The pro shift - meh

[Tearaway]

Is it just me or is the pro shift a load of cobblers... Every now and then I get a smooth shift but mostly it feels like a very sloppy gear change... best gear changes seem to be 4 to 5 to 6th and back again - anything below that is not great. I've tried constant throttle on the way up and closed throttle on the way down and it really is jumpy. I've the latest soft are update too!!

 

[Reggie P]

Hi Tearaway ( welcome to the forums)
Lots of varying opinions on this ( also adv forums). FWIW I love mine and wouldnt ever buy a bike over 500cc without it. As you say it works best, with full ( or large) throttle openings 2-3-4-5-6 and fully closed throttle 6-5-4-3-2. The reason it cant cope with 1-2 and 2-1 is that the difference in rpm's between the gears is simply too great.

Are your expectations too high?

Think about how it works, a strain guage on the lever detects when you are applying pressure. On the BMW the electronic instructions to both the fuel injection and ignition timing are modified. Years ago when bikes had carburettors ( spelling ?) they only operated on the ignition coils.

It isnt dual clutch, it isn't automatic....despite the advancements I've described, it could be described as "crude". Sportsbikes have been using them succesfully for many years.
(PS. Dont forget to release pressure between consectutive changes , or the strain guage can't tell what's going on)

 

[Troppo]

It is you.

 

[simmo1]

I like mine. Bought a demo and it was on it. Previously I would have not optioned it in.

I find it best sneaking around in traffic from 1 - 2 and from 2 - 1. As long as you are aware of speed and revs these changes are a s..t load smoother than with the clutch. But they are quite easy to mess up and be terrible. It is a fine line when to use the clutch or not but practice is making it easier. For 1 - 2 I have the revs quite low just with mild constant acceleration. Downshifts must but zero throttle and it works better for 2 - 1 with a few revs on board. Upper gears are all fine keeping constant acceleration or zero throttle on downshifts. Bloody good.

Simmo

 

[ymfb]

having had similar systems on my K1300S and Panigale I thought the gear shift pro on the GS was at best poor and didn't buy it (GSP) not the GSA, which I'm still waiting for.

I would have liked it though.

 

[eisen77]

I think the GSAP is great and worth every penny.

It does take time to learn how to use it effectively & smoothly. And if it does mess up it can cause some VERY unpleasant reactions.

For example - coming out of a technical 2nd gear corner, rapidly applying throttle (and i do mean quickly) and snicking into third at high revs. If the asphalt is anything less than perfect with lots of grip, i WOULD NOT use the GSAP. The bike will lurch and be totally confused as the TC light flashes AND the GSAP tries to command a gear change.
Absolutely nothing dangerous happens - but its all a bit embarassing

However, i found that under almost any other circumstances the system works a treat. Sweet, easy and seemless shifts (both up and down all the way to 1st). Even wet, slimy roads; as long as the revs are sensible the GSAP will react perfectly.
Quickfire shifts between traffic are amazing (mostly 2nd to 3rd gear)

I find 1st to 2nd best when TC is off. Smooth shifts are possible, but its a very narrow window of opportunity at the lower-to-mid rev range to get a smooth shift while still winding open the throttle. A clutch-shift is probably quicker most of the time in that case (unless you nail it )

The latest software update has really made a massive difference to the GSAP AND engine smoothness.
Mine was updated last week.

 

[Nutty]

It's you. You need to learn how to use it properly.

 

[davetripletvr]

It's you. You need to learn how to use it properly.

+1

Totally agree

 

[Neil W]

It's you. You need to learn how to use it properly.

And there you have it , it can never be the fault of a BMW bike.

Bollocks !!!!!!

If you have any modicum of mechanical sympathy and riding skill you can easily out change pro shift on a boxer engine bike

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Me thinks that the bike needs to be back in the dealers for a fix

Mine worked well on the GSA but not as well as it does on the XR.

The only issues i had on the GSA with GSP was 1st to 2nd after that with the throttle pinned it was sweet enough

 

[Nutty]

And there you have it , it can never be the fault of a BMW bike.

Bollocks !!!!!!

