuming you're planning your lines that is ;)


Val.

PS:

I often wonder if young Wapping ever gets out on his bike :nenau what with all the time he spands on here filling in for the Devils Advocate.
Click to expand...

Hi Val

I know I shouldn't have problems. But I have grave reservations about slipping a dry clutch. That hot smell lingers for soooo long.

Re. your PS: similar thoughts here :P
 
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