Gear Shift Assist - How do you operate yours?

[Fullchat]

15 GSA. Still trying to get used to the Gear Shift Assist gadget after 10 months. A few threads indicate some are happy, some are not and some cant quite get the hang of it.

It seems to operate better with the engine running at higher revs. The Owners Manual suggest that you should load up the gear lever to the first stop and it will take the next gear when its ready. My mate has exactly the same bike, same year, and suggest this to be the operating method which works for him.

Doesn't work for me as it either wont take the gear or takes the gear without altering engine revs on upshift with consequent rough gear change.

What does work for me is quickly stabbing at the gear shift up or down which smooths out the change and revs the engine as it is supposed to down the downshift. This seems contrary to the Owners Handbook.

The gearbox does seem to have taken some hammer whilst I have been trying my hardest to get to grips with this.

So what works for you?

 

[BigRedUn]

I just change as if I was using the clutch. Going up it does like the power to be on; and if I accelerate, then roll off the throttle and try to change up it will be harsh. On the way down I always have the throttle off. The bike has done just over 4k now and I have grown to like gsap.

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

Only up shift under acceleration.... only down shift under deceleration.

If you try up shifting while not nailing the throttle it won't work smoothly. Down shifting will not be smooth if you have the throttle open at all.

*Typed while BigRedUn was already posting*

 

[llotse]

Mine (RT) downshifts perfectly on a completely closed throttle but for the upshift there seems to be a sweetspot on the throttle, I have to be accelerating but not hard. I don't know if the software adapts to the rider over a period of time ?

 

[brummy bloke]

I just change as if I was using the clutch. Going up it does like the power to be on; and if I accelerate, then roll off the throttle and try to change up it will be harsh. On the way down I always have the throttle off. The bike has done just over 4k now and I have grown to like gsap.

exactly wot he said,I wasn't arsed about having gear shift assist but it came free with the bike.I wouldn't be without it now

 

[ChazzyB]

,I wasn't arsed about having gear shift assist but it came free with the bike.I wouldn't be without it now

Same here. New TE bike in the showroom had it and keyless. I could probably manage without keyless, but gear shift assist? I don't think so! Mind you, the demo R1200R I rode last week at service time had the quick shifter and it worked so much better. Grrr.

 

[phillh]

I keep the throttle open on upchanges and GSAP is very smooth. Don't tend to use it on downchanges.

When I first got the bike, it was already fitted and I was pretty luke warm about it but have grown to love it.

 

[Appman]

I keep the throttle open on upchanges and GSAP is very smooth. Don't tend to use it on downchanges.

When I first got the bike, it was already fitted and I was pretty luke warm about it but have grown to love it.

At what Rev range are we talking to achieve a smooth change? Or do you have to always ride like a track day for it to work smoothly?

 

[ChazzyB]

Or do you have to always ride like a track day for it to work smoothly?

Is there any other way to ride?

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

..... do you have to always ride like a track day for it to work smoothly?

Yes.... why else would you want to shift quickly

 

[Skid06]

if your a plodder its a total waste of money..just clutchless change the conventional way, GSAP likes and rewards aggressive riding

 

[Fullchat]

I get the the bit about downshifting on a closed throttle and upshifting whilst accelerating but the part I am questioning is do you snick the gearlever straight in and let the electronics handle the engine as it drops into gear or do you as it says in the Owners Manual press the gearlever until the first resistance and let the mechanics/electronics pull it into gear?

 

[Max_W]

I get the the bit about downshifting on a closed throttle and upshifting whilst accelerating but the part I am questioning is do you snick the gearlever straight in and let the electronics handle the engine as it drops into gear or do you as it says in the Owners Manual press the gearlever until the first resistance and let the mechanics/electronics pull it into gear?

Just bang it straight in, so to speak...!

 

[ChazzyB]

Just use the pedal firmly. It doesnt change gear for you, its only microswitches and software.

 

[danjacks]

Just bang it straight in, so to speak...!

+1

As others have said, works better the harder you're accelerating/slowing.

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

.... and let the mechanics/electronics pull it into gear?

Nothing 'pulls' it into gear..... your foot still does the shifting.

The clue is in the name, Gear Shift ASSIST.... you do the shifting, it does the assisting

 

[Nutty]

Nothing 'pulls' it into gear..... your foot still does the shifting.

The clue is in the name, Gear Shift ASSIST.... you do the shifting, it does the assisting

I do wonder how many people seem to think this is an automatic gearbox option!

 

[G&T]

This is what I have figured out so far. I now know when the engine rev range will accept the assist option. There are times when from 3 to 2 for example, with closed throttle, the lever will not budge and I'm not going to force it. Equally if you are coming up 2-3, open throttle and you have the rev's loaded same problem. I'm a big fan of the assist at the top end, so much smoother on fast sections.

 

[Troppo]

I can sometimes get a good 1-2-3 shift with the GSAP, but it tends to work best 3rd and above...and the drive train must be under load.

 

[matchbox]

I'm probably a plodder compared to the way some imply that they ride but I use GSAP nearly all the time. Positive throttle when accelerating, closed when changing down. You do not need to cane it!
For the down changes alone I would have it. There is a steep down hill near me with tight 270 degrees bend at bottom - braking and downshifting at the same time is bliss with GSAP!