To ASA or not and to new or older?

[Jako999]

Well I don’t know what to do?
I’ve had a demo on both the normal and the ASA 1300GS and much as I think it’s really to big for me I still want one. So which one?
The standard bike was fantastic but then I tried the ASA and found it good sometimes and not so go other times plus the fact it was a full height bike with my little legs and it had only done 300 miles so new really, in auto it was really knocking and jolted all the time on gear changes. The sales guy said it gets better as time goes on with more miles and he loves it now. I’ve watched lots of YouTube’s, but I’m not 100% sure. So to those who have them what do you really think.

My next question is used bikes at the moment are around the 17k mark with no wiggle room but new bikes are a bit different as they are all trying to hit the end of year targets and there’s about 2k of most of them so I’m looking at a bike of the same spec for around £20,500. I was going to pay cash but a new one is only 3.9% on finance and my money is getting 4.5% in the bank.

Help please what should I do? Thanks.

 

[jetjock]

Get the ASA. Although I ride it generally in manual , it’s still an effortless ride and a joy .

 

[littleade]

There's several ways you can "lower" the height of a GS including the adaptive ride height control, comfort low seat and some Daytona M Star boots which can be used together or seperately depending on how low you want to go and what suits you best comfort and cost wise. The dealer should have the 1st 2 for you to try, the boots have a 25mm heel and an 8mm thicker sole. With such a small difference I'd buy new, so you get the exact bike that you want.

 

[Bravo]

There's several ways you can "lower" the height of a GS including the adaptive ride height control, comfort low seat and some Daytona M Star boots which can be used together or seperately depending on how low you want to go and what suits you best comfort and cost wise. The dealer should have the 1st 2 for you to try, the boots have a 25mm heel and an 8mm thicker sole. With such a small difference I'd buy new, so you get the exact bike that you want.

Get some of these and you can be The Leader of the Gang.

 

[stever1]

It’s simple. If the ASA bike is too tall for you then it’s no good. No point in blowing all that money and then not getting the benefit of it as its to tall. You’ll eventually realise you’ve wasted your money.

 

[wpm]

I Love my ASA and the gear change is getting much better with a few miles on it.

 

[Wrinkly]

At heart I am a Guzzi man, but a physical complaint means that clutch control on a bike was getting to the point where it was becoming dangerous, lots of stalling at inopportune moments unable to maintain steady progress in traffic. The Africa twin DCT and the new 1390 KTM adventure are both to tall for me with my little fat legs. (29" inseam) BMW was my only other real choice, it was either that or give up riding.
10days ago I picked up a new R1300 gs TE ASA, with a host of other extras including adaptive ride height.
For me the ASA has been an absolute revelation, as is the adaptive ride height.
I'd agree, that in full auto, the gear change can be a little bit of a jolt, not all the time just some of the time, but i don't really find it obtrusive in any way, the only problem I'm having is that it doesn't always go into 1st gear when I come to a standstill. Easily rectified for now, just give the lever a stab.
In manual the changes up and down are the best I've ever experienced on any bike.
The adaptive ride height is so unintrusive you don't even notice it and it makes a world of difference to me. Come to a stop I can almost flat foot both feet.
Do I love this bike?
I'd have to say, not yet, it doesn't make me want to make a coffee, go into my shed and look at it like my Guzzi's did.
BUT..... it is most probably the most capable bike I have ever ridden. I've done 150mls this morning in the 9 degree pizzing rain, the screen is fantastic, the suspension is incredible, the engine and gearbox are a joy and it handles very very well, it's very confidence inspiring and capable even in not perfect conditions. The whole 150 mls were an absolute pleasure.
Don't get fixated on the money, be it 17k or 22k, either way it's a lot of dosh. Buy what's right for you and as you say, no need to spend your own money ay 3.9% APR. I've always been a cash buyer, but the deal changed my mind.

 

[Beerman]

You'll hear different views on ASA. I really like it and found it got smoother with miles on the bike. It's no less smooth than me on a manual clutch - and of course you can override it.

 

[pbbanks]

"the only problem I'm having is that it doesn't always go into 1st gear when I come to a standstill. Easily rectified for now, just give the lever a stab."

If it has left it in 2nd just set off in 2nd. The bike doesn't need 1st unless it's on an uphill start & then it would choose 1st.

 

[Wrinkly]

If it has left it in 2nd just set off in 2nd. The bike doesn't need 1st unless it's on an uphill start & then it would choose 1st.

I most of the time just set off in 2nd, but, it's supposed to drop into 1st at a standstill.

 

[pbbanks]

I most of the time just set off in 2nd, but, it's supposed to drop into 1st at a standstill.

I most of the time just set off in 2nd, but, it's supposed to drop into 1st at a standstill.

Don't think it is, if it doesn't need 1st it doesn't choose it. I've never had it where it has been a problem setting off in 2nd if that's what it's left it in.

Main problem I have is it often not going into 1st after having stopped for a short stop (like a petrol stop) and it just won't select first, no matter how many times I press the lever down, it just stays in "N". The clutch is in, the stand is up etc. I have stop the engine & switch ignition off\on and start up again & it will into 1st .