If you have any modicum of mechanical sympathy and riding skill you can easily out change pro shift on a boxer engine bike

It can be the fault of the bike, and some have found that a software update have made the gear changes better. BUT, there's quite a few people that haven't learnt how to use it properly, then complain that it's a load of rubbish.

It's a quickshifter, so trying to change gear at normal speeds with it, although it will work, can cause bad gear changes. The problem is that a lot of people on here have been riding since the invention of the wheel, and know it all, so the concept of a QS on a bike is totally alien, and when they try changing gear normally without using the clutch, they are experiencing problems. That is not how it should be used.

The topic has been done to death on here, there's a section in the riders manual about it, so if anyone is experiencing issues, have a read first to see how it's MEANT to be used, then by all means complain if it's an issue with the bike. Which will be then fixed by your dealer if it's faulty. Don't ask how, though, as that will completely fuddle you.

 

[mw3230]

It's good ... but it is still possible to experience lumpy gear changes with it at times as reported above and I'm surprised at the amount of pressure on the gear lever necessary to effect a change. My 4000 mile bike hasn't had the software update others have mentioned and I'm looking forward to experiencing some improvement but overall I like it - not love it as I love the keyless ignition - but like it and I'm glad I've got it.

Of course those who are not too keen need not use it, traditional changes work very well and give no cause for grumbling. As it happens, the gearbox on my 2015 GSA is the best BMW gearbox I've experienced and I'm delighted with it

 

[snaponphil]

Bit of news for you..
Retro fitted quick shift by dealer, went back approx 5 times, dealer spent hours (not charged for) messing about with the settings, now it's as near perfect as it could be, I've not changed the way I use it..
On its recent service something was changed, assuming a software update, as when I collected it the QS wasn't working at all, nearly had me off at first roundabout downshift as wasn't expecting said result, but after the 100 mile ride home it re-learnt the settings.. (I'm assuming this) I didn't contact dealer about this as its now back to near perfect..

Personally, I would take it back to dealer for re-work or software update.
Regards..

 

[stever1]

I've tried it on RT's and GS models and find it not worth it. If you look past the BMW hype and consider what it does, its just not needed. I have an RT, a pre LC model and can do clutch less changes up the box just as well as clutched changes. Personally, i think it may be more relevant on sporty machines, but not really suited to boxer engined machines.
I have a mate who has one on his RT-LC, and he benefits from having it, but he needs to learn to ride properly anyway. . I do wonder if a riders enthusiasm for such gimmicks is inversley proportional to there riding ability and age?.

 

[mcinlb]

Is the assumption that , you need to pin the throttle fully open on up changes and fully closed on down changes for it to work properly???? Who the hell rides like that????

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

So, with a lumpy Pro Shifter, what damage is being done to the gearbox during every use?

I tried it on a GSA and could not see any use to it, throttle wide open and revs building nicely, 4-5-6 and it was very bumpy and lumpy

 

[snaponphil]

Is the assumption that , you need to pin the throttle fully open on up changes and fully closed on down changes for it to work properly???? Who the hell rides like that????

Not me for one, I use it pretty normally, slight throttle to accelerate then snick the lever & in it snicks, then downshift no throttle & just at the speed you would normally change down as if coming to a stop or maybe a hairpin, slight pressure on gear lever which gives a blip on throttle & in it snicks..
One can be more aggressive if the mood takes, but for me I'm steady Eddie mostly

 

[Reggie P]

Is the assumption that , you need to pin the throttle fully open on up changes and fully closed on down changes for it to work properly???? Who the hell rides like that????

me !...

 

[yankeedoodledandy]

FWIW, I thought it worked much better on the XR than on the RT during test rides. The XR was smooth as silk, but the RT would clunk about 50% of the time. Made me kind of glad I didn't wait for 2014 to get my GS.

 

[Max_W]

Until it was recently replaced, I thought the GSAP was ok, though a bit crude at times and only usable with gears 3 to 6. The bike was being serviced and the technicians thought the GSAP wasn't working properly, so replaced it under warranty. I jest you not, but it now shifts beautifully through all gears, including 1 and 2. Every shift is smooth, and you don't need to be pinning the throttle.

I've not read anyone else saying theirs worked as well as mine now does, but it proves that the GSAP can work very well.