low 1st gear

Wapping said:
Not at all.

Simply couldn't work out what someone was going to learn, by asking a bunch of near enough unknown people, as to whether he should buy a bike with a lower first gear.

I could only assume that if 10 said yes, he would buy it. Then worry, having bought it, if he then heard from 11 people, who sucked their teeth and said, "That's a mistake".

All the reviews talk about the lower first gear option being of some use when off-roading, as it was with the earlier (pre-1200) bikes. There was no clue in the question as to whether matey wanted to go mud plugging or cruising along the Kings Road.




PS I am intrigued (and maybe a bit scared) as to the size of the bloke's wife, apparently so large that it requires 1200 with a low 1st gear to do the pass. Surprised the bloke on the push bike in the attached (pretty poor) vid made it. Maybe it's only suitable for R1's?

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HDJxSGRf29k"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HDJxSGRf29k" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
Click to expand...


Where exactly is this place please?
 
JIm said:
I have a 06 GSA, Im a bit of an off-road novice, but last September I did some dirt roads and more tricky off-road stuff in the Pyrannees (spelling?). The main problem I found was the high first gear when negotiating slower bits especially down hill bits using engine braking. Slower up hill bits meant lots of clutch work.
I was following a 1150GSA, which has a low first gear, and ended up catching him up and having to stop and let him get ahead again, a bit difficult on loose stones.
The GS/GSA will not move at walking pace without clutch work with standard first gear.
Having said all that, one of the riders that won the HUMM in the Pyrannees last year was on a 1200GSA, so I guess experience counts!
Jim
Click to expand...

Hi Jim, are you doing the HUMM in 2008 ?

Kevin
 
i have an 07 1200gsa with the standard gearing. i only go off road inadvertently, done plenty of town riding, tour two up, with luggage regularly, do as many alpine roads as possible, and cannot imagine why anyone contemplating the same would want a lower first gear? :confused:
 
cookie said:
i have an 07 1200gsa with the standard gearing. i only go off road inadvertently, done plenty of town riding, tour two up, with luggage regularly, do as many alpine roads as possible, and cannot imagine why anyone contemplating the same would want a lower first gear? :confused:
Click to expand...

To overtake slow lorries, going up hills.....apparently...or to tug lardy pillions / drivers......:rolleyes:
 
Wapping said:
To overtake slow lorries, going up hills.....apparently...or to tug lardy pillions / drivers......:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

i'm no lightweight (not in that respect anyway), and my bike trys to lift the front wheel doing stuff like that and slow corners in first. i don't need anything lower.
 
cookie said:
i'm no lightweight (not in that respect anyway), and my bike trys to lift the front wheel doing stuff like that and slow corners in first. i don't need anything lower.
Click to expand...


Wasn't suggesting that you did...:beerjug:

It was what the others seemed to need it for....
 
... I haven't ridden a demo with the enduro box fitted, but I've ordered one anyway. :loopy

... The stock GS gearbox set-up can make London traffic hard on the clutch, so I'm hoping that the enduro box will do the same job as the 'police' box and allow for clutch friendly bimbling in heavy congestion :duno

... Sure it'll open the 'jump' to second, but there's plenty of spread in the power band to deal with that. Might make dropping down the box a bit lumpy, but if you're getting down to first that's only for tightest and slowest twisties (Wrynose Pass :thumb). Sadly I know I'll be spending far more time in congestion.

... Besides, we now have ASC (auto stability control) to keep the front wheel tamed ... which sounds like a great excuse to turn the fecker off and have at it :D

... Didn't the 1150ADV (proper ones, not re-tanked stock 1150s) have a short first gear? Any owner feedback on how well that works in traffic and the twisties? :nenau
 
porker said:
Hi Jim, are you doing the HUMM in 2008 ?

Kevin
Click to expand...

I dont know, I'm touring southern/eastern Europe just before the HUMM, so money and time will be a problem, but you never know, it was a bloody good weekend!
Jim
 
JIm said:
I dont know, I'm touring southern/eastern Europe just before the HUMM, so money and time will be a problem, but you never know, it was a bloody good weekend!
Jim
Click to expand...

I am going again this year but not taking the CCM, I am going to use my GSA.
 
I've been told that the 2006/2007 GSA has the lower first gear as standard and the new GSA 2008 model now has same ratios as the standard GS unless you take the enduro box option.
 
Frankh said:
I've been told that the 2006/2007 GSA has the lower first gear as standard and the new GSA 2008 model now has same ratios as the standard GS unless you take the enduro box option.
Click to expand...


I would find some one who know as he or she is wrong:mmmm. The 08 gs and adv have a new gear box with over all lower gearing. The adv can be ordered with an even lower first rear. I have just taken delivery of my 08 adv with low first gear:thumb
 
well im gonna go for the normal gearing, as i asked for opinions not for someone to make my mind up(im able to do this on my own Wapping) this is a big thing for me as intend to keep this bike a while and didnt want to regret getting the low gearing, dont do that much offroad on the 12 now ive got a trail bike.As for the comment about the size of my wife,well i dont have one but i hope you get the chance to mention it at one of the run outs:aidan
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Bigjimknickers
2015 GS 1st gear “clonk”
2
Replies
27
Views
1,649
leadfarmer
leadfarmer
andy tims
Picos de Europa / Pyrenees - 8th to 22nd June 2026
Replies
5
Views
400
andy tims
andy tims
1st Gear
Replies
15
Views
2,977
GSite
GSite
beaver
1st to 2nd loss of power like you've missed a gear?
Replies
10
Views
2,542
beaver
beaver
EVskiy
Looking to upgrade the gear and not because it is crap or worn out...
2 3
Replies
40
Views
11,533
Deleted account 260111001


Back
Top Bottom