 

[botus]

maybe it believes its in first ? there was an issue with gear change on the 1300 but they fail to say if ASA bikes are effected

Date: 10 apr 2024
Models: R 1300 GS
Summary: After setting or resetting gear position adaptation values in ISTA it appears that the procedure was successful and the gears have been taught in; however, a gear adaptation value fault exists.

Due to a display error, the gear indicator does not flash when the gears have not been taught, but also lights up permanently for these gears.

Teaching in the gears position values procedure: Regardless of the gear indicator, perform constant-speed driving with a load (not static on the lift) for approximately 10 seconds in every gear. (1 , Neutral, 2 , 3 , 4 , and 5 gears) To confirm the adaptation values have been taught in, you can test whether the shift assist function works. The shift assist function will not operate without proper taught in gear position adaptation values.

 

[pbbanks]

maybe it believes its in first ? there was an issue with gear change on the 1300 but they fail to say if ASA bikes are effected

Date: 10 apr 2024
Models: R 1300 GS
Summary: After setting or resetting gear position adaptation values in ISTA it appears that the procedure was successful and the gears have been taught in; however, a gear adaptation value fault exists.

Due to a display error, the gear indicator does not flash when the gears have not been taught, but also lights up permanently for these gears.

Teaching in the gears position values procedure: Regardless of the gear indicator, perform constant-speed driving with a load (not static on the lift) for approximately 10 seconds in every gear. (1 , Neutral, 2 , 3 , 4 , and 5 gears) To confirm the adaptation values have been taught in, you can test whether the shift assist function works. The shift assist function will not operate without proper taught in gear position adaptation values.

Don't think that has anything to do with ASA, it's just GSAP it's refering to.

 

[Byronavitch]

Main problem I have is it often not going into 1st after having stopped for a short stop (like a petrol stop) and it just won't select first, no matter how many times I press the lever down, it just stays in "N". The clutch is in, the stand is up etc. I have stop the engine & switch ignition off\on and start up again & it will into 1st .

When you come to a stop and it’s showing 2nd roll the throttle right off as if you are disengaging cruise works every time on my auto drops into 1st

 

[botus]

Don't think that has anything to do with ASA, it's just GSAP it's refering to.

yep, wondered after I posted - I guess shift assist is not an add-on (like std bikes), but a feature of a very similar nature is an integral part of the whole ASA way of doing things...

However if it doesn't like first (most of the time) something must be going on... Is there is a point in its vehicle speed where it just says its fast enough and better (smoother and less jerky,) to stay in second than force into first and wobble. So only grabs first gear when its stopped or believes (somehow its going to stop) ?

I can imagine a bunch of sensor data is staying, he's not braking hard, still faffing with the throttle and bank angle is still in play - lets stay in second. And I can also imagine as a rider is more confident in how an ASA bike will behave - in such conditions, it will remain in this condition at say parking maneuvers or giveway junctions. And that might be where people believe its adapting to their riding ?

Whereas smashing the brakes on a closed throttle and never letting off the brakes - the bike may be more likely to grab first ?

But if you manually tell it and it still argues that sounds like something is amiss

 

[pbbanks]

When you come to a stop and it’s showing 2nd roll the throttle right off as if you are disengaging cruise works every time on my auto drops into 1st

Think you might be misunderstanding the issue I have. I don't have problem with ASA not choosing to go into 1st & choosing 2nd. My problem is after a stop and switching off\on again it wont go into first when pressing the lever to set off again.it won't go into 2nd or any gear without switching off\on again. Only happens after maybe about 1 in every 6 stops on average.

 

[Byronavitch]

Think you might be misunderstanding the issue I have. I don't have problem with ASA not choosing to go into 1st & choosing 2nd. My problem is after a stop and switching off\on again it wont go into first when pressing the lever to set off again.it won't go into 2nd or any gear without switching off\on again. Only happens after maybe about 1 in every 6 stops on average.

Yup that’s a fault

 

[MRDiving]

Well I don’t know what to do?
I’ve had a demo on both the normal and the ASA 1300GS and much as I think it’s really to big for me I still want one. So which one?
The standard bike was fantastic but then I tried the ASA and found it good sometimes and not so go other times plus the fact it was a full height bike with my little legs and it had only done 300 miles so new really, in auto it was really knocking and jolted all the time on gear changes. The sales guy said it gets better as time goes on with more miles and he loves it now. I’ve watched lots of YouTube’s, but I’m not 100% sure. So to those who have them what do you really think.

My next question is used bikes at the moment are around the 17k mark with no wiggle room but new bikes are a bit different as they are all trying to hit the end of year targets and there’s about 2k of most of them so I’m looking at a bike of the same spec for around £20,500. I was going to pay cash but a new one is only 3.9% on finance and my money is getting 4.5% in the bank.

Help please what should I do? Thanks.

ASA mate, all the way. Even if you ride it in manual made, the changes are instant and effortless.

 

[BusterDan]

Earlier this year there seemed to be a batch of ASA failures (including my bike)...

In most cases replacement of the actuator seals in the clutch was necessary. So it's probably a fairly simple fix now that BMW are aware of it (and by the way downplay it).

ASA is good, I very much rated it during the 695 miles that I had the bike. But as in my case, if it fails then you are unable to move (unless you can get it into Neutral).

 

[andy tims]

I didn’t like ASA when I tested it.

Good for riding in traffic but out on the open road the shifts were not smooth.

Also, more cost, more weight and something else to go wrong.