Low Gear option for 08 GSA

[lesliek]

Getting ready to sign up for an 08 GSA and thought I'd probe the wise minds here on the advantages/disadvantages and the practical benefits of having the low gear option. Does the fueling system change with the lower gearing and affect the performance once you're up and through to the highter gears? Many thanks.

 

[MikeP]

I doubt that it will change anything except that one gear.

There will be a slightly bigger "step" between first and second. This will be most noticeable when the bike is new (before the engine frees up).

I have an 1150GSA with the optional lower first. When it was brand new, it almost caught me out once because I dropped down to first at slightly too high a speed. Nothing serious, I just wasn't prepared for how quickly it slowed.

In my experience, you will never regret specifying the lower gear but if you intend any sort of off-road riding at all, you most certainly will regret not having it.

 

[Commuter]

Completely agree with Mike on this, the low option will help you off road. I am more interested in the 12 now it has this option as the old box was quite high in 1st for my liking.

Will be testing a new one when available in demo mode.

Nick

 

[GSmonkey]

If you're only road riding, 1st gear is already low enough (if not a tad too low) IMHO. Offroad, I have no comment.

 

[R1200GSA]

Another considering factor, is how much you filter on tarmac too. The original GSA required a fair bit of clutch slipping at lower speeds to keep things moving, especially with full luggage etc.

I have spec'd it on my 08 after double checking with the dealer that it is only the first gear ratio that is changed. Imho, I think it can only enhance the bikes low speed capabilities.

 

[lesliek]

Appreciate the input, thanks very much! Pretty much along the lines of what I'm thinking. Wishing one and all a great Christmas and a Happy 2008.

 

[cookie]

If you're only road riding, 1st gear is already low enough (if not a tad too low) IMHO. Offroad, I have no comment.

i'd echo that. can't imagine a situation where you would need a lower first on tarmac

 

[brianmaslen]

i'd echo that. can't imagine a situation where you would need a lower first on tarmac

Interesting point about the low gear option, I only recently changed to the GS1200 from a triumph Sprint ST and noticed the difficulty with 1st gear particularly in traffic when filtering. My journey to my office in Coventry takes in the A14 Catford Interchange and very often I find a long line of filtering which by nature of the road tends to be quite narrow, on more than one occassion I have noticed the clutch getting a little warm and smelly. Not something I had ever had on the Triumph.

 

[cookie]

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