HOW CAN I CHECK THAT ASC IS WORKING?

Martin

Martin

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I've recently bought an '08 1200GS that's got ABS and ASC. I was out yesterday morning when the roads were slimey and icy in places. The rear wheel spun, and I instinctively throttled back to regain traction. I thought the idea of ASC was that the system cuts the power as soon as the wheel loses traction.

I'm not keen on the idea of provoking the rear to spin to see if ASC is working, incase it doesn't kick in and I end up in a heap on the road.

Could someone please explain what's the norm on a bike with ASC when the back end lets go.

Incidentally, on my 80 mile jaunt around Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Hampshire, the only other bike I saw, was...................................... another 1200GS.
 
Well my 08GSA has ACS and during this winter and last it did come in when the back lost traction by cutting the power. It's all over in a nano second although it appears to be longer when it's happening. I must admit through off road experiance most road riders think the back is getting lose when really it is not that big a movement. Maybe what you experianced along with coming off the gas was not enough for it to kick in. But I whole hartdly agree with not going out to provoke it to kick in so as to test it:eek::eek::eek: All the above of course IMHO:):)
 
Martin said:
The rear wheel spun, and I instinctively throttled back to regain traction.
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So you cut the power so the wheel can't spin up. Think about it.


The only way to get ASC to 'do' the decision making is to give it a big amount of right hand and leave it there. Which is what it says in the documentaion I read. e.g. - try and pull a wheelie - you shouldn't be able to with asc on.
 
On a recent test ride:D between Horton in Ribblesdale and Ribblehead in the 'Dales I took a 'rise and fall' in the road a little to fast :nenau, and the bike took off for a second :rolleyes:. The ASC worked then!

Mike
 
Very simple way to test:

1) Find a road hump / sleeping policeman, whatever you want to call it.

2) Approach it in 2nd gear

3) Give it big throttle, as is good practice to unweight the front.

4a) With AFC off, you gracefully ride over the hump, maybe getting a little air.
4b) With AFC on, the bike cuts the throttle, makes lots of farting noises and you headbut the screen.
 
Take it back to the dealer and tell them you are unsure if the traction control works and do not want to test it to see if it does.... See what they say :D

PS Buy a bike without traction control, that way you will never have to wonder.
 
... If it isn't working, or is disabled, a fault icon is displayed on the LCD.

... Most small slips are so quick and naturally correcting, it isn't needed and it doesn't kick in. But the big yellow triangle, that displays for a few seconds after a sphincter puckering moment, will remind you why your sphincter is still attached to the seat and not being stuffed full of gravel. DAMHIK :D

... If you want a test, try a humpback bridge, or speed pillow and catch a little air, that's as safe a way as any.
 
Do what BMW staff are told to do when sent on a test/training day, from standing rev the engine hard and drop the clutch, if the wheel doesn't spin and/or you don't pull a wheelie then it works.
incidently isn't the asc variable as on the 1000rr?
 
red1 said:
Pretty pointless on a GS
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Don't agree - mine has kicked in twice whilst cornering on slippery roads - I am sure the technology controlled those two slides that I know I would have had problems with if left purely to my own skill!!:eek

Also, it is easy to test on dirt/gravel whilst accelerating in a straight line - you will know when it has kicked in and it is quite safe :augie

OldCroc
 
It is pointless on a GS, I agree, especially as it isn't proper traction control.

Just because it activates doesn't mean that you needed it.
 
I have had it kick on on my gravel drive when I wanted to spin the wheel to try and impress my 14 year old son by covering him in gravel. Sadly it stopped him getting the showering so he was not impressed.

More importantly it kicked in twice the other day on my way to work, the first was during a (what I thought) was a "big moment" in slip terms. Am pretty sure that it stopped the "moment" getting terminal as I doubt if I could have responded as quickly with the twist grip.

Chris
 
Could those who have said that ASC is pointless on a GS please explain their reasoning?

Cheers.
 
snerkler said:
Could those who have said that ASC is pointless on a GS please explain their reasoning?

Cheers.
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been riding 38 years and never had the back step out in a big way (i quite like the littler ones), so what's it going to do for me?
 
Find a wet cattle grid and give it a handful over it and watch for the flashing light on the dash. ;)

Or if you want to see it working in safety, start the bike, get on and ride it a couple of yards until the brake warning light goes off, leave engine running get off the bike and put it on the centre stand and put the side stand up. Now clutch in, into first, let clutch out and rev engine while listening to the farting noises and watching the yellow triangle blinking. :augie
 
snerkler said:
Could those who have said that ASC is pointless on a GS please explain their reasoning?

Cheers.
Click to expand...
Its not a powerful bike, with quick steering and stiff suspension that'll high side you if you're hamfisted. You can easily have rear slides on the GS, all very forgiving - it doesn't spit you off. Try inviting a rear slide on a modern sportsbike.

People constantly post about ASC having saved their bacon just because it activated. Mine goes off all the time in shitty conditions (until I turn it off) and it hasn't saved me once.

It's a marketing gimmick. They had the hardware already on the ABS bikes so could sell a new safety option for the price of 10 lines of code and a pushbutton - genius!
 
As they've said, just wheelie it and you'll soon know. There should be an icon that would be displayed if they're were to be a failure.
 
Been out today and it definitely works. Gravelly lay-bye, accelerated hard, cough cough. Speed hump, accelerated hard, cough, cough.

Thanks all, for your advice. I feel happier knowing it's there.
 
Mine also kicked in this morning - no drama but did make me wonder why it kicked in and what it would have felt like without the ASC.

My riding style is influenced by what I feel comfortable on, I have happily lit the G450X back tyre up in the top three gears on icy Danish roads whilst heading out to the Vesterhavet, yet woosed out and taken the car in deference to my Adventure in the UK.

Weight probably had something to do with it as well :)
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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