Q. 1150 GS GSA

[Tomm]

Have picked up on a few conversations now related to gearing difference on ADV and standard 1150. I understand that the adv has a lower 1st gear .. but is the top gear lower as well?
If so doesn't this make them revvier (a word?) on m-ways?
What about mpg .. this would be affected too?

Could someone explain please.

Pretty sure i'm ok with other differences .. larger capacity tank and longer travel suspenders right? Anythin else is simply cosmetic?

Black and silver faster .. yellow and white ...

Think i got it covered .. ?

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

ASAIK the low first gear was an option on the GSA mine were both normal.The 6th gear is also a bit lower so top speed is reduced from 160mph to 135mph mpg much the same but the GSA goes further as bigger tank

 

[Tomm]

Ok .. so it only has lower 6th fear if it has the option of lower 1st .. ?

Is there any way to identify whether bike is specced with that option other than to ride .. ?

Cheers,
Tom.

 

[MikeP]

Ok .. so it only has lower 6th fear if it has the option of lower 1st .. ?

No.

From a certain point onwards, the tall, overdrive sixth, was deleted in favour of a "proper" sixth gear. One that allows acceleration better than the overdrive version. This was on all 1150 GS's (I believe that in North America the O/D sixth could still be specified as an option).

There is no low first and tall sixth combination from the factory.

Is there any way to identify whether bike is specced with that option other than to ride .. ?

Cheers,
Tom.

The low first or "enduro" gear was an option. The SE GSA had it as standard.

If I was at home I could tell you what the option code is. I specified the low first when I ordered mine.

If you have the last seven characters of the bike's VIN, any BMW dealer can look at the original spec and tell you if it has the low first gear (provided the box hasn't been replaced of course).

You cannot tell the gearing from the gearbox number (well BMW Bracknell can but they won't tell you).

 

[Tomm]

Thanks for the replies.

I think i'm less worried about the 'enduro' 1st gear option but more would like to know when the 'overdrive' 6th was replaced by a 'normal' 6th. I take it this happened on all 1150's from a certain build date/registration period?

Does anyone know when that change was made .. ?

Don't suppose it would have been about same time twin spark came in .. ?

Cheers,
Tom.

 

[cookie]

if it has the low first/top gear, it will show 6 on the RID in top. the "overdrive" option would show E.

 

[Nick Marshall]

test ride

in top gear with standard size wheels 4000 rpm is 70 mph. With overdrive top gear its around 84 mph. indicated.

 

[Tomm]

Great info ..

Cheers guys ..

 

[MikeP]

I can't find anything that gives the date the sixth gear was altered.

For what it's worth, the low first gear is option 631 and was the princely sum of 21.28 + VAT

 

[Tomm]

Thanks again for all the info !!

 

[roddy]

you could have a look at Global Riders home page then go to technical. http://www.igs.net/~ace/
this lists the rev range of both box's
HTH

 

[ahutcheon]

if it has the low first/top gear, it will show 6 on the RID in top. the "overdrive" option would show E.

Not on my 1150GS, which has the O/D top gear, shows 6 on the RID, and is a 2003 (twin spark) bike. None of which was an option I ordered (UK bike). Probably irrelevant if interest is in a GSA, but I like the tall top gear for the lazy cruising revs.

 

[Tomm]

Not on my 1150GS, which has the O/D top gear, shows 6 on the RID, and is a 2003 (twin spark) bike. None of which was an option I ordered (UK bike). Probably irrelevant if interest is in a GSA, but I like the tall top gear for the lazy cruising revs.

So how are you sure that you don't have the 'normal' 6th gear .. ?

How fast at 4000rpm in top .. ?


Just when i thought i was getting it sussed


Cheers,
Tom.

 

[roddy]

Tom,

I think the O/D 6th is on all GS varients not GSA varients, however the GSA came with a 6th gear and not an O/D regardless of what combination of 1st you chose

if you haven't found it already this site http://www.micapeak.com/bmw/gs/gs.html is a good source of info.

HTH

 

[ahutcheon]

So how are you sure that you don't have the 'normal' 6th gear .. ?

How fast at 4000rpm in top .. ?

4000rpm is around an indicated 85mph in top, when I've ridden GSAs they definately have a shorter sixth gear. I think the RID changed from showing E to showing 6 in top gear at some point in the production run, without any change to gearing.

 

[Tomm]

Cheers again fella